Abnormal Development - Herbal Drugs: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:17, 3 December 2010

Introduction

This page introduces the possible effects of maternal use of herbal drugs (therapeutic chemicals/agents) on development. In some cases these drugs are "prescribed" to treat pre-existing or pregnancy related maternal medical conditions. In all cases, a discussion with a medical practioner should had prior to any reproductive decision.

The following herbal drugs have been used for a number of different maternal conditions: Ginkgo Biloba, Kava (Piper methysticum), St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), Tian Ma (Gastrodia elata), Valerian (Valeriana officinalis). In some cases very little is known about the potential teratogenic effects of these drugs.

The National Center Complementary and Alternative Medicine (USA) provides excellent summary information sheets on many of the commonly used herbal treatments, though many of these information sheets do not include information about herbal drug use during pregnancy.

Some Recent Findings

St. John's Wort

HSTAT St. John's Wort | Appendix II: Side Effects, Adverse Effects, Precautions, and Warnings "The safety of using hypericum during pregnancy or lactation has not been proven so it should be avoided." "St. John's wort induces the CYP 450 3A4 metabolic pathway which is also used by many prescription drugs used to prevent conditions (transplant rejection or pregnancy oral contraceptives), health care providers should alert patients about these potential drug interactions."

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo leaf extract has been used to treat a variety of ailments and conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, fatigue, and tinnitus (ringing or roaring sounds in the ears).

Extracts are usually taken from the ginkgo leaf and are used to make tablets, capsules, or teas. Occasionally, ginkgo extracts are used in skin products.

References

Reviews

Saunders EJ, Saunders JA. Drug therapy in pregnancy: the lessons of diethylstilbestrol, thalidomide, and bendectin. Health Care Women Int. 1990;11(4):423-32.

Articles

McBride WG. Prescription drugs in the first trimester and congenital malformations. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 1992 Nov;32(4):386.

Search Pubmed

June 2010 "herbal drugs in pregnancy" All (395) Review (50) Free Full Text (30)

Search Pubmed: herbal drugs in pregnancy

External Links

United Nations International Drug Control Programme
Australian Drug Foundation (ADF)
Centre for Education and Information on Drugs and Alcohol (CEIDA) (Australia)
Child Health and Safety (Australia)
NIDA (USA)- Consequences of Prenatal Drug Exposure
Australian Medicines Handbook (no electronic version yet)
Australian Congenital Anomalies Monitoring System (ACAMS)
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

Glossary Links

Glossary: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Numbers | Symbols | Term Link

Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, May 19) Embryology Abnormal Development - Herbal Drugs. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Abnormal_Development_-_Herbal_Drugs

What Links Here?

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 '''Search Pubmed:''' [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&cmd=search&term=herbal%20drugs%20in%20pregnancy herbal drugs in pregnancy]
-== UNSW Embryology Links ==
-* [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/page1.htm Abnormal Development]
-* [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/page3.htm Abnormal Development- Australian Statistics] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/page4.htm Abnormalities by Systems]
-* [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/page7.htm Prenatal Diagnosis]
-* [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/genetic.htm Genetic Abnormalities] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/page21.htm Down Syndrome] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/page18.htm Edwards Syndrome] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/fragilex.htm Fragile X] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/leschnyhan.htm Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome]
-* [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/maternal.htm Maternal Factors] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/maternaldiabetes.htm Maternal Diabetes] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/hyperthermia.htm Maternal Hyperthermia] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/page5e.htm Neural Tube Defects] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/page5a.htm Fetal Alcohol Syndrome] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/smoking.htm Smoking] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/chemical.htm Chemical] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/drugs.htm Drugs] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/drugs2.htm Illegal Drugs] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/radiation.htm Radiation] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/metal.htm Heavy Metal] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/page11.htm Iodine Deficiency] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/virus.htm Viral Infection] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/rubella.htm Rubella] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/polio.htm Polio] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/parvovirus.htm Parvovirus] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/varicella.htm Varicella] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/bacteria.htm Bacterial Infection] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/malaria.htm Malaria] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/toxoplasmosis.htm Toxoplasmosis] | [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/autism.htm Autism]
-* [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/page10.htm Fetal Origins Hypothesis]
-* [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/IUGR.htm Intrauterine Growth Retardation]
-* [http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/Defect/twin.htm Twinning]
 == External Links ==