Amy sent us a question:
Is it advisable for expecting mother not to take ANY chinese herb especially “dang gui” during your 1st week till 13 weeks of pregnancy. as i am been told that during that period/weeks, it is very important/vital period for development of the fetal.
Dear Amy,
Your question: is it advisable for expecting mother not to take ANY chinese herb especially “dang gui” during your 1st week till 13 weeks of pregnancy. as i am been told that during that period/weeks, it is very important/vital period for development of the fetal.
Pregnancy is divided into 3 trimesters which is about 12 weeks each. The first trimester is when the fetus (baby) is developing. This is the time when all the organs are forming and taking shape so it is very important that you DO NOT take any drugs or herbs which may interfere with this process. Eating a well balanced diet will provide your growing baby the right nutrients therefore you do not really need to take additional herbs. Please check with your doctor first if you need to take any medication. “Dang gui’ is a very heaty herb and should not be taken during pregnancy. It is best to take it during the postnatal confinement period when your body is supposed to be ‘cold’. The best time to take any Chinese herbs during pregnancy is in the third trimester and the safest herbs are ‘pau sam’, boxthorn fruit (gei chi), yok chuk and cordyceps. You should include ginger in your diet as it helps with morning sickness during early pregnancy and is good for your blood circulation.
If you have any further questions please do feel free to ask us here at Baiboo.
All the best
Cecilia
