Chinese motherwort has the effects of clearing heat, diuresis, and promoting menstruation and lactation. Many breastfeeding women take Chinese motherwort to help promote milk secretion. Some people say that pregnant women should not take Chinese motherwort, or they will have a miscarriage. Is this true?
Can taking Chinese motherwort cause a miscarriage?
It is possible.
Chinese motherwort is the dried stem pith of the plant Leonurus heterophyllus, which belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It has a mild taste and a slightly cold medicinal property. It has the effects of clearing heat, promoting diuresis, and promoting lactation. It has no obvious toxic side effects. However, it is still a traditional Chinese medicine, and the medicinal components may have an impact on the growth and development of the fetus. If pregnant women consume a large amount of Chinese motherwort or take it during the early stages of pregnancy when the embryo implantation is unstable, it may lead to a miscarriage.
What are the signs of a miscarriage caused by taking Chinese motherwort?
Vaginal bleeding
If taking Chinese motherwort leads to a miscarriage, the first symptom may be a small amount of vaginal bleeding. This is because the medicinal property of Chinese motherwort has caused certain stimulation to the pregnant uterus, resulting in separation of the placenta and uterine wall, forcing the cervix to dilate and blood to flow out from the uterus.
Lower abdominal pain
Due to the stimulation of Chinese motherwort on the pregnant uterus, it will cause strong contractions of the uterus. Therefore, if taking Chinese motherwort leads to a miscarriage, women may experience vaginal bleeding accompanied by lower abdominal pain.
What should pregnant women do if they have taken Chinese motherwort?
1. Stop taking Chinese motherwort immediately
Pregnant women should stop taking Chinese motherwort immediately after consumption, regardless of whether or not they experience any discomfort symptoms, to avoid worsening the symptoms.
2. Observe their own condition
Pregnant women should not be careless after taking Chinese motherwort, regardless of the amount consumed. They should closely observe their own physical condition, such as whether there is abdominal pain and whether there is vaginal bleeding.
3. Seek medical examination
Pregnant women should seek medical examination immediately after taking Chinese motherwort, regardless of whether they have any discomfort symptoms or not, to avoid delaying the best treatment time for themselves and their babies.
Who should not take Chinese motherwort?
1. Pregnant women
Chinese motherwort has a slightly cold medicinal property and has the effects of promoting circulation and removing blood stasis. Pregnant women have a special physical condition, and taking a large amount of Chinese motherwort during pregnancy may cause a miscarriage. Moreover, the medicinal components of Chinese motherwort may be transmitted to the fetus, affecting the growth and development of the fetus.
2. People with qi and yin deficiency
Symptoms of qi and yin deficiency include thirst, shortness of breath, pale complexion, fatigue, and dry throat. Chinese motherwort has the effect of diuresis and promoting urination. Taking Chinese motherwort may further damage the qi and body fluids in people with qi and yin deficiency, exacerbating the discomfort symptoms.
3. People with cold in the body
Cold in the body refers to the invasion of external cold, which is trapped in the organs, leading to symptoms such as weakness in the limbs, cold limbs, and abdominal pain. Chinese motherwort has a mild taste and a slightly cold medicinal property. Taking Chinese motherwort may aggravate the accumulation of cold in the body and worsen the discomfort.
What other foods can cause a miscarriage?
1. Soft-shelled turtle
Soft-shelled turtle has a slightly cold medicinal property and has the effect of promoting blood circulation and resolving blood stasis. Pregnant women consuming soft-shelled turtle may stimulate the uterine blood vessels and cause a miscarriage. The same applies to the consumption of soft-shelled turtle shell in traditional Chinese medicine, which has a stronger effect of inducing miscarriage than soft-shelled turtle meat.
2. Coix seed
Coix seed has the effects of diuresis, reducing swelling, invigorating the spleen, and eliminating dampness. At the same time, the active ingredients in coix seed also have a certain excitatory effect on the uterine smooth muscles, which can cause uterine contractions and lead to a miscarriage.
3. Hawthorn
Hawthorn has an acidic taste and has the effect of promoting blood circulation and resolving blood stasis. It can stimulate the uterine smooth muscles. If pregnant women consume too much hawthorn, it may cause uterine contractions and lead to a miscarriage.
4. Coffee beverages
The caffeine component in coffee beverages can directly enter the fetus through the placenta, affecting the growth and development of the fetus.
5. Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
MSG contains a large amount of sodium glutamate. When it combines with zinc in the blood, it will be excreted in the urine. Excessive intake of MSG can cause zinc loss in pregnant women, which is detrimental to the development of the fetus and may cause a miscarriage.
6. Alcoholic beverages
Alcoholic beverages have a sweet and spicy taste and can promote blood circulation, dispel cold, and have medicinal effects. However, due to their spicy and hot nature, they can stimulate the termination of pregnancy and affect the growth and development of the fetus.
