Herbs That Are Safe During Pregnancy: Ballota nigra / Black Horehound / Marrubium nigrum / Black Hempnettle

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Is Ballota nigra safe throughout pregnancy? - Yes. According to Health Canada, Ballota nigra can be used in moderation throughout pregnancy.

Is Ballota nigra safe while breastfeeding? There are no studies demonstrating whether or not Balllota nigra is safe during lactation or not. Though it has a very low toxicity level, it has sedative activity which would make us hesitant to recommend its use while breastfeeding. 

How can Ballota nigra be used during pregnancy? - Ballota nigra can be used to treat hyperemesis gravidarum naturally as well as morning sickness, whooping cough, cancer, gestational diabetes and a wide array of conditions during pregnancy. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The use of black horehound as an herbal remedy for hyperemesis gravidarum, morning sickness, and more goes back to the 13th century. The genus Ballota L. (Lamiaceae) includes about 33 species of plants that grow primarily in the Mediterranean. This herb can be extremely useful in many contexts to treat depression, whooping cough, and even cancer during pregnancy. 

According to Health Canada, Ballota nigra can be used in moderation during pregnancy. There are three levels of caution recommended by Health Canada in regard to herbs that are safe for use during pregnancy: 

• Herbs That Are Safe for Use During Pregnancy
• Herbs That Should Be Used in Moderation During Pregnancy
• Herbs That Should Be Used with Caution During Pregnancy

Ballota nigra is a valuable herbal remedy for hyperemesis gravidarum and morning sickness and though some sources say that Ballota nigeria should not be used at all during pregnancy, in fact, there are sources that support its use with enthusiasm, albeit according to the proper dose during pregnancy, for the treatment of serious pregnancy-related conditions such as hyperemesis gravidarum.

Ballota nigra is an herbal remedy for morning sickness that should be used in moderation which means that women should follow dosing recommendations closely and avoid using this herb except when it is absolutely necessary. In women with hyperemesis gravidarum or even just prolonged morning sickness, the “moderate use” rule may be hard to define precisely because women with these issues may absolutely need medicinal help practically every day of their pregnancy. Readers who have hyperemesis gravidarum or chronic morning sickness may wish to try to take 1-2 days off after 2-3 days of dosing of Ballota nigra, but in some cases, women may decide to take the herb continuously without breaks during pregnancy without any negative effects. 

Black horehound has been identified as an anticancer herb and as such, research into the use of this herb during pregnancy is hard to find. When an herbal remedy is identified as a powerful cure for cancer, funding for research into the herb gets cut to prevent scientists and the mainstream public from discovering the value of these herbs. The Cancer Industry is a heavily protected business entity. Sometimes, herbs like Ballota nigra get “black-listed” even though research has not proven that they are unsafe during pregnancy. This is likely what has happened with Ballota nigra, but women should still use critical thinking when administering this herb during pregnancy. Start with low doses and pay attention to how the herb makes you feel before increasing the dose. 

Other herbs that are supposed to be “used in moderation” according to Health Canada include Althea officinalis / Marshmallow root, Mentha piperita / Peppermint, Dioscorea villosa / WIld Yam Root, and Zea mays / Corn Silk. During her pregnancy, Lydian took the highest possible pregnancy-dose of Dioscorea villosa and Zea mays every day through her second and third trimesters with no negative effects.  On the other hand, I was very careful with the use of Althea officinalis because this herb can lower estrogen levels, which can lead to miscarriage or premature labor. Lydian didn't take Ballota nigra during her pregnancy, but if she had had access to this herb, she would’ve started by taking it at the lowest possible dose as an herbal remedy for morning sickness, increasing the dose only up to a point that relieved her symptoms. Women with hyperemesis gravidarum will have to weigh out the potential risks with the potential benefits of taking this herb daily or even more than once per day. It is worth noting, however, that some herbalists highly recommend the use of this herb during pregnancy without mentioning the need to take it in moderation.

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Ballota nigra: Side Effects and Toxicity 

When used as the proper dosage, Ballota nigra is reportedly very safe with no side effects in non-pregnant study participants. One study administered Ballota nigra to mice at a dose of 2000 mg per kilogram of the animal’s body mass (a massive dose). None of the animals died and even after 15 days of administration, there was no sign of toxicity in the mice. 

