Herbs are not the only supplements that should at times be avoided by women. Some supplements should be avoided at all times by women while other supplements only need to be avoided before and during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Some of the more common supplements that women should avoid include, but are not limited to, vitamin A, vitamin D,  and alfalfa.

Vitamin A is an important part of health, but when more than 10,000 IU of   this nutrient is taken daily by a pregnant women, it can severely increase the rate and likelihood of birth defects. Please consult a doctor if you are pregnant or nursing and you think your daily intake of vitamin A is greater than 10,000 IU.

For the same reason, vitamin D should not fall outside of the guidelines of 400-1,000 IU each day. Anything lower than 400 IU can cause the pregnant mother to be unhealthy, but anything over 1,000 IU a day creates a chance to cause birth defects.

Women who are presently taking birth control pills, blood thinners, aspirin, Warfarin, Heparin, or potassium should not take alfalfa supplements. The risks and complications with alfalfa combined with any of the above mentioned substances can be quite severe including severe bleeding. Birth control is also much less affective when alfalfa is taken and there is an increased risk of pregnancy.

It is quite important for any woman who is thinking of taking any type of vitamin or other supplement to speak with their doctor before taking it, especially if they are breastfeeding, pregnant, or trying to become pregnant. Precaution certainly outweighs trying to correct whatever problems could be caused by taking the wrong thing.