In all Traditional Cultures, various methods have been tried to control or prevent pregnancy. Various ancient cultures including Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Chinese and Indian show evidence of using contraceptives, some of which have been proven to have some effectiveness via anti-implantation or spermicidal effects, while many simply have strong emmenagogue effects, effectively inducing early miscarriage if used in the first few weeks after conception.

Contraception has been a part of human culture for millennia, and continues to be widely used today. Various methods have been used and this page intends to show the use of herbal contraception as used in Traditional Medicine.

Several different methods were employed:

• Magic used by folk medicine practitioners and midwives to try to prevent conception.
• Medicines used for a time after menstruation to prevent conception for a period after.
• Medicines taken following intercourse to avoid implantation
• Medicines taken once Menstruation has been absent to ‘force’ menstruation
• Medicines applied to the penis before intercourse
• Medicines inserted into the vagina prior to or after intercourse
• Physical Therapies: sneezing and making loud noise following intercourse; rub the umbilicus firmly with the thumb; also smelling strong smelling scents.

As far as Herbal Medicine is concerned, several effects can cause a contraceptive effect. In females, herbs may prevent fertilization, implantation, or ovulation, may decrease progesterone, or cause abortion. In men, they may prevent spermatogenesis, inhibit testosterone, or affect gonadotropin.

• Anti-fertility–prevent or control Fertility
• Anti-implantation–these prevent implantation of a fertilized egg after conception
• Antiovulation–these prevent ovulation, thereby preventing conception
• Antiprogesterone–inhibits progesterone, the ‘pregnancy hormone’
• Antispermatogenic–these inhibit sperm production
• Strong emmenagogue–when these are used in within the first month after conception, they force menstruation, thereby causing early miscarriage. They should only be used in the first trimester.
• Abortifacient–these medicines abort the Fetus and are only safe to use in the first Trimester, preferably in the first month.

A Brief History of Contraception

• Contraceptives are mentioned in Kahun Papyrus (1850 BCE) which included pessaries and vaginal plugs
• Condoms are illustrated in Egypt (c. 1350–1200 BCE)
• Hippocrates (460-377 BCE) mentions ‘Coitus interruptus’ (withdrawal) as a form of Contraception.
• Hippocrates also mentions Wild Carrot seed which has shown strong anti-fertility effect.
• Aristotle (384-322 BCE) mentions several topical contraceptives.
• Pliny (23–79 CE) recommended abstinence as a form of Birth Control.
• Dioscorides (40–90 CE) listed almost 100 remedies as contraceptives in his Materia Medica.
• Galen (130-200 CE ) lists several medicines for contraception.
• Charaka (c. 100–200 CE) mentions several contraceptives
• Aetius (6th century) recommended women smearing Cedar resin, Myrtle, Lead and Alum while men should smear their penis with Alum, Pomegranate, Galls and Vinegar.
• Avicenna (980-1037 CE) in his Canon mentions a number of Contraceptive medicines, both topical and internal
• Jurjani (1110 CE) gave detailed instructions for Contraception, including men wrapping their penis in fine cloth prior to intercourse.
• Vascetomy was reportedly first performed in 1775. Sir Asley Cooper first performed vasectomy in dogs in 1823.
• James Blundell recommended tubal division in 1834, Lungren perfomed the first Tubal Ligation in 1880.
• German gynecologist by the name of Wilde made the first cervical cup in 1838.
• Dr Mesinga (1882) devloped the modern diaphragm.
• Dr Rendell invented spermicidal pessaries in 1885.
• First vasectomy in man was performed in Britain in 1894.
• Richter invents IUD in 1909.
• Around 1930 it was discovered that ovulation occurred mid cycle, thereby recommending to avoid intercourse during this period to prevent pregnancy.
• During the 1960’s sequential pills, morning-after pills and copper IUD’s were introduced.
• 1970’s Birth Control Pill was first used by the Candaian Dr. Yuzpe (combining esterogen and progesterone)
• 1972 the Australians Dr. John and Evelyn Billings showed cervical mucus changes occur with ovarian cycle, and the Billings method was established.
• 1980’s Ultra low dose contraceptive pill is introduced.
• 1990’s Hormonal implants were first introduced

Herbs With Proven Contraceptive and Anti-Fertility Effect

Anti-Fertility

Anti-implantation Herbs

Anovulation

Antiprogesterone

An Anti-progesterone effect does not mean it is contraindicated in pregnancy; a number of the below-mentioned herbs are used during Pregnancy. 

