Is it ok to drink peppermint tea while pregnant
Herbal teas during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Many women choose to drink herbal tea to help with annoying symptoms when they're pregnant or breastfeeding. Some herbal teas are safe to drink while you're pregnant or breastfeeding, as long as you limit it to 1 or 2 cups a day and check with your doctor or midwife first.
Are herbal teas safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Even though herbal teas contain natural ingredients, that doesn’t mean they are necessarily safe. The amounts of substances they contain may vary, and they may also contain ingredients that aren’t listed on the label. These ingredients may pass on to your baby, or they may interfere with other medicines you are taking.
Like other complementary medicines, herbal teas are not studied scientifically like other medicines and they aren't regulated in Australia, so it’s good to use them with caution.
There are mixed opinions on the safety of herbal teas, for both pregnant and non-pregnant women.
Most commercial brands of herbal teas are thought to be safe for anyone to consume in reasonable amounts. The herbal teas that are considered unsafe are those that are not made commercially, those made with excessive amounts of herbs (amounts larger than those found in common foods or drinks), and those made with herbs that are known to be toxic.
It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor and midwife before you take any natural therapy, including herbal teas.
About herbal teas
Some teas claim to soothe an upset tummy, calm you down if you have anxiety, prepare your uterus for labour, or help you sleep. Some teas are prepared especially for pregnancy, and claim to help with complications like pre-eclampsia and prepare your body for labour.
Herbal teas are made from the roots, berries, flowers, seeds, and leaves of plants. Unlike black or green tea, they don’t contain caffeine. They can be bought from supermarkets and health food stores.
Drinking herbal tea safely during pregnancy and breastfeeding
The best advice is to only drink 1 or 2 cups of herbal tea a day.
Different teas contain different ingredients, so mixing up the flavours and drinking different types of tea on different days will limit the substances that your baby is exposed to. Don't drink the same herbal tea continually throughout your pregnancy.
If you're breastfeeding, keep an eye on your baby for any unusual side effects. If you notice anything that worries you, talk to your doctor or maternal child health nurse.
It's always a good idea to check before you take any herbs while you're breastfeeding, especially if you are also taking prescription medicine.
Which herbal teas to choose during pregnancy and breastfeeding
As a general rule, choose teas that are made from fruits and herbs you would use in cooking. Never make your own herbal tea from plants you've collected while you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
Large amounts of some herbs may possibly start contractions and increase your risk of preterm labour, or they may affect your baby.
Likely or possibly safe herbal teas
Peppermint tea: Peppermint is one of the most commonly used herbal medicines in pregnancy.
Studies have shown it doesn’t harm the mother or baby, although you should avoid very large amounts and avoid in the first trimester because it can promote menstruation.
Red raspberry leaf tea: Some women drink raspberry tea during the last trimester to help them prepare for the birth. It should be safe in pregnancy, but some studies have shown it can stimulate contractions so it’s a good idea to be cautious during the first trimester.
Ginger tea: Ginger can help relieve nausea. It should be safe in moderation while you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Green tea: Green tea isn't a true herbal tea. It contains caffeine, so you should limit how much you drink during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Chamomile tea: A cup of chamomile tea before bed may relax you, but again, avoid drinking large quantities. There is a suggestion it could stimulate the uterus or lead to circulation problems in your baby.
Teas where there is insufficient information about safety
Rose hip tea: There isn't enough information on rose hip tea to know whether it's safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Dandelion tea: There isn't enough information on dandelion tea to know whether it's safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Lemon balm: This tea is considered possibly safe and commonly used to relieve anxiety, irritability and insomnia. However, no study could be found to support these uses, and its safety hasn’t been studied in pregnancy
Which herbal teas to avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Sage tea: It’s OK to use sage in cooking, but you should avoid sage in concentrated forms during pregnancy such as in teas. It’s been linked to miscarriage and high blood pressure.
Parsley tea: Avoid parsley tea during pregnancy. If you drink large amounts, it may increase your risk of miscarriage and affect how your baby develops.
Where to get more information
For information on prescription, over the counter and herbal medicines, call the NPS Medicines Line on 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424)
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to speak to a maternal child health nurse.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Peppermint Tea in Pregnancy: Safety, Benefits, and More
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also feel like it comes with a lot of restrictions. While your morning cup o’ joe is probably just fine in moderation, if you’re a caffeine lover, you’re going to have to make some changes.
Many people turn to herbal teas to replace their favorite caffeinated latte or mid-morning espresso. And peppermint tea may be the perfect noncaffeinated pick-me-up when you’re pregnant. Here’s what you need to know.
Peppermint tea is considered an herbal tea. It’s made from the peppermint plant, which is native to Europe and Asia.
