We all know that taking Western medicine during pregnancy can have an impact on both the mother and the fetus. Therefore, many women generally avoid taking Western medicine during pregnancy. Even if medication is needed, they will try to choose traditional Chinese medicine, believing that it has fewer side effects. However, this idea is incorrect. Many chemical components in traditional Chinese medicine are very complex, especially when multiple herbs are combined, the changes in their efficacy may directly affect the health and development of the fetus. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid the following four types of traditional Chinese medicine when taking medication.
1. Highly toxic and hot drugs
Examples include Xanthium sibiricum, cinnabar, realgar, Euphorbia, aconite, Rhizoma phragmitis, scorpion, centipede, and arsenic. It has been confirmed that realgar has teratogenic effects and should be absolutely prohibited for oral administration by pregnant women. Cinnabar contains mercury salts that can accumulate in the body of pregnant women, leading to microcephaly, hearing loss, strabismus, mental retardation, and other issues in newborns.
2. Blood-activating and stasis-dissolving drugs
Examples include peach kernel, safflower, Fructus Aurantii Immaturus, calamine, Chinese motherwort, Chinese angelica, pangolin, leech, Silurus asotus, myrrh, and frankincense. These drugs can accelerate blood circulation in pregnant women, stimulate the uterus, and reflexively cause strong contractions, resulting in intrauterine ischemia and hypoxia in the fetus, leading to poor fetal development and various deformities, and even miscarriage, premature birth, and stillbirth.
3. Lubricating and cathartic drugs
Examples include talc, Sinomenium acutum, Semen Pharbitidis, Amaranthus tricolor, coix seed, croton seed, Stephania tetrandra, and Cucurbita moschata. These drugs often have the functions of promoting qi circulation, diuresis, and purgation. They can stimulate the intestines and digestive system, excite the uterus, and cause reflexive contractions, leading to unstable implantation of the fetus and resulting in miscarriage and premature birth.
4. Aromatic drugs that disperse and move
Examples include cloves, borneol, and musk. These drugs can cause uterine contractions through the nervous system and easily lead to premature birth or miscarriage. Musk is one of the main components in many drugs used for artificial abortion or induction of labor.
Of course, among the vast treasure trove of traditional Chinese medicine, the drugs that have adverse effects on pregnant women are still a minority. Traditional Chinese medicine, as a natural medicine, still has far fewer side effects than Western medicine. Therefore, when pregnant women are ill, there is no need to avoid seeking medical treatment. They should promptly consult a doctor, who can weigh the pros and cons and choose the appropriate medication for the health of both the mother and the fetus.
