basil?

[ursusarctos]

In Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year Susun Weed warns against basil in the first trimester... we were going to have tomatoes and basil with pasta for dinner tomorrow night... since I'm in paranoia-land I thought I'd ask the rest of you what you thought of eating basil in early pregnancy? Ever heard any reason not to? Ever eaten it and been fine?

[MommaSomeday]

I believe basil is a uterine stimulant/irritant. From everything I've read, it is fine to use as a culinary ingredient, but you wouldn't want to consume tons of it. If you are at risk for miscarriage, you'd want to get even less of it. However, the amount in your dinner should be fine.

Enjoy your dinner - it sounds good!

[ursusarctos]

Ok, thanks!

[Sleepyheaded_Mama]

Oh man I just had a dish with basil yesterday for lunch, in fact I went back for seconds :

[ursusarctos]

I suspect it's not that big of a deal... I was looking at the same chapter and it said that this kind of mild uterine stimulant probably won't cause a miscarriage if there's nothing wrong with the baby. If it's going to stick, it's going to stick, unless you take something really strong.
We didn't actually have the pasta after all though. I got sick so DP made us chicken noodle soup can't beat the little packet of chicken flavoring in the chicken-flavored ramen for making tasty chicken soup

[pjs]

DDC crashing- but as a fellow pregnancy paranoia mama, make sure your ramen is msg free.

[ursusarctos]

oh interesting, i knew msg was bad but especially in pregnancy? i have no idea if the ramen had msg, we never eat it so i didn't bother to check.

[SilvanaRose]

You are absolutely fine to have basil as a herb in food. I think the problem would be if you had basil tea 5 times a day for a couple weeks. Cooking it in food won't release any properties that will cause a utirine contraction. Basically what that book is about is using herbs for their medicinal properties (tintures, teas, oils etc.) not really about using them in food. That is a great book though btw, but try not to worry too much : ))