60% of women use herbal products during pregnancy

Almost 60% of women use at least one herbal product during pregnancy, research launched at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester has revealed.

In the first UK study of its kind, pharmacy researchers from the University of East Anglia found that despite the popularity of herbal products, almost half (49%) of the pregnant women were uncertain about the safety of the preparations and took them on the recommendation of family or friends rather than a healthcare professional.

Unlike prescription drugs, most herbal products do not have to currently be tested for quality, safety and efficacy. As a result, the quality and strength of herbal products can vary. This can lead to varying safety end efficacy. In addition, reliable information about the product may be hard to find, which can also lead to questions on safety and effectiveness.

According to the findings, women were more likely to use herbal products if they were aged over 40 (72%). Compared to similar studies done in Norway, the USA and Australia, researchers also found the extent to which herbal products are used in the UK was significantly higher.

In a separate study, University of Manchester pharmacy researchers found that while pregnant women often went to community pharmacies, most did not actively seek advice from pharmacists about the most appropriate course of action for self-care in pregnancy.

University of Manchester pharmacy researcher, Dr Lorna Tuersley said: "The women in our study didn't always recognise that their local community pharmacist is a significant resource for health information.

''When they did seek advice from the pharmacist it related largely to practicalities and side effects for products they had already selected often on the basis of lay advice. There are risks and potential dangers related to all kinds of medicines and remedies and, as it is not always obvious to staff that a woman may be pregnant, it is imperative that pregnant women ensure they are well informed before taking anything.''