Alternative Medicine Used For Pregnant Women

Alternative medicine includes, among others, various types of practices, therapies, and a vast variety of natural products alongside or in place of Western medical treatments. Many pregnant women use alternative medicine to either help them with common symptoms or promote their general well-being, such as nausea, back ache, anxiety, or for helping with sleep. Some of these include acupuncture, herbal medicine, chiropractic care, massage, and homeopathy. While others, such as prenatal yoga and acupuncture, have a history of being safely provided in a professional setting, some alternative medicine, including some herbal treatments, are more of a concern to both mother and fetus because of inadequate information about their safety and efficacy. This abstract explores the prevalence, motivations, and safety considerations of alternative medicine among pregnant women and why evidence-based guidance coupled with open communication between patients and providers is essential. There is further need for research on these practices to evaluate their effectiveness and safety on pregnant women for making informed decisions.