What principle dictates avoiding juniper if clear safety evidence for pregnancy is lacking?
Answer
The precautionary principle dictates avoidance.
When dealing with botanicals during gestation, especially those lacking clear, established evidence confirming their safety profile for both the fetus and the mother, the guiding philosophy must default to caution. The precautionary principle mandates abstention from using potentially risky substances unless substantial, reliable data proves they are harmless in the context of pregnancy. This approach prioritizes eliminating unnecessary variables and potential risks over exploring unproven remedies, which is particularly relevant for herbs like juniper, where traditional usage might conflict with the biological needs of a developing pregnancy.
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