Birth control as we know it today is a relatively new invention. Hormonal methods weren't developed until the 1960s and are still not freely available to all women to this day, according to the Boston Women's Health Book Collective. Still, historically women weren't without the ability to control their reproduction. Many women throughout history turned to herbs to prevent pregnancy or to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. Many of these practices are still held sacred by women today.
Wild Yam
Willa Shaffer, author of the book "Wild Yam: Birth Control Without Fear" conducted a series of studies in Utah on women in her natural birthing community who used wild yam as their form of birth control. The women used the herb twice daily (the book doesn't give an exact dosage) with success. While no other major clinical trials or studies have since validated these findings, the popular herbal birth control website Sister Zeus tells accounts of women who have used the herb successfully as a daily contraceptive.
Queen Anne's Lace Seeds
According to Sister Zeus.com, Queen Anne's Lace seeds are a reliable, effective means of preventing pregnancy. They work to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. Sister Zeus compares Queen Anne's Lace seeds to emergency contraceptives or morning-after pills, citing that one of their main benefits is that they can be taken on an as-needed basis rather than as a daily contraceptive. The seeds are chewed eight hours after intercourse or taken in a tincture.
Neem Oil
Neem oil, like Queen Anne's Lace seeds, is an implantation inhibitor. Its effects were studied in the late 1990s. For example, a study conducted by the National Institute of Immunology and the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in India found that neem oil prevented implantation in rats by increasing immune system functions which prohibit the egg from implanting and continuing to grow. The study indicated that neem oil may have positive implications in preventing pregnancy in humans. It has already been used for centuries by women, according to Sister Zeus, to prevent implantation, although there is no set dosage.
Blue Cohosh
"Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Years" author Susun S. Weed classifies blue cohosh as an herbal emmenagogue. The herb is believed to spur absent menstruation, encouraging the uterine lining to shed. Weed also reports that blue cohosh causes uterine contractions which help the uterine lining detach from the uterine walls. The herb is used both to prevent implantation and to encourage miscarriage in the early stages of implantation. It's often used in combination with pennyroyal to induce abortion. If taken in high doses, blue cohosh is dangerous to the liver and kidneys.
