I’ve written before on the highly effective use of fertility herbs in women. I myself used herbs to encourage fertility with my first pregnancy as my husband and I did not attempt to start a family until I was well into my 30’s.
Once we discovered the wonders of Traditional Diet, however, I no longer needed any herbal assistance with later pregnancies. Herbs are also highly effective at dampening fertility in order to naturally and safely prevent pregnancy. When would such use of natural birth control be beneficial?
For one, herbal birth control would be helpful to use between pregnancies in order to space children 3-4 years apart. This allows Mom to adequately replenish her nutritional stores so that later children are just as healthy, smart and capable as the first. Spacing children a minimum of 3 years apart (birthday to birthday) was rigorously practiced in ancestral cultures. It preserves Mom’s health and prevents exhaustion and nutritional deficiency for her too.
Natural methods of birth control are always preferable to chemically based agents such as spermicides, contraceptive patches, and IUDs which emit synthetic hormones, or the contraceptive pill which decimates the balance of gut flora and can lead to autoimmune disease in the mother and any children born later.
Even IUDs that emit only copper instead of hormones to prevent pregnancy should be avoided as copper toxicity is a very real and dangerous side effect of using these devices.  According to Theresa Vernon, LAc author of the article Metals and the Mind:
If adrenal function becomes impaired, the copper builds up in the liver, brain, joints, and lungs. When this happens, you see very specific problems, including mental problems, liver problems, and detoxification problems. Phase II liver impairment is often made worse by copper toxicity, if not actually caused by it.
You also see a lot of copper toxicity with asthma and breathing problems, including emphysema. Copper also tends to build up in the joints, leading to arthritis. Chronic skin problems are also an indication of copper toxicity.
Low adrenal function is an epidemic in our modern society. Â If you doubt this, just walk into any convenience store and notice the enormous display of energy shots and drinks that are available for sale. Not to mention that a Starbucks or other coffee shop is virtually on every corner of most major cities. Americans have serious adrenal health problems. As a result, many are addicted to caffeine and sugar as a way to make it through the day. This makes any excess copper in the system a huge health problem!
Artificial contraception may be tempting in the short term. However, it is clearly not a great idea if preserving your long term hormone and gut health is important to you.
Herbs for Natural Birth Control
The use of anti-fertility herbs along with a simple barrier method such as the female or male condom that is not treated with chemicals (such as natural lambskin) works very effectively for preventing pregnancy. Â This option is especially attractive for health-conscious women who are not particularly turned on by the thought of charting their cycles, taking their basal metabolic temperature every morning, checking the stretchiness of their vaginal secretions and practicing selective abstinence a la Natural Family Planning which for some ladies over analyzes and saps the spontaneity out of what should be a very natural, uncomplicated and enjoyable event.
So if herbal birth control appeals to you, here are the different types and how they work as outlined in the very helpful book Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year. Â Please note that if sourcing your own herbs is new to you, a well-respected herbalist or acupuncturist in your area can put together a bag of herbs to assist you with natural birth control for an extremely reasonable cost. Â These professionally sourced herbs mixed in the proper proportions can then be used to prepare a cold or a hot herbal infusion that you drink periodically to keep fertility in check and under your control.
Sterility Promoting Herbs
Stoneseed Root. Â Women of the Dakota Indian tribes used this extremely powerful herb as a root infusion steeped in cold water for several hours. Â They then drank a cup every day for 6 months. The Dakota women also practiced breathing in the smoke of the plant as it burned to induce permanent sterility.
The Shoshone tribes concentrated in Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and Montana also used this root for permanent sterility purposes.
Jack in the Pulpit Root. Â This root is less powerful than stoneseed root and is prepared by mixing one tsp of the dried powdered root in a half cup of cold water. Â The liquid is then strained and was consumed by women of the Hopi Tribe. Â Â Conception was prevented for one week by doing this.
Thistles. Â The Quinault Indians used thistles to induce temporary sterility by placing the entire plant in boiling water. Â The very bitter, strong tasting liquid was then consumed.
Herbs that Prevent Pregnancy
Wild Carrot Seed (Queen Anne’s Lace). Â This oily and strong tasting but not unpleasant herb is particularly useful if an “oops” occurs and unprotected relations take place during the fertile time. One teaspoon of carrot seeds is taken immediately and continued each day for another 7 days.
The women of Rajasthan, India use carrot seed for this exact purpose. While wild carrot seed is not commercially available, cultivated carrot seeds can be substituted but be sure to check that they haven’t been treated with chemicals or other toxic substances.
Research in mice has proven the effectiveness of carrot seed to prevent implantation.
