Can pregnant women suffering from insomnia use COZHOM?
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From a scientific and precautionary perspective, we do not recommend that pregnant women use COZHOM on their own.
This is a question we believe deserves a careful and honest answer.
COZHOM is a topical gel formulated with botanical extracts and designed to support a simple, quiet bedtime ritual. It is not an oral medication and is not intended to treat a disease or medical condition.
However, during pregnancy, products should be evaluated with a higher degree of caution than they might be for the general adult population.
At present, there is limited human research on the safety of the specific botanical extracts used in COZHOM in pregnant women, particularly at the specific formulation, concentrations, method of application, and frequency of use of COZHOM. Therefore, we do not have sufficient scientific evidence to tell pregnant women:
“COZHOM is proven to be safe during pregnancy.”
When sufficient evidence is not available, we believe it is better to be cautious rather than make a safety claim that the science does not support.
Why “Natural” Does Not Automatically Mean Safe During Pregnancy
This is an important distinction.
“Natural” describes the source of an ingredient. It does not establish its safety during pregnancy.
The FDA also cautions consumers against assuming that a product is necessarily safer simply because it is labeled “natural.” For cosmetics, manufacturers remain responsible for ensuring that their products are safe when used as directed and under customary conditions. FDA: Cosmetics and Pregnancy
During pregnancy, many factors need to be considered when evaluating a botanical ingredient, including:
- What plant is being used
- What type of extract is used
- The concentration of the extract
- How much product is applied
- Where it is applied
- How frequently it is used
- Whether the ingredients can be absorbed through the skin
- The extent of any systemic exposure
- Whether adequate human pregnancy data are available
For COZHOM's current formulation and intended use, we do not have sufficient pregnancy-specific human safety data to make a definitive safety claim. For that reason, we take a precautionary approach.
A Special Note About Valerian Root
One of the botanical ingredients that receives particular attention in COZHOM is Valerian Root.
Much of the available scientific information about valerian concerns oral valerian products.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), research on valerian is limited, and little is known about its safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding. NCCIH: Valerian
This is another reason we do not recommend that pregnant women independently use products containing valerian.
However, there is an important scientific distinction to make:
An orally consumed valerian root product and a topical gel such as COZHOM do not involve the same route of exposure.
Topical COZHOM and Oral Valerian Root Should Be Considered Differently
Oral valerian root products are consumed through the digestive system and undergo absorption and metabolism after ingestion.
COZHOM, by contrast, is a topical gel applied to the skin.
Therefore:
Research on oral valerian should not automatically be interpreted as evidence about exposure to topical COZHOM.
At the same time, it would also be scientifically incorrect to assume that a topical product cannot result in systemic exposure simply because it is applied to the skin.
The relevant questions include:
How much of an ingredient can be absorbed through the skin?
How much, if any, reaches systemic circulation?
What level of exposure results from the actual use of the product?
The answers depend on factors including the specific formulation, ingredient concentrations, application site, amount applied, frequency of use, and the absorption characteristics of the ingredients.
Therefore, the scientifically appropriate conclusion is not:
“It is topical, so it must be safe during pregnancy.”
Rather:
“Topical and oral products involve different routes of exposure and cannot simply be equated. However, because sufficient pregnancy-specific human safety data for COZHOM are not currently available, caution is still warranted.”
That is why we do not make a pregnancy-safety claim for COZHOM.
So, Can Pregnant Women Use COZHOM?
Our recommendation is simple:
If you are pregnant, do not use COZHOM on your own.
If you are pregnant and considering using COZHOM, please consult your obstetrician, midwife, or other healthcare professional responsible for your pregnancy care before use.
Whether a product is appropriate should be considered in the context of your:
- Stage of pregnancy
- Individual health circumstances
- Current medications
- Allergy history
- Specific product formulation
- Intended method of use
If your healthcare professional considers it appropriate, follow their advice regarding whether and how to use it.
Why Do We Choose to Answer This Way?
Because COZHOM believes that:
Real trust does not mean always telling you “yes.”
Sometimes, when the evidence is insufficient, the most honest answer is:
“We don't have enough scientific evidence yet.”
For adults in general, COZHOM can be discussed as part of a bedtime ritual, a nighttime lifestyle, and a routine incorporating botanical ingredients.
Pregnancy, however, is a special period in which we believe safety should come before a product sale.
If the evidence is insufficient, we would rather be cautious.
COZHOM's Position
COZHOM is a brand about the night, ritual, and nighttime living.
We believe every night can become a quiet moment that belongs to you.
But pregnancy is a unique stage of life.
So if you are pregnant:
Please consult your healthcare professional before using any product containing botanical extracts.
This does not mean that COZHOM has been proven harmful during pregnancy.
Quite the opposite.
It means that there is currently not enough scientific evidence for us to responsibly tell you that COZHOM has been proven safe during pregnancy.
We believe that is the most honest answer we can give.
Scientific References
The NCCIH states that research on valerian is limited and that little is known about its safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding. NCCIH: Valerian
The FDA's consumer guidance on cosmetics and pregnancy recommends discussing questions about cosmetic ingredients and pregnancy with a healthcare professional. The FDA also states that cosmetic manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the safety of their products under labeled or customary conditions of use. FDA: Cosmetics and Pregnancy
Note: This article is provided for general consumer information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace an individualized recommendation from a qualified healthcare professional.