Is it safe to take herbal sleep remedies while I'm pregnant or nursing?

It's easy to assume that since herbs are "natural," they're always safe to use. But herbs can be as powerful as some over-the-counter or prescription drugs — and some are even potentially toxic.

There are dozens of herbal products that are said to help you sleep, but most of them haven't been studied to find out whether they're safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding. Only a very few natural sleep remedies (ginseng, honey, nutmeg, and oats) can be considered relatively safe in pregnancy or while nursing, but even for these there is very little information. There are many other herbal products that might be OK to use, but there's no information about their effects during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Here are some herbs that you should definitely not use if you're pregnant or nursing because they may be dangerous for you or your baby: American hellebore, kava kava, marijuana, melatonin, mugwort, passion flower, Petasites, Rauwolfia, Siberian ginseng, taumelloolch, tulip tree, and valerian. It's not known whether St. John's wort is safe during pregnancy, but you should avoid it when breastfeeding.

If you do decide to use herbal remedies, consult with your caregiver before taking anything, either on its own or in combination with other herbs or medications. That includes drinking herbal tea.

Also, since the quality of herbs varies by manufacturer, ask an expert such as a physician, pharmacist, or naturopath to recommend a specific brand if your caregiver gives the go-ahead to try a particular herbal sleep remedy.