Smartweed Leaves. Â A common weed that grows all over the world, smartweed contains rutin, quercetin, and gallic acid. All of these substances interfere with the initiation of pregnancy.
An infusion of one ounce of dried leaves (or 4 ounces of fresh leaves) in a quart of boiling water is consumed liberally until menstruation begins.
Like carrot seed, smartweed may also be used after relations occur on fertile days or to bring on menstruation if the period is late.
Rutin.  This phenolic compound can be purchased in tablet form. A minimum of 500 mg should be taken daily for several days before and following ovulation. Another option is to consume rutin after sexual relations and continue each day until menstruation begins.
Herbs Which Initiate Menstruation
Ginger root. Â Ginger is perhaps the fastest acting menstruation initiating herb you can use. Put 1 tsp of powdered organic ginger root into a cup and pour boiling water over it. Drink when the water cools to a temperature which is still hot but comfortable. Drink up to 4 cups per day for no more than 5 days.
Vitamin C. While plain ascorbic acid is not the natural form of Vitamin C, it can be used therapeutically on occasion to bring on menstruation if necessary. Take 500 mg every hour for 12 hours each day for up to 6 days maximum. The use of ascorbic acid in this high dosage may also produce loose bowels as a side effect.
This post is based on a tiny portion of a single book by a single author who is self taught in herbal medicine. Nearly every example is from the aggregate of native American peoples. This is supposed to represent all traditional cultures? And where is the context of these peoples using these herbs, in times of war or famine? (I can’t fathom any traditional culture would use these herbs over a long period of time. They would have noted their cumulative ill effects.) What about the other forms of birth control practiced by the native Americans, most often abstinence, sometimes infanticide (as in twins or deformity like many other traditional cultures?) Native Americans did not believe the babies had “the spirit” until some days after birth, by the way. What about other cultures that were studied by Dr. Price? What did the Swiss do? What about the Maasai practice of female circumcision, is this supposed to be a good thing just because it is a tradition? This post is so wrong on so many levels, the entire blog loses credibility with me. There is no context given, and no comprehensive source of herbal use in traditional cultures. I will no longer read here or recommend this site as I have often done in the past. I am also disappointed Sarah has had little to say except to shriek about (the majority of) people overreacting rather than to actually respond to any sincere and well-founded comment.
Well said.
Actually, this was not very well said.
Just because Sarah gave examples of various fertility-suppressing herbs does not mean she believes that everything traditional cultures did is viable or right or moral for us now. Instead of legitimately questioning the nature of these herbs, or her academic citations, you have cried “Oh but what about female circumcision!” Come on. That makes no sense.
And secondly, the majority of people overreacting to this post are arguing from a pro-life perspective. As Sarah has stated many times, she believes women have the right to decide what is right for them and their bodies, without the interference of the dogma of the masses. You have mistaken her differing opinion for having “little to say.” Just because she has not succumb to the arguments outlined here does not mean she has ignored them, just that they have not convinced her to change that belief.
Actually, you are misunderstanding me.
Sarah is using the herbs as examples of options for women saying they are within the realm of tradition. There is no Dr. Price, or anyone else for that matter, to further investigate. Were the herbs used in conjuction with other things? (Thankfully Dr. Price’s research found Activator X. Were there similar foods or herbs used with the listed herbs? We have no idea.) How were they used? We have no idea. Anyone can look in an ethnobotany book for a list of what Indian tribes were using at the specific moment the scientist was gathering that information, but there is nothing else putting the use of the medicinal plants into context. Therefore, the herbs are touted as being useful only because they were traditional, at that moment in time, for the American Indian tribes cited. That they are useful is soley Sarah’s opinion, and the opinion is based on one book. (Note that I am not making a judgment on Sarah’s opinion, she is entitiled to think whatever she wishes, and I won’t call her opinions an overreaction.) However, someone else might make this same argument that female circumcision is beneficial because of a single source and the opinion of the author, because it is based on tradition.
Today we have xenoestrogens everywhere which are putting women into a state of estrogen dominance, the hormone parallel to guy dysbiosis, and many aren’t aware of the symptoms or effects. I don’t consider this post informative. I consider it incomplete – sort of like telling people whole grains can be good without adding how to properly prepare them. Therefore, she is saying little. Let’s have the whole story!
I also find it incomplete in that the information represents a small geographic area in one short time period. I don’t really want to change anyone’s mind, I just feel it appropriate to present enough information to allow a reader to actually learn something that isn’t going to potentially harm them and that’s not going to happen here.
Many other people have said similar things in the comments. The criticism is not all about religion.
