Gothic Gardening: Theme Gardens

The Abortionist's Garden

Not strictly a "gothic" topic (well, unless you think dead fetuses are gothic) but definitely a macabre one....

The old herbalists had quite a few ideas that were not very scientific, such as the Doctrine of Signatures. According to this Doctrine, if a plant looked like a certain part of the body, then it was good for curing maladies of that part of the body. Hence, Lungwort looked like lung tissue, and it *must* be good for treating lung ailments. However, despite ideas like this, the ancient herbalists (and those called witches) did get quite a few things right. Science has confirmed, in many cases, that the plants used to cure disease did, in fact, contain compounds that were medicinally valuable. A well-known example of this is foxglove, long a staple of the witch's garden, from which modern medicine extracted digitalis, a valuable heart drug.

Long before modern contraceptives were synthesized, women attempted to control their reproductive systems using plants. Often this meant inducing abortion-- certain herbs were known to have abortifacient properties. These herbs have two main methods of action. The first involves stimulating the blood flow to the pelvic area and uterus(emmenagogues); the second involves imitating oxytocin, the hormone which is responsible for uterine contractions. These are often the same herbs which were used by midwives to facilitate labor, and knowledge of the plants could very well get you burned as a witch.

Note: I've stolen many of the doses of the these herbs directly from the alt.folklore.herbs FAQ. However, I have left out some of the information presented on toxicity and contraindications. If you seriously consider using any of these herbs, do your research first!!!!!

Pennyroyal-Mentha pulegium or Hedeoma pulegiodes (American Pennyroyal)

Pennyroyal is probably the best known of the abortifacient herbs, since in 1970 two women died from taking the essential oil internally. The herb is safe to use internally, even though the essential oil is extremely toxic and should only be used externally. Herb dose: 1/4 cup of herb to 1 quart water once a day for no more than 6 days. Essential oil: can be rubbed over the pelvic region (but not near the vaginal lips) to stimulate menstruation and ease cramps.

Tansy-Tanacetum vulgare

Another emmenegogue, tansy is also used for expelling worms in the GI tract. Herb dosage: Tea, 4-8 teaspoons per qt. sipped throughout day. Tincture: 10 drops in warm water every two hours til bleeding commences, for no more than 5 days.

Black Cohosh Root-Cimicifuga racemosa

Well, I'm not sure whether black cohosh is the emmenagogue and blue cohosh is the oxytocin imitator, or the other way around, since I've seen them listed both ways. They are usually used together, though, and seem to have a synergistic effect. Herb dosage: 3 teaspoons per cup, 4 times a day. Tincture: 20 drops every 6 hours.

Blue Cohosh root-Caulophyllum thalictroides

Like black cohosh, this herb was used by Native Americans and the early settlers. The active chemical is caulosaponin. Herb dosage: 3 teaspoons herb per cup, 3 cups per day Tincture: 20 drops every 4 hours, for six days or til bleeding commences.

Cotton Root Bark-Gossypium herbacetum

While I'm not sure where you could find this, cotton root bark is supposed to be a powerful abortifacient. Slave women would use this often, and slave owners who knew of this practice would force the women to drink black haw tonics every day to prevent abortion. Herb dosage: 12 teaspoons per quart, 1/2 - 1 quart through day. Tincture: 10 drops every few hours until bleeding commences, for no more than 6 days.

Ginger-Zingiber officinale

While ginger can be used to promote menstruation, there is no evidence it causes miscarriages, and is often taken in pregnancy for morning sickness. Dose: 1 oz. fresh or dry root to pint of water.

Angelica root-Angelica archangelica

Angelica is an emmenagogue and oxytocic herb that has been used for "menstrual irregularities", to ease cramps, to aid expulsion of the afterbirth, and to relieve congestion in the pelvic region. Herb dosage: 1/4 cup herb to 1 quart water as tea. Tincture: 10-20 drops every two hours. The dried root is less toxic than fresh. Be careful if you are harvesting wild angelica because it can be confused with poison hemlock (which is toxic in any amount).

Mugwort-Artemisia vulgaris

An emmenagogue, mugwort is considered an excellent uterine stimulant, and used for regulating the cycles of young women. I've seen all Artemisia species listed as abortifacients. Herb dosage: 3 teaspoon per cup tea, 3 cups per day, for no more than six days.

Rue-Ruta graveolens

Another powerful abortifacient, although I don't know the method of action. It is also used to stop spasms of the digestive system or spasmodic coughs.

Motherwort-Leonurus cardiaca

This herb contains leonurine and stachydrine, which both promote uterine contractions.

Trillium root-Trillium spp.

This herb can start labor by itself, although it is usually used to prepare the uterus for childbirth before using stronger herbs. Herb dosage: Tea 3 teaspoons per cup, 1 quart per day. Tincture 30 drops 3-4 times a day. Rare in the wild--Do not harvest!

Parsley-Petroselinum crispum

Supposedly can be used as a vaginal insert to stimulate menstruation.

Wild Carrot Seed-Daucus carota

This is used as for contraception, possibly working by preventing implantation. However, if you harvest wild seed, be careful as many related plants are extremely poisonous and look very similar. This plant is also known as Queen Anne's Lace. Dosage: 1 teaspoon a day chewed and washed down with fluid.

Some other herbs I've seen listed as abortifacients:

• Yarrow-Achillia millefolium
• Poke Root-Phytolacca americanium
• Mayapple-Podophyllum pelatum
• Mistletoe-Viscum album
• Feverfew-Chrysanthemum parthenium
• Thuja leaf-Thuja occidentalis
• Sage-Salvia officinalis

...and I'm sure there are many others.

Unfortunately, I've read that herbal abortion is not terribly effective. Often women have poisoned themselves in the attempt to self-abort. Please don't try any of these herbs without first researching them carefully. And since some of these may have debilitating effects on the embryo/fetus, please don't attempt an herbal abortion if you don't plan to follow up with a clinical abortion, in case the herbal method fails.

One final note: please don't write to me to tell me I'm evil or to give me your anti-abortion opinions and beliefs. I don't want to hear them, and you won't convince me of anything. If you are anti-abortion, then I ask that you do your part and adopt a child, preferably one that is considered "unadoptable". Otherwise, I just consider you a hypocrite.