The peppermint plant is known as an aromatic herb that has a variety of uses as a flavoring agent for everything from mints and toothpaste to foods.
The plant leaves can also be used to create essential oils that include menthol, limonene, and menthone.
Menthol oil is probably a smell most people recognize and associate with peppermint.
Peppermint tea is made by steeping the fresh or dried leaves of the plant. It’s naturally caffeine-free.
It’s important to note that research regarding herbal teas and their side effects on pregnancy isn’t robust. This is mostly because researchers don’t want to knowingly put pregnant people (or their babies) at risk for the sake of conducting a study.
But we do know that peppermint tea, in particular, is a popular choice during pregnancy — and to date, very few adverse effects have been recorded when consumed in typical amounts (1 to 2 cups per day).
In general, peppermint tea is considered to be safe, but there’s conflicting information on whether or not it should be consumed throughout all three trimesters.
If you’re concerned about side effects, it’s best to avoid peppermint tea until your second trimester. But note that there’s no documented evidence that peppermint has ever caused a miscarriage.
In fact, it’s considered a better choice over nonherbal teas such as black, oolong, and green teas that do contain caffeine. You should still avoid drinking peppermint tea in large amounts, however.
While herbal teas like peppermint typically don’t contain caffeine, they can upset your stomach or have other side effects when consumed in large doses.
According to a 2017 review that looked at the use of herbal medicines in pregnant women in Asian countries, oral consumption of peppermint in pregnancy is considered generally safe in lower doses.
Breastfeeding
Research regarding the safety of consuming peppermint tea while breastfeeding is also mostly anecdotal.
While one older study — with a very small sample size of 18 women — showed that menthol can pass into breast milk, it didn’t demonstrate any adverse effects on milk supply or on the babies. Also of note, the study looked at the consumption of capsules containing a variety of compounds, and not pure peppermint tea.
Meanwhile, some people recommend using peppermint oil or tea to aid in weaning or to provide relief from engorgement. While there’s a lack of solid evidence that this works, there are personal accounts of its effectiveness. For that reason, you may want to hold off on the peppermint tea until you’re ready to wean.
Peppermint tea is often touted as a great solution for many common ailments associated with pregnancy. Specifically, it’s known as a natural remedy for:
- curbing nausea and vomiting
- easing heartburn
- soothing an upset stomach
- reducing headaches
However, research into these benefits is scarce and isn’t directly done on pregnant people — or done using tea. For example, one 2013 study on the positive effects of peppermint on nausea and vomiting was done on chemotherapy patients using peppermint oil.
While peppermint tea is widely viewed as safe, you should be mindful of how much you drink and where it was sourced.
Experts agree that most commercially produced peppermint tea is safe for consumption.
In contrast, homemade teas that fail to confirm the total amount of herbs used in them can be dangerous, since it’s possible to consume too much or to ingest other herbs that aren’t considered safe in pregnancy.
While you’re pregnant, it’s probably wise to drink no more than 1 to 2 cups of peppermint tea per day. As with many herbal concoctions, if you drink it in larger quantities, you may experience unwanted side effects like stomach upset.
It’s also a good idea to keep your healthcare provider apprised of any herbs you’re ingesting, even if they’re generally considered safe during pregnancy.
Whether you don’t want to give up your daily hot beverage or are searching for a natural remedy for common pregnancy ailments, peppermint tea is a great option. It’s considered generally safe for those who are pregnant or lactating to consume regularly in normal doses.
If you’re concerned about any adverse effects, wait until after your first trimester to indulge in a cup of peppermint tea.
Meanwhile, if you’re breastfeeding, you may want to wait to enjoy a cup until you’re ready to wean.
Is it possible for pregnant women to have tea with mint
Medicinal mint is one of the most famous natural remedies that has been used for the treatment of various ailments from time immemorial. It consists of various essential oils, trace elements and vitamins that really have an effect on the human body. Moreover, their influence may not always be positive.
Particular attention should be paid to various herbal preparations during pregnancy. During this period, the body of a woman undergoes tremendous changes. Therefore, it is important to understand whether mint tea is possible for pregnant women and how it affects the body of the future mother.
Mint decoction in normal states:
- is an anti-inflammatory agent;
- relieves nausea;
- relieves spasm;
- promotes vasodilation;
- reduces blood pressure, so it is recommended to drink with hypertension;
- has a calming effect;
- helps to cope with colds.
Mint exposure during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the expectant mother's immunity decreases. To prevent the development of colds, mint tea is recommended. In addition, in the early stages, it helps to cope with toxicosis and heartburn. It is an effective remedy for constipation and flatulence. Relieves headaches and muscle pain. Also, tea helps to normalize sleep and reduces nervousness. Another property of mint infusion that not everyone knows about is an increase in libido, which is reduced in some pregnant women.