I just wanted to state one more thing after re-reading this post– I thought that spacing out children around 3 years apart was a smart thing to do… until my son was a surprise at only 15 months from my daughter’s birth. Guess what? They LOVE it! They are best friends and share many of the same interests. It is perfect. We would never change it and I’m so glad it worked out this way. So the reasoning of separating children according to a chosen schedule isn’t always the best solution. You are welcome to talk to my teenagers any day. They’ll tell you how great it is and blessed they are to have each other. They’ll also tell you that you are so wrong about when life begins. They are much more furious at the thought of killing a child for whatever reason! Out of the mouths of babes comes much truth… there is no selfishness clouding the issue.
I’m a bit more than disgusted after reading about these herbs that produce forced miscarriages. How awful! Sarah, I’m surprised at how poor your attitude has been in response to these comments. And to try and blame peoples opinion on religion? WOW!. I’m not religious and I’m not spiritual. I DO NOT in any way, shape or form believe in any type of higher power. I do however understand facts. And your recommendation of miscarriages on purpose is disgusting and shows a lack of value on life. You have certainly lost a reader in me and I will no longer be recommending you to anyone.
I’m sure she’ll miss you dearly.
Dear Sarah, I would like to discontinue my membership to this blog….Your take on herbs that cause abortions are wrong….your attitude to people who disagree with you is disgraceful. If you believed in life, you would be grateful to the women who brought it to your attention.
I took the bp for a very short time, when I asked my doctor about it, he said if you only realized what all this little pill does…that was the last time I took it….and people who care about life will also realize what the herbs do…because the woman on this site cared enough to bring it to their attention…..thank you…
Unfortunately, not all women have the empathy and concience that you do. I count myself among those horrible women who would use forms of contraceptives. I don’t want children. I never will. I like sex, and I don’t want to be in danger of becoming pregnant everytime I make love. I want to experiment with men without having to call each one of them up a few months later and say, “Surprise! You’re a father!” If there was a way I could become sterile premanantly without damaging my body, I would do it in a hearbeat. A fertilized egg holds no love in my heart. It is a burden. A thing of annoyance. Something to be dealt with quickly and quietly. I would not subject a child to living in this world. Never have I endured such a tedious chore as living, and I would not inflict the same fate on a child. I curse the day that my mother didn’t use protection, and her choice allowed me to be victimized and raped by her as a child. I would have rather been dead than be in her disgusting womb. And, call me selfish, but ruining my body and going through massive amounts of pain is not worth having a squaling brat. I could never love a baby if it was the cause of so much suffering.
A fertilized egg holds no love in my heart. It is a burden. A thing of annoyance.Something to be dealt with quickly, quietly, and without remorse or thought.
As a young woman, I find it disheartening that so many of my own gender feel that the only reason for sex is to create life. Sex is also for bonding. If sex was only for procreation, why is it also pleasureable for the woman? A woman’s pleasure is by no means essential to conception, as many ill-fated rapes are proof of. People who want children should be able to have them, but those of us who abhor the idea of a baby should be allowed to have sex without restricitons being forced upon us.
Also the doctor you talked to was not very professional. He should have presented facts, not tried to convince you not to use the pill for moral reasons. The reason I searched for natural birth control is because I feel that the pill is dangerous. I am not a believer in God, (I am a proud Kopimist. ALL information is sacred) but I still feel that some higher power would not want me to use synthetic chemicals in my body, and nor would that higher power want me to bring a child into this world against my will.
In closing, I would like to apologize for the somewhat late comment, but it seems it is never too late to speak of such things. I realize I will not change your opinion on this, and that is not my intent. My intent is only to let you know what I think, and hope you will give this comment some thought.
Best Wishes,
Mir
I don’t think I’ve read about herbs being used for this purpose. It’s not surprising since most medications are based on plant medicine.
Yes, exactly. These herbs have been used by Indian women for centuries. If you are not familiar with them, however, it is imperative to seek an herbalist on the matter.
“These herbs have been used by Indian women for centuries.”
I would love to see your source on this one.
Do you have any good sources for getting these herbs? I have been googling, but all I can find is wild carrot seed. I for one loved this post, and I wish all these negative people would grow up, and realize that not everyone is a Christian, or the same type they are. So childish!
Thanks, Sarah, for all the hard work and research you do!
It sounds like the answer would be to be clear on the mechanism of each herb: which prevent ovulation, which prevent implantation, which bring on menstruation if there’s no implantation, which bring on menstruation even if there is implantation. Then people can decide for themselves which methods they ethically feel they can support.
It’s hard to know the facts in these cases, because big-Pharma has pushed to change definitions in recent years. Conception and used to be defined as egg + sperm with implantation happening later, but since big-Pharma wants the morning-after Pill to be marketed as a contraceptive and not an abortifacient, they’ve pushed hard to have implantation= conception. That doesn’t make much biological sense, but it helps them to sell the morning after pill.