One study in humans administered 5 mL of liquid extract of Ballota nigra to 28 patients for 90 days. Only two adverse effects were reported by the study participants: 1)  nausea (which was alleviated by administering the Ballota nigra after meals) and 2) fatigue (which slowly went away as the study progressed).

No cases of overdose have been reported. The only contraindication to its use is its sedative effects which can impact driving ability or operating heavy machinery.

Ballota nigra: Medicinal Effects

• Antiemetic / Reduces nausea and vomiting
  • Motion Sickness
  • Morning Sickness
  • Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
  • Vomiting due to nervousness
  • Hyperemesis gravidarum
• Nervine / Natural treatment for anxiety during pregnancy
• Astringent
• Expectorant
• Emmenagogue
• Hypoglycemic / Insulin-releasing
• Lowers cholesterol naturally
• Sedative
• Antioxidant
• Antibacterial
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antiprotozoal
• Antifungal
• Anticancer
• Anticholinesterase
• Hypoglycemic / Natural treatment for high blood sugar during pregnancy / treatment for gestational diabetes
• Hypolipidemic
• Antidepressant
• Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity
• Cough
• Whooping Cough
• Herbal remedy for rabies
• Speeds wound-healing
• Bile congestion
• Antiparasitic (used as an enema or suppository)
• Insecticide / insect repellant against fleas
• Myasthenia gravis
• Glaucoma
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Mask of Pregnancy / Chloasma / Melasma
• Solar Lentigo
• Abnormal Skin Pigmentation
• Skin ulcers
• Skin sores
• Hemorrhoids
• Menstruation Disorders
• Dysmenorrhea
• Toothache
• Diuretic
• Digestive Tonic
• Antiseptic
• Antiparasitic / Vermifuge
• Flatulence / Gas
• Skin Rash
• Circulatory Stimulant
• Antispasmodic
• Esophageal Spasms
• Abdominal Colic
• Rheumatism
• Mental Health Disorders
• Insect Repellant / Fumigation
• Phobias
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Psychic Asthenia / Extreme Fatigue / Morning Tiredness
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Heart Palpitations

Ballota nigra: Herbal Remedy for Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Ballota nigra is one of the most important herbal remedies for hyperemesis gravidarum and morning sickness. It works through its impact on acetylcholine levels which play a role in nausea and vomiting in the body.

Ballota nigra: Herbal Remedy for Insomnia During Pregnancy

In scientific studies, phenylpropanoid glycosides in Ballota nigra help to increase sleeping time, reduce body movement, and slow electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Antidepressant effects of Ballota nigra may be related to the relief of insomnia.

Ballota nigra: Herbal Remedy for Depression and Anxiety During Pregnancy

Water extracts of Ballota nigra have antidepressant and anti-anxiety activity. This herb also has sedative properties that can help pregnant women sleep better. Indeed, Ballotta nigra can be extremely beneficial to women in terms of sleep due to five phenylpropanoids that bind to morphinic receptors, benzodiazepine receptors, and dopaminergic receptors. Daily treatment improves depression treatment in 65% of patients within 60 days and within 90 days, 73% of patients show relief from depression. 

Ballota nigra: Natural Treatment for Cancer During Pregnancy

There are two substances in Ballota nigra that specifically work against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) proteins that play a major role in the development of cervical cancer. When ballotinone and ballonigrin bind to the E6 protein of the Human Papillomavirus to deactivate it, it significantly reduces the risk of cervical cancer. 

Another compound found in Ballota nigra, 7α-acetoxyroyleanone, is a powerful anti-melanoma treatment that is safe for use during pregnancy. This compound works by inhibiting DNA synthesis.

The 7α-acetoxyroyleanone compound has also been studied in terms of its ability to kill breast cancer cells naturally. This compound has been used to treat leukemia naturally as well as colon cancer though it is likely that Ballota nigra can be used to treat most other types of cancer too. As an herbal remedy for cancer during pregnancy, Ballota nigra can be used with other anticancer herbs that are safe for use during pregnancy. Click here to read more about Arctium lappa as an herbal treatment for cancer during pregnancy.

