Caution with Internal Use of Aloe • For mom during pregnancy: – purges the bowels creating pressure in pelvic region • Caution with internal use of Aloe for baby: – Strong laxative and can irritate intestinal lining causing electrolyte loss to child Blue Cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides • Caution for moms during pregnancy: – Blue Cohosh is a strong uterine stimulant – 2 case studies of bad outcomes Blue Flag • Used as a laxative, diuretic, and to prevent vomiting • Do not use with pregnancy or while nursing • Blue flag can irritate the stomach and intestines Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica • Caution during lactation: may have laxative effect on infants and irritate intestinal lining Catnip • Breastfeeding: Help relax mother and calm baby by helping with colic • Caution during pregnancy: at very high levels, known emmenagogue and abortifacient effects Inhibitory effect of the essential oil of Nepeta cataria (catnip) (Nc. Oil) on spontaneous and high K+ induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations Chamomile Matricaria recutita • Use to relieve upset stomach, diarrhea in children, and colic in infants Crying minutes/day in two groups of infants Placebo Chamomile containing tx 198 201 169 76 Baseline Day 7 Comfrey Symphytum officinale • Caution: not recommended as an supplement due to presence of potentially toxic alkaloids, this plant can damage fetus’s liver. Not recommended during pregnancy or nursing Echinacea Echinacea spp. • Used to enhance immune system Echinacea decreased the odds of: • developing the common cold by 58% • and the duration of a cold by 1.4 days Ephedra • In 2004, the FDA banned the U.S. sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra • The ban does not apply to traditional Chinese herbal remedies or to products like herbal teas regulated as conventional foods. Eucalyptus • Use to help with bacterial infection Eucalyptus, cont. • Caution with giving essential oil to infant/child orally: may stress kidneys or stop ability to breathe Foxglove Digitalis purpurea • Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a common garden plant that contains digitalis and other cardiac glycosides. These chemicals affect the heart. Foxglove is poisonous, although recorded poisonings from this plant are very rare Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra • Used for depression, high cholesterol, menstrual cramps, digestive issues... • Caution during pregnancy: can be an emmenagogue • Caution during nursing: Contains glycyrrhetinic acid which can cause unsafe sodium & potassium retention in mother and child Lilly of the Valley Nutmeg Myristic fragrans • Caution during pregnancy and nursing: Use of essential oil will contain safrole (an emmanagogue, abortifacient and known carcinogen) • Nutmeg spice is perfectly safe though! Oleander .