Many argue that mint tea has no contraindications. However, this is not quite true. Therefore, before using it on a regular basis, it is better to consult a doctor in order to exclude possible risks for yourself and your unborn child.
The negative effect of crushed tea on pregnant women
The substances contained in the plant can not only help, but also harm the body of a woman during pregnancy. So estrogens, which are part of mint, in rare cases lead to premature birth.
However, to avoid this, a pregnant woman can drink no more than one cup of tea a day and take breaks in taking it for 1-2 days every 3-4 days.
In addition, the use of a flavored mint drink in the last stages can reduce lactation. To provide the baby with enough milk a month before birth, mint tea should be abandoned.
Also, people with low blood pressure and chronic diseases of the liver and kidneys should not use mint drinks. Varicose veins are a contraindication. Often there are allergic reactions to mint, which are highly undesirable during pregnancy.
How to use mint for pregnant women?
In order to please yourself with a fragrant, refreshing drink, mint is brewed and a weak infusion is drunk. The recommended proportions are 1 teaspoon of dry collection in a glass of hot water. Mint can be combined with other plants - raspberries, lemon balm, currant leaves.
To reduce the unpleasant symptoms of toxicosis, it is advised to pour a glass of dry mint collection with a liter of boiling water and insist for an hour.
I drink the resulting broth in small sips. The recommended dose is 0.5 cup every 4-5 hours. The Seven Cups store sells high-quality tea varieties and herbal preparations. In our catalog you can pick up non-tea drinks for various occasions and conditions. Pregnant women and those who want to get rid of insomnia, reduce nervousness, will definitely like herbal tea "Evening", "Legends of Altai", "Summer Mood", "Old Monastery Collection", etc. Customers can pick up sweets, dishes and other goods for drinks .
Peppermint Tea Features
Peppermint essential oil is very concentrated. It has a high content of various organic acids, menthol, tannins. The exact composition will depend on the weather conditions in which the mint was grown, how it was harvested, how it was stored, and how the essential oil was extracted.
One way or another, doctors agree that mint essential oil concentrate should not be used by pregnant women. In some cases, only local use of oil, slightly diluted with water, is allowed (for example, to relieve inflammation on the skin).
But as for whether it is possible for pregnant women to drink tea with mint, then medicine cannot unequivocally prohibit this drink from being consumed.
This is because this tea is prepared with the addition of a small amount of leaves, stems and flowers. In total, they contain not so much essential oil, so he will not be able to harm mom and baby. The main thing is not to overdo it. Peppermint tea or decoction is not such a harmless drink that can be consumed uncontrollably and in unlimited quantities. 1-2 cups of mint tea are allowed per day. This volume is the most optimal.
So, we figured out that pregnant women can have mint tea. But now you need to figure out in which cases this drink will help, and in which it can do more harm than good.
Benefits of mint tea during pregnancy
We have already determined what features mint tea has, how to drink it and in what concentration. Drinking it solely for the sake of pleasure is not worth it. The intake of this drink is indicated in special cases, as it helps to cope with a number of problems that arise during pregnancy: .
To help cope with symptoms of toxicosis, such as nausea and dizziness, you can gradually drink weakly brewed green tea with mint. Lemon is also believed to help some women with nausea (in small amounts, in the absence of bowel disease or allergic reactions to citrus fruits). In this case, you can combine the two methods into one and use tea with lemon and mint.
Mint for tea should not contain harmful substances and chemical additives. To buy a natural product that has passed a thorough radiological control, you need to buy a phyto-drug in trusted pharmacies. This is the only way to be sure of the safety of the purchased mint.
Can mint tea harm pregnant women?
The use of mint is far from safe in all cases, despite the fact that many claim the unconditional benefits of this plant.
Then the question arises as to whether it is always possible to drink such tea or are there any contraindications for use? It is amazing, but those components that are very useful in one case, in another they can greatly harm the body of the baby and mother.
Mint tea during pregnancy has a number of restrictions:
If a pregnant woman has diseases or disorders in the liver or kidneys, mint is not recommended.
Excessive consumption of peppermint tea can provoke spontaneous abortion or cause premature birth due to the fact that mint has an increased content of estrogens.
In the presence of hypotension, that is, low blood pressure, the amount of mint tea consumed should also be controlled.
Naturally, if you have an allergy to mint or a predisposition to allergic reactions, it is strictly forbidden to consume any drinks or products containing this plant.
There is one more important question: can a nursing mother have tea with mint? It is known that milk production is inhibited under the influence of substances that make up mint. It is necessary to limit the use of mint tea not only after the birth of the baby, but also in the third trimester of pregnancy so that in the future there will be no difficulties in establishing full lactation.
