Preparation: Garlic may be used as a suppository in combination with any abortifacient herbal treatment. Parsley combines well with garlic as a suppository. Historically garlic, in clove and umbel flower form, was mentioned boiled.[251] A boiled, cooled clove or small bulb can be inserted like a fresh clove, or the liquid infusion from the boiling of the head or the umbel flowers may be used as a fumigation, vaginal douche, or sitz bath. Garlic is most effective if used very early in pregnancy.
Words to the Wise: Clotting times can double when garlic preparations are used internally. Discontinue if signs of discomfort appear. Do not use garlic as a suppository for longer than two weeks. Garlic may increase blood pressure and the number of leukocytes (white blood cell in the blood). Garlic is estrogenic. Fatalities have been reported when garlic preparations fell into the hands of children. As with all medicines, keep herbs in a safe place that children cannot access. No specific signs of toxicity are reported for garlic as an herbal medicine. Remove garlic pessary if negative side effects are experienced.
Emmenagogual Garlic Vaginal Pessary: Simmer a garlic bulb in water for ten minutes. Test temperature of water, and when a comfortable warm temperature, douche with the garlic water. When the garlic bulb reaches a comfortable temperature, place in cheese cloth, tie with string and insert into the vagina. Replace every twelve hours for up to six days.
Ginger
If menstruation has been suddenly suppressed, it is best to give a hot sitz (hip) bath, a copious drink of ginger tea, place her in bed…, and bottles of hot water about her hips and loins.
-R.L Robb in Robb &Co.’s Family Physician, 1882
AKA: Asian, Jamaican, and Hawaiian Ginger.
Part Used: Root.
Medicinal Properties: Aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue and stimulant.
Effects on the Body: Soothes stomach, stimulates circulatory system, relieves joint and muscle pain, cleans out intestines, and promotes menstruation.
Abortifacient Action: Contains uterine contracting thujone.
Contains: Abortifacient chemical beta-bisabolene (rhizome), phytoestrogen beta-sitosterol, and beta-thujone (rhizome).
Description: Asian ginger, Zingiber officinalis, sometimes called Hawaiian or Jamaican Ginger, is cultivated in tropical climates. The knobby root has a smooth shiny tan skin. Inside, the root is cream to yellow with a very strong spicy odor. Grass-like stems emerge from the root nodes.
Asian ginger is the tan shiny root that can be found in nearly every Asian food store and in many mainstream supermarkets. Asian ginger is very effective at promoting menstruation (and possibly abortion) in early pregnancy, and is used for this purpose in China.[252] One prominent herbalist, Susan Weed, notes Asian ginger is quick to act and strong as a menstrual promoter. In experiments on rats, ginger tea caused increased early pregnancy embryo loss.[253]
Preparation: Ginger is highly regarded for its power as an emmenagogue and adjuvant, but generally ginger is not considered a strong abortifacient by itself. Ginger’s emmenagogual powers are most effective when utilized by taking ginger infusion for five days prior to menses. As an adjuvant, gnger is believed to have the power to enhance the effectiveness of any herbs with which they are combined. Asian ginger also has carminative properties that may combine well with aloe, or other herbs that tend to irritate the digestive organs.
Words to the Wise: Take ginger tea in smaller doses if large doses cause nausea.
Emmenagogual Decoction (root): 1 – 2 oz. (28 - 57 g) sliced fresh root to 2 cups (500 ml) water. Simmer 20 minutes. Take 1 cup (250 ml), two to three times a day, on an empty stomach for up to six days.
Hibiscus
A native of Banda in 1655 (confessed) that he had caused the abortion of his concubine by giving her the flowers (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) rubbed down with papaya seeds.
-William Dymock in Pharmacograph Indica, 1890
AKA: Bunga raya, karkade, kembang sepatu, bebaru, bunga pepulut (Malaysia), pucuk (Indonesia), zhu jin, fu sang, da hong hua (Mandarin), shoe flower, and rose of sharon.
Part Used: Flowers.
Medicinal Properties: Abortifacient, emmenagogue, and contraceptive.
Effects on the Body, Abortifacient Action: Anti-estrogenic and anti-implantation.
Contains: Unknown.
Description: Hibiscus is a small evergreen tropical tree or shrub, growing to a maximum of 30 feet (10 m) high in the wild. Alternate leaves are spirally arranged and often have a toothed or lobed margin. Large trumpet-shaped flowers with five or more petals arise from the upper leaf axils, and grow up to 10 in. (25 cm) in diameter. Flowers, whose petals range in color from white to yellow to red to purple, have a very long style. The fruit of hibiscus forms a dry five lobed calyx (capsule), which splits open to release the seeds at maturity.
The origin of hibiscus is unknown. Endemic varieties exist all around the world. According to ‘plant lore,’ the hibiscus symbolizes beauty and fertility. In Tahitian lore, the hibiscus flower worn over the right ear shows that a person is looking for a mate; and if the flower is worn over the left ear, a mate has been found. Hibiscus flowers also symbolize protection and are reputed to protect from poison and prevent evil spirits and illness.
Around the world, women use hibiscus to affect their fertility. For menstrual promotion and abortion, the fresh flowers are used in a hot water decoction in the following countries: China,[254] Bangladesh,[255] Peru,[256] East Indies,[257] East New Britain,[258] and Rarotonga.[259] In China and Annam, the bark of hibiscus is documented as being used as an emmenagogue.[260] In Jamaica, some tribes use oil from the hibiscus flower to induce abortion.
Hibiscus flowers were said to possess anti-fertility properties by ancient Ayurvedic texts. The flowers of hibiscus are used in Kerala, in southern India, is for their emmenagogue and contraceptive action. In Hindu temples in India, hibiscus flowers are given as offerings to Kali, the goddess known to carry away the dead. The Hindustani name for hibiscus ‘pushpa’ has multiple meanings: menstruation, vulva, and the honey of flowers. In India, folk-healers of Chhattisgarh, India mix the fresh hibiscus flowers in water and apply the paste externally on the pelvis to produce abortion.[261] The hibiscus flower may have the opposite effect on the uterus if prepared an alternate way; Murray mentions that in Sind (Pakistan) the flowers are fried in clarified butter and are administered for halting excessive menstruation.[262]
251
Hippocrates,
253
J. M. Wilkinson, “Effect of Ginger Tea on the Fetal Development of Sprague-Dawley Rats,”
254
G. Dragendorff,
255
M.K. Alam,”Medicinal Ethnobotany of the Marma Tribe of Bangladesh.”
256
V.R. Ramirez, L.J. Mostacero, A.E. Garcia, C.F. Mesia, P.F. Pelaez, C.D. Medina and C.H. Miranda,
257
I.H. Burkhill,
258
D.K. Holdsworth, “Medicinal Plants of Papua-New Guinea,”
259
S.K. Sharma and V.P. Singh, “The Antifungal Activity of some essential Oils.”
260
I.H. Burkhill
261
Pankaj Oudhia, “Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about Common Herbs Used for Abortion in Chhattisgarh, India,” Research Note 10. http://www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/388_abortion.html (accessed November 16, 2007).
262
J.A. Murray,