Praktické lekárnictvo 2/2012

Phytotherapy in pregnancy and lactation

Pregnant women are included in the special group of patients at risk. For pharmacist's it means that special attention must be paid to pregnant patients in the selection of pharmaceuticals and particular food supplement. It is clear that even for the common patient at non risk may medicinal plants bring not only the therapeutic benefit but also some risks, especially if they are not taken to their correct dosage, method and form of use, but also the period of use, which is usually limited. The area of phytotherapy in self-medication is relatively wide, however, for pregnant and breastfeeding women is quite limited. The use of medicinal plants in pregnancy and lactation is limited, but not impossible, and many plants are beneficial for some health problems during this period. Anyway their use is based on traditional medicine and long-term experience. Yet the reality is such that there are still not enough clinical studies demonstrating the safety of the medicinal plants and natural substances in pregnancy and lactation and therefore their safety cannot be clearly confirmed. The most common used medical plant in the pregnancy and breastfeeding are ginger, raspberry and fennel.

Keywords: pregnancy, lactation, medical plants.