Advocates of natural healing suggest that herbs can be effective at preventing pregnancy. Some believe that these herbs are preferable to chemical-based agents, synthetic hormones, and other popular methods of birth control.
Note: The herbs listed below aren’t approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and haven’t undergone formal medical testing for contraception, so their safety and efficacy can’t be guaranteed. Also, the mechanism of action for some of these herbs may induce a miscarriage or abortion. You should talk with your doctor about the use of these options.
Natural healers commonly suggest, along with herbal supplements, the use of a natural barrier such as a lambskin condom that hasn’t been treated with chemicals. Some of the herbs they suggest include:
Stoneseed root. Native Americans, such as the Dakotas and the Shoshone, would drink a cold infusion and inhale the smoke of stoneseed root to induce permanent sterility.
Thistle. Native Americans such as the Quinault drank a hot tea made with thistle to cause infertility.
Wild carrot seed. Women in certain parts of India eat a teaspoon of wild carrot seed immediately following sexual intercourse. They then follow up with a teaspoon a day for the next 7 days to prevent implantation and conception. It may also act as an abortive.
Ginger root. Natural healers suggest drinking 4 cups of ginger tea per day for no more than 5 days to initiate menstruation. You can also mix 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger in 6 ounces of boiling water and consume while hot.
Note: The herbs listed below aren’t approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and haven’t undergone formal medical testing for contraception, so their safety and efficacy can’t be guaranteed. Also, the mechanism of action for some of these herbs may induce a miscarriage or abortion. You should talk with your doctor about the use of these options.
Natural healers commonly suggest, along with herbal supplements, the use of a natural barrier such as a lambskin condom that hasn’t been treated with chemicals. Some of the herbs they suggest include:
Stoneseed root. Native Americans, such as the Dakotas and the Shoshone, would drink a cold infusion and inhale the smoke of stoneseed root to induce permanent sterility.
Thistle. Native Americans such as the Quinault drank a hot tea made with thistle to cause infertility.
Wild carrot seed. Women in certain parts of India eat a teaspoon of wild carrot seed immediately following sexual intercourse. They then follow up with a teaspoon a day for the next 7 days to prevent implantation and conception. It may also act as an abortive.
Ginger root. Natural healers suggest drinking 4 cups of ginger tea per day for no more than 5 days to initiate menstruation. You can also mix 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger in 6 ounces of boiling water and consume while hot.
