| This is a difficult one. Conventional drugs that are prescribed or sold in pharmacists have to undergo very rigorous testing and safety studies that often take years, and cost large amounts of money, before they can get a licence to be offered for use or sale. The same rules do not apply to herbal products, which generally escape detailed studies as they may often be sold as foodstuffs or food additives. But herbal products are usually plant extracts, and may actually be quite potent drugs or even toxic in certain circumstances. Because little is known about many of them, especially about their use in pregnancy, we would recommend real caution in their use. |
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