Herbal medicine or therapies have been around for thousands of years and have been used to treat almost everything. Even so, current information on the safety and efficacy of many herbs is lacking. Herbal therapies should be used with care and with the understanding that there is no standard for their consistency, efficacy, and safety since there is little regulation on their production and promotion.
There is significant data to suggest that some herbal remedies are helpful for some people having menopausal symptoms. See the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) educational pamphlet AP158: Herbal products for Menopause.
We recommend that pregnant women avoid herbal therapies altogether, as there are no good studies documenting the safe use of herbal medicine in pregnancy.
There are many sources available to research other uses of herbal medicine, including the ACOG website: