Birth Defects: CAM Therapies for Specific Conditions

Caution: Beta-carotene accumulates in fat cells and has toxic effects. When taken at ten times the RDA, vitamin A has been associated with birth defects.

Caution: Pregnant women and nursing mothers should be cautious about Chinese herbs, and people taking other medicines should be alert for drug interactions. For utmost safety, anyone taking TCM herbs should tell his or her physician.

Caution: Ginger may not be safe for morning sickness nausea, because some components of ginger may have mutagenic effects, which could possibly cause birth defects.

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From THE BEST ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: WHAT WORKS? WHAT DOES NOT? by Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier.
Copyright © 2000 by Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier, Inc.
Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York, New York.

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Unless otherwise indicated, Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier. All Rights Reserved.
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