Herbal medicine in pregnancy and childbirth.

Pregnant women often use medicinal herbs in an effort to maintain good health and reduce the need for medical intervention. A survey of the scientific and popular literature identified a number of therapeutic herbs used in North America. Three categories are discussed: tonics, herbs for preventing miscarriage, and herbs for inducing labor. Some of these preparations may address women's needs in ways that biomedicine has failed to do. Purported merits and hazards of these medications are discussed.