Digest Number 1597

[Guest guest]

Thank you Valerie for that excellent post concerning the use of berberine

containing herbs in pregnancy. I agree with what you said and was taught

early on to use other heat clearing herbs during pregnancy, such as huang

qin.

There is another reason, not stated in your post, not to use berberine

containing herbs in pregnancy, more specifically, bitter herbs. There flavor

of bitter can have a stimulating effect on the uterus and for moms who have

either a history of or the potential to miscarry this type of stimulation is

absolutely contraindicated.

I have used these herbs for moms with infections, during pregnancy, but (for

the reasons you stated) I avoid berberine contain herbs.

 

thanks,

thomas

 

 

The studies showed that the effect of displacing bilirubin from serum

protein took several days of exposure to berberine. I don't know how long it

would take to clear a pregnant women's system, once administered. I stated

earlier that I have used small doses of huang lian before 16-17 weeks of

pregnancy, when the pattern clearly indicated its use. I would urge Chinese

Herbalists to not use such medicinals, and to counsel their patients to

avoid goldenseal as well after 16 weeks, as a reasonable precaution. Even

when used, it should be with confidence in the pattern diagnosis and at low

doses for short periods of time.

 

Valerie Hobbs, L.Ac.

Dipl. Ac., Dipl CH

 

 

Chinese Herbology and Acupuncture

acupuncture and herbal information

 

 

 

" Knowing nothing, you will be aware of everything. "

Lao Tzu

[Guest guest]

Rory, Valerie, et al.,

 

Rory, you are correct, there is no berberine in huang qin. This is one of

the reasons I love the herb. From a Western perspective it has other

chemicals that act against the bugs and therefore when combined with other

heat clearing medicinals it is a stronger punch.

 

Thanks,

thomas

 

 

Valerie,

 

Thank you for your excellent post on berberine. My only quibble is

that I cannot find a reference to support the statement that huang

qin contains berberine (whereas huang lian & huang bai do). If it

does not, I believe this supports the traditional use of huang qin to

calm the fetus.

 

Rory

 

 

Chinese Herbology and Acupuncture

acupuncture and herbal information

 

 

 

" Knowing nothing, you will be aware of everything. "

Lao Tzu