Herbal Tea While Pregnant: Which Types Are Safe—and the Ones to Avoid

I didn’t develop a caffeine addiction until after my third son was born—with three kids under 5, coffee became life. But for most of my pregnancies, I drank herbal tea when I needed a warm, soothing pick-me-up on days when I was nauseous, achy, tired or stressed. I chose all my teas from a pre-approved list after my midwife warned me there were a surprising number of herbal ingredients considered unsafe during pregnancy.

“Most people associate ‘herbal’ with ‘natural’ or ‘safe,’ but plants can contain chemicals that are potentially harmful,” explains Mary Mittell, CNM, medical director of midwifery at Providence Swedish in Seattle.

One of the problems with herbal tea while pregnant is that experts often don’t know which ones are safe and which aren’t; many are largely untested, so no one is comfortable definitively recommending them. Others, however, have evidence suggesting they can cause legitimate side effects in expectant moms. Here’s a breakdown of what we know: the herbal teas you can drink while pregnant, the ones you should consume cautiously and the ones you should totally avoid.

Key Takeaways

• Safe herbal teas: Some options, such as ginger and peppermint, are fine for pregnancy and even have some benefits, such as helping with nausea.
• Unsafe herbal teas: There are a few herbal teas to avoid during pregnancy, including black cohosh and blue cohosh, which could stimulate your uterus and cause contractions.
• The ever-popular chamomile tea is controversial: Some experts say moderate amounts are beneficial, while others advise against it. Ask your provider what they recommend.
• DIY herbal tea is your best bet: You can make your own totally safe herbal tea by steeping fresh or dried fruit in boiling water before straining it.
• Avoid tea blends: It’s best to stick with one-ingredient teas from the “safe” list and check in with your provider if you have specific concerns.

What Herbal Tea Is Safe to Drink While Pregnant?

The good news is that if you’re wanting herbal teas while pregnant, there are quite a few okay options. “Herbal teas can be a safe and effective way to improve some common pregnancy discomforts and a good sugar- and caffeine-free option for hydration,” explains Mittell.

But some herbal teas can be dangerous, interacting with commonly prescribed medications or even increasing the risks of miscarriage, preterm birth or injury to baby.

Plus, like supplements and vitamins, herbal tea isn’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or tested for its effects on Mom and baby. That means there’s no ingredient consistency or product quality required across brands, and no guarantee that what you’re drinking is safe. That’s why it’s best to think of even the okay herbal tea options as those with "no reported harm.” They haven’t necessarily been studied and definitively deemed safe. “Because there aren’t many studies on these substances and they’re not rigorously regulated, it’s best to practice caution before diving in and drinking large amounts of [anything] that may have the potential to interfere with growing a healthy baby,” says Tania Lopez, CNM, certified nurse-midwife at Pediatrix Medical Group in Fort Worth, Texas.

Check out our chart for fast answers, and then read on for the full breakdown on herbal teas for pregnant women.

Can you have peppermint tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Yes.
• What to know: This refreshing tea may help quell nausea and vomiting. Just be aware some research has linked excessive consumption in early pregnancy to uterine contractions, so don’t go overboard.

Can you have ginger tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Yes.
• What to know: Ginger tea while pregnant is safe to drink, and Mittell often recommends it to her patients experiencing morning sickness at the beginning of pregnancy. “My family is Caribbean and my mother was an RN,” shares Len M., a mom of three in Georgia, “so when I was in my first trimester and suffered from bad nausea, she would make me fresh ginger lemon tea.”

Can you have rooibos tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Yes.
• What to know: Rooibos tea is generally considered safe for pregnancy as long as it isn’t blended with other questionable herbs. It’s an uncaffeinated option that has a lot of beneficial compounds. Mom Len M. also drank rooibos tea: “My acid reflux was horrible toward the end of my pregnancy because I had big babies, so my midwife recommended rooibos tea to help with that [and also because of its] powerful antioxidants.”

Can you have lemon balm tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Yes.
• What to know: This citrusy tea could help relieve anxiety and insomnia.

Can you have cinnamon tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Yes.
• What to know: It’s considered safe to drink herbal tea containing cinnamon as long as it isn’t heavily steeped or medicinal in any way. High doses of cinnamon could cause your blood pressure to drop, and some types of cinnamon contain a compound called coumarin that can damage the liver in high amounts.

Can you have rosehip tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Yes.
• What to know: This vitamin C-rich tea might help bolster your immune system.

Can you have fruit-infusion or citrus-peel tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Yes.
• What to know: Look for products with only dried fruit, like citrus peel, and not other herbs. You can also DIY your own brew by steeping fruit (such as pineapple or apple) and zest from organic lemons or oranges in boiling water for several minutes, then straining.

Can you have hibiscus tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Use caution.
• What to know: Hibiscus tea has been linked to increased uterine blood flow, which can cause contractions, as well as hormone imbalances because it contains phytoestrogens. It may also lower blood pressure, says Lopez, who recommends exercising caution when drinking hibiscus tea during pregnancy: “Smaller amounts in the late second and third trimester are likely not harmful, but don’t overdo it.”

Can you have lemongrass tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Use caution.
• What to know: There’s a chance lemongrass tea could have similar uterine side effects as hibiscus tea, stimulating blood flow and contractions, so you may want to avoid it. However, other studies suggest it may not be harmful during pregnancy. We recommend checking with your provider on this one.