Ballota nigra: Herbal Remedy for Myasthenia Gravis During Pregnancy

Ballota nigra inhibits enzymes that cause elevations of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Thus, it can be used as an herbal remedy for Myasthenia Gravis during pregnancy. Acetone extracts of Ballota nigra (subspecies anatolica), tend to be superior to water, methanol, ether, and petroleum extracts of this plant. Ballota nigra acetone extracts are better able to inhibit butyrulcholinesterase (BChE) than galanthamine, the standard drug used to treat Myasthenia Gravis. 

Ballota nigra: Herbal Remedy for Glaucoma During Pregnancy

The inhibition of acetylcholine makes this plant valuable as an herbal treatment for glaucoma during pregnancy.

Ballota nigra: Natural Treatment for Gestational Diabetes

Ballota nigra has hypoglycemic as well as hypolipidemic activity. Animal models have shown that an extract of Ballota nigra can significantly reduce blood sugar levels by 22-32%. Scientists believe that Ballota nigra can increase insulin levels naturally though studies have not yet been able to prove that this is the case. The blood-sugar-lowering effects of Ballota nigra tend to take about 6 hours to take effect.

Ballota nigra also reduces total serum cholesterol levels without impacting triglycerides.

Ballota nigra: Herbal Remedy for Melasma / Chloasma / Mask of Pregnancy Pigmentation

One study from 2014 showed that an extract of Ballota nigra (subspecies curdica) from Iran had a noteworthy tyrosinase inhibition activity. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that plays a major role in the creation of melanin in the skin. This study demonstrated that Ballota nigra can be useful as an herbal remedy for melasma, chloasma, solar lentigo, and other types of abnormal skin pigmentation.

Ballota nigra: Herbal Remedy for MRSA During Pregnancy

An ethanol-hydroxide extract of Ballota nigra stems have been used to lower δ-hemolysin, a virulence factor of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Scientists have suggested that as a result of this effect, Ballota nigra could be used as an alternative to antibiotics. A water extract of Ballota nigra has been shown to dose-dependently reduce biofilm production in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Ballota nigra: Herbal Antibiotic That’s Safe During Pregnancy

Ballota nigra has antimicrobial activity against all of the following:

• Escherichia coli
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
• Proteus mirabilis
• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Enterococcus faecalis
• Salmonella typhi
• Bacillus mycoides
• Bacillus subtilis
• Micrococcus lysodeikticus
• Candida albicans
• Bacillus cereus (Ballota nigra subspecies anatolica)
• Proteus vulgaris (Ballota nigra subspecies anatolica)
• Salmonella typhimurium (Ballota nigra subspecies anatolica)
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Ballota nigra subspecies anatolica)
• Staphylococcus epidermis (Ballota nigra subspecies anatolica)
• Propionibacterium acnes (Ballota nigra subspecies anatolica)
• Moraxella nonliquefaciens (Ballota nigra subspecies anatolica)
• Enterobacter cloacae (Ballota nigra subspecies foetida)
• Pseudomonas fluorescens (Ballota nigra subspecies foetida)

Ballota nigra: Herbal Antifungal That’s Safe During Pregnancy

Ballota nigra can be used as a natural treatment against fungal infections that involve any of the following fungal pathogens:

• Aspergillus niger

• Aspergillus flavus

• Aspergillus fumigatus

• Fusarium solani

• Candida albicans (Ballota nigra subspecies anatolica)

• Debaryomyces hansenii (Ballota nigra subspecies anatolica)

• Kluyveromyces fragilis (Ballota nigra subspecies anatolica)

• Rosemonas rubra (Ballota nigra subspecies anatolica)

• Candida glabrata (Ballota nigra subspecies foetida)

• Candida tropicalis (Ballota nigra subspecies foetida)

Ballota nigra: Herbal Remedy for Protozoal Infection During Pregnancy

The following protozoal pathogens can be treated using Ballota nigra during pregnancy:

• Leishmaniasis (ethanol-hydroxide extracts of Ballota nigra stems, leaves, and roots must be partitioned between several organic solvents and water.

Ballota nigra: Dosing During Pregnancy

The normal adult dose of Ballota nigra is between 1500 mg and 5000 mg per day administered as a hot herbal tea or as an extract prepared with ethanol (maximum 45% v/v) or water. 

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