Anyone wanting to learn more on this topic should check out the book “Embryo” by Robert George. The female body, and the human embryo, are really incredible!
In the Philippines where a contraceptive rights bill is currently being heavily debated in the legislature, some of the male legislators are arguing that every sperm is sacred as it “might” end up fertilizing an egg. Therefore, they are arguing against even the use of condoms as they are drawing the line at the sperm and egg being the beginning of human life. Some commenting here are drawing at the embryo as every embryo “might” end up implanted in the uterus. Others are drawing the line at implantation. Others even later at some weeks into pregnancy.
I think it best for women to read the information and use what they see fit based on their personal beliefs.
1). Respect for all human life is not the exclusive domain of religion; and
2). There is just enough information within this post to make it dangerous. While I usually find myself advocating for freedom of speech, I believe there is an element of irresponsibility here considering the potency and side effects of herbs. Don’t underestimate the power and ease of google for a desperate young woman.
1) No, but the notion of when life begins often is, as demonstrated all over this page.
2) Very much agreed.
@Jade –
1) The ‘notion’ of when life begins is “the exclusive domain of religion”? That’s like saying the notion of the world being round is “the exclusive domain of cartographers”.
Life:
a : the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body
b : a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings
c : an organismic state characterized by capacity for metabolism, GROWTH, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
Zygote: a cell formed by the union of two gametes; broadly : the DEVELOPING individual produced from such a cell
Somehow, I don’t think you’re suggesting that there’s some debate over whether the zygote is alive or not. If so, perhaps we’d all better drop this entirely and go back to a basic biology course.
I believe what you meant was “the notion of when the unborn become worth defending” is really what you claim to be exclusively in the domain of religion. Though, come to think of it, I’ve seen several compelling arguments, none of which bring religion into the picture at all.
Jennifer,
You are suggesting that there is no debate within the scientific community over when life begins. Sean Tipton of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, for example, does not agree with the idea that life begins at fertilization. In short, this is because a fertilized egg must undergo more processes, including implantation, before it can successfully grow into a life. There are many more examples.
So ignoring the fact that this debate exists, and clinging to the side of the argument that supports your beliefs (which is a distinctly unscientific position), is religious – or dogmatic, or ideological. I use them interchangeably. As a medical student, I understand the definition of a zygote. But thank you for your concern about my competency in basic sciences.
Furthermore, much of the definition of life you provide (which, I should not have to tell you, is incredibly mercurial and ethnocentric) could almost perfectly describe a cancerous tumor. Like a zygote, a tumor requires an attachment to a developed life in order to survive and grow. Without this developed life, there is no tumor. There is no zygote.
In light of this fact, I personally believe a much more elegant – and humanistic – way of seeing zygotes and fetuses is as growths within the mother, with some previously extracorporeal substance (sperm) mixed in. As ‘lives,’ these beings do not hold up very well. They cannot grow without the mother’s nutrients, womb, bloodflow and oxygen, along with potentially infinite as-yet unidentified components. It cannot survive and grow on its own, not with even the most advanced technology. It is a part of the mother. Like a tumor, like an infection, like a virus, like a parasite. Just because it has the potential to be a human life, does not mean that it is.
Now, you can of course disagree with my opinion and stand on whichever side of the debate most speaks to you. But the definition of life is scientifically contentious and culturally constructed, and to suggest otherwise is to succumb to blindness brought about by a fervent belief.
Dear Sarah,
Your blog has been so helpful to me over the past year. Thanks for helping me understand the crazy world of food in America! As a newly married young woman, I might not be doing as well as I am if my Father had not led me to your blog. 🙂 Understanding how food affects my body has been invaluable. Thank you. 🙂
I know this is a sticky subject, but for the sake of your readers who have little knowledge about birth control/contraception (and their little ones), and would be horrified to realize they had unknowingly used an herb that prevented implantation, or caused a miscarriage, it is imperative that you define clearly what each herb does by calling it what it is. If it is an early miscarriage, call it as such – not starting menstruation. You can’t force someone to believe what you believe, but you can give them all the information. I’m sure the last thing you want is to lead someone down a road they may later regret as they get more information.
With gratitude,
Amy
As I mentioned earlier, it is always best to seek the assistance of an herbalist or some type of professional in these matters. This blog is only intended to provide an overview of some of the options available and to open up women’s minds about what they can do besides using synthetic contraception.
I too am disappointed to read implantation prevention methods. A life begins at conception when sperm and egg meet. I didn’t decide that. God did.