Can you have chamomile tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Use caution.
• What to know: Who would have thought chamomile would be controversial? Despite being a favorite among expectant moms for its soothing pre-bedtime properties, you do still need to be careful when drinking it. “I had a patient who drank chamomile every day to relieve nausea and fainted due to her blood pressure getting too low,” says Dr. Ella Fedonenko, MD, a medical director and dermatologist who previously worked in internal medicine. That said, Dr. Sarah Husain, ND, IBCLC, naturopathic doctor with Your Downtown Doula and mom of two in Toronto, drank chamomile tea often at night during her pregnancies, and says a cup or two to help with sleep is usually fine.

Can you have echinacea tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Use caution.
• What to know: We don’t have a lot of information about the safety of echinacea tea during pregnancy, but many women drink it to stave off illness without realizing they’re pregnant—and there’s no evidence it increases pregnancy complications or adverse effects for baby.

Can you have raspberry leaf tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Avoid (except right before your due date!).
• What to know: Red raspberry leaf tea has long been used as a “uterine tonic,” says midwife Mittell. There’s some evidence it might promote faster and less painful labor. Because red raspberry leaf tea can actually provide uterine toning benefits, you should wait until late in your pregnancy to try it. “Consuming raspberry leaf tea before the end of pregnancy can cause premature contractions,” adds Dr. David Ghozland, MD, an ob-gyn and medical director of a private practice in Southern California.

Can you have blue cohosh tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Avoid.
• What to know: Blue cohosh is widely considered unsafe to drink during pregnancy because of its ability to cause uterine contractions and induce labor.

Can you have black cohosh tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Avoid.
• What to know: Black cohosh is another variety of plant in the cohosh family, but just like blue cohosh, it’s unsafe due to its potential labor-inducing effects.

Can you have clove tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Avoid.
• What to know: According to nurse-midwife Lopez, experts recommend against concentrated amounts of clove: It contains substances that can interfere with baby’s heart development. Food-seasoning amounts are considered safe, though, she adds, so you can flavor your herbal tea with a pinch of clove, if you like.

Can you have licorice root tea while pregnant?

Verdict: Avoid. What to know: Licorice root has been linked to higher blood pressure and early delivery when used in large amounts, explains Dr. Jenelle Kim, DACM, LAc, a master herbalist and Doctor of Traditional Oriental Medicine. If you want to drink it, ask your provider how much is considered safe.

Can you have nettle leaf tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Avoid.
• What to know: Nettle leaf tea is made from the leaves of the stinging nettle plant, which is not considered safe for pregnancy because it could affect hormones and possibly even cause miscarriage.

Can you have lavender tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Avoid.
• What to know: We don’t know enough about the effects of lavender tea during pregnancy to assess its safety.

Can you have dandelion tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Avoid.
• What to know: Dandelion teas may be made with either the leaves or the roots of the dandelion plant, but in either case, many experts say to avoid this tea while pregnant. We don’t have enough evidence to say whether dandelion or dandelion root tea is safe during pregnancy.

Can you have fennel tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Avoid.
• What to know: This tea might lessen the effectiveness of certain drugs or harm fetal cells.

Can you have ginseng tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Avoid.
• What to know: Some animal studies suggest ginseng tea could increase the risk for birth defects, especially when used in the first trimester. It’s better to avoid this tea during pregnancy.

Can you have ginkgo biloba tea while pregnant?

• Verdict: Avoid.
• What to know: Ginkgo biloba tea has blood-thinning properties, so experts typically recommend avoiding it. It may induce early labor or increase your risk for additional bleeding during or after delivery.

Other herbal teas to avoid during pregnancy

Not all herbal teas are made equal. “Some contain compounds that can trigger uterine contractions or affect fetal development in ways we don’t fully understand,” says Dr. Matthew Casavant, DO, an ob-gyn in Clermont, Florida.

Play it safe by staying away from teas with ingredients you don’t recognize, as well as the following lesser-known herbal teas:

• Pennyroyal
• Yarrow
• Mugwort
• Angelica
• Dong quai
• Ephedra (ma huang)
• Mwanamphepo
• Senna
• Detox or fat-burning teas
• Medicinal-strength loose blends or multi-herb teas, which can be concentrated and may not have clear labeling

If you really want to drink a specific tea but don’t know if it’s safe, don’t hesitate to ask your provider. “Many herbal ingredients have limited pregnancy-specific research, so I felt it was better to be cautious and avoid anything my provider hadn’t approved,” says Meaghan W., a mom of one in South Carolina. “I always checked the full ingredient list, especially with blended teas, and asked my midwife before drinking anything I was unsure about.”

To Sum It Up

Herbal tea is a mixed bag. Varieties like ginger, peppermint and rooibos are generally considered safe, but others have shown evidence of negative effects on expectant moms or their babies. And then there are a whole bunch of herbal teas we don’t know enough about, so experts don’t recommend them out of an abundance of caution.

The bottom line? It’s best to play it safe with herbal teas during pregnancy. Stick to varieties on the “safe” list and drink them in moderation (one to two cups a day). Dr. Ghozland recommends always reading ingredient labels and asking your provider about specific herbal remedies when you’re unsure of their safety.

How We Developed This Article

Many moms-to-be wonder if their favorite teas are safe for pregnancy. To learn more about the safety of common herbal teas during pregnancy, we interviewed several medical professionals—including ob-gyns and a Doctor of Chinese Medicine—to find out why some varieties can be harmful to expectant moms and their babies. We consulted several medical and academic sources, including the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Finally, we spoke with real moms who drank herbal tea during pregnancy.

After editing, this article was vetted through fact-check and reviewed by our ob-gyn medical reviewer. Learn more about how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

About the author: Sarah Bradley is a freelance writer who combines her love of writing with her parenting experience, writing product reviews and reported features for a number of online parenting and health publications. She’s a regular tea drinker, and was surprised by how many teas were considered off-limits during her three pregnancies (thankfully, her favorite—peppermint—was safe!).

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.