Hibiscus / Hibiscus sabdariffa

The Basics

What is Hibiscus / Hibiscus sabdariffa?

Used in traditional medicine for management of edema, cancer, constipation, hypertension, fever, liver and nerve diseases and often found in teas.

Brand names for Hibiscus / Hibiscus sabdariffa

N/A

How Hibiscus / Hibiscus sabdariffa is classified

Complementary Therapies, Food, Phytotherapy, Plants, Medicinal

Hibiscus / Hibiscus sabdariffa During Pregnancy

Hibiscus / Hibiscus sabdariffa pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Hibiscus / Hibiscus sabdariffa while pregnant

Limited evidence exists, but in 2003 the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that hibiscus potentially has an emmenagogue effect. There were no scientific evidence to support the use of Hibiscus sabdariffa during pregnancy and lactation. However, there is in vitro evidence from animal studies that the seeds of Hibiscus sabdariffa have lactogenic effect. Animal studies have also shown that there is a delayed puberty, elevation of body weight and BMI in female rats that consumed extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa.

Taking Hibiscus / Hibiscus sabdariffa While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Hibiscus / Hibiscus sabdariffa?

Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) flowers contain anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, as well as various pigments, oils and acids. Other Hibiscus species are also used medicinally. Hibiscus is purportedly used as a galactogogue in some cultures and is included in some proprietary mixtures promoted to increase milk supply;[1][2] however, no scientifically valid clinical trials support this use. Galactogogues should never replace evaluation and counseling on modifiable factors that affect milk production.[3] No data exist on the excretion of any components of hibiscus into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of hibiscus nursing mothers or infants. Hibiscus is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Hibiscus flowers appear to be generally well tolerated, although allergic reactions are possible, including cross reaction with other members of the Malvaceae family (e.g., ambrette, marshmallow). Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) flowers contain anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, as well as various pigments, oils and acids. Other Hibiscus species are also used medicinally. Hibiscus is purportedly used as a galactogogue in some cultures and is included in some proprietary mixtures promoted to increase milk supply;[1][2] however, no scientifically valid clinical trials support this use. Galactogogues should never replace evaluation and counseling on modifiable factors that affect milk production.[3] No data exist on the excretion of any components of hibiscus into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of hibiscus nursing mothers or infants. Hibiscus is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Hibiscus flowers appear to be generally well tolerated, although allergic reactions are possible, including cross reaction with other members of the Malvaceae family (e.g., ambrette, marshmallow). Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products.

Possible effects of Hibiscus / Hibiscus sabdariffa on milk supply

Sixty-six postpartum mothers (22 in each of 3 groups) with no concurrent illnesses were randomly assigned to receive an herbal tea, placebo, or nothing after delivering healthy, fullterm infants. Mothers in the herbal tea group received at least 3 cups daily of 200 mL of Still Tea (Humana-Istanbul, Turkey; containing hibiscus 2.6 grams, fennel extract 200 mg, fennel oil 20 mg, rooibos 200 mg, verbena [vervain] 200 mg, raspberry leaves 200 mg, fenugreek 100 mg, goat’s rue 100 mg, and, vitamin C 500 mg per 100 grams, per manufacturer’s web site November 2011). A similar-looking apple tea was used as the placebo. All women were followed by the same nurse and pediatrician who were blinded to what treatment the mothers received. Mothers who received the Still Tea produced more breastmilk with an electric breast pump on the third day postpartum than mothers in the other groups. The infants in the Still Tea group had a lower maximum weight loss, and they regained their birth weights sooner than those in the placebo or no treatment arms. No long-term outcome data were collected. Because many of the ingredients in Still Tea are purported galactogogues, including hibiscus, no single ingredient can be considered solely responsible for the tea’s effects, although the authors attributed the action to fenugreek.[4]

An herbal tea containing hibiscus, fenugreek, fennel, rooibos, vervain, raspberry, goat’s rue, and vitamin C (Humana Still-Tee, Humana GmbH, Herford, Germany) or water was randomly given to nursing mothers in a dosage of 3 cups daily beginning on the day of delivery. Several markers of antioxidant capacity were measured in breastmilk on day 1 and again after 7 to 10 days. No difference was found in the markers between mothers who received the tea and the water.[5]

Possible alternatives to Hibiscus / Hibiscus sabdariffa

None listed