Antispermatogenic

Spermicidal

A number of Saponins from Herbal Medicines have demonstrated Spermicidal activity.

Strong Emmenagogue

Abortifacient

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Other herbs used classically include:

Blessed Thistle (strong infusion)
Pomegranate seed
Willow leaf (Dioscorides)
Butea monosperma seed
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flowers
Mitragyna parvifolia bark

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Methods of Use:

1. In Unani, the fruit of Winter Cherry is used for a period following menstruation to prevent Conception.
2. A piece of Tumeric (or the powder) taken by a women for 3 days during menstruation and 3 days after was said to promote sterility, but the menstrual period will continue. (Ayurveda, Unani)
Abortifacient effects have been demonstrated by strong water extracts in early pregnancy.
3. Carrot seed has been traditionally used as a ‘morning after’ anti-pregnancy treatment.
Seed extracts were effective at inhibiting implantation taken 4–6 days post coitum.
4. Cotton seed and cotton seed oil contain gossypol has both male and female contraceptive effects.
20mg taken daily for 3 months followed by maintenance of 50-60mg weekly dramatically inhibited sperm motility in men. It also promote menstruation and inhibits implantation in women.
5. Embelia ribes was used in an open trial: 48 fertile women (aged between 26-42) took Embelia for 1 year covering 538 menstrual cycles. The method used was to take 1 tablet (400 mg Embelia ribes extract) each morning for 10 days beginning on the fifth day of menstruation; total dosage was 10 tablets for 1 menstrual cycle. No pregnancies occurred and no side effects were noted. (see research here)
6. Basil juice drunk after intercourse prevents conception (Unani)
7. Pyrethrum powder, taken with Honey, prevents Conception (Unani)
8. Syrian Rue (Peganum harmala), 6 grams daily after menstruation for 7 days prevents Menstruation (Unani)
9. One Broad Bean (Vicia faba) taken early morning for 76 days was said to cause permanent Sterility.
10. Ivy berries: 1 dram taken after Menstruation was used to prevent conception for that month.
Several anti-fertility and abortifacient compounds have been isolated.
11. Continuous use of Pine tar by women was said to cause Sterility. (Rhazes)
12. Long Pepper with Borax taken as a powder with Milk after Menstruation, prevents Conception.
13. Castor seed was traditionally used as a contraceptive.
Extracts fed to animals showed anti-conception and anti-implantation activity.
14. Euphorbia fusiformis tuber (30 grams) is crushed with rice (15 grams) and taken on days 3 to 5 of the menstrual cycle as a contraceptive for the next month. (Unani)
15. Mugwort is made into Tablets, 10 Tablets being taken each cycle as a contraceptive. (Bengal)
16. Neem oil or extract given after menstruation (for an unspecified period of time) has been used as a contraceptive. (Ayurveda)
17. Taking Musk and Lacca with horse blood will prevent pregnancy for three years (lit. “closes the door of birth”) (Tibetan Medicine)
18. Shellac and cultivated turmeric prevent conception for a year
 (Tibetan Medicine)
19. Musk and Chinese ink are effective for the same period

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Topically:

1. Balsam Oil, used as a pessary and when anointed on the cervix before coitus prevents conception. (Unani)
2. Black Pepper acts as a spermicidal if used as a pessary after intercourse. (Unani)
3. Peppermint juice, used as a pessary acts as a contraceptive (Galen, Rhazes); some added Black Pepper.
4. A pessary of fresh Rue leaves prevents conception; some combined with Peppermint.
5. A Douche of Wormwood after intercourse.
6. Psoralea corylifolia mixed with oil as a pessary after Menstruation prevents conception. (Unani)
7. Hemlock, applied to the glans penis, acts as a male contraceptive (Unani)
8. Salix babylonica and Mint as a pessary acts as a contraception. (Avicenna)
9. Rue, Marsh Mint, Pine tar as a pessary. (Unani, Hakeem Azam Khan)
10. Sesame oil applied to the penis before coitus acts as a male contraceptive. Some used Salt with Sesame oil. (Unani)
11. Rock Salt was suggested by Majusi (Unani physician). He said it can be applied to the penis before intercourse, and used as a pessary by women afterwards.
12. Pine tar applied to the penis before intercourse prevents conception. Rhazes held this the most effective form of contraception.
13. “Some physicians recommend the use of menstrual blood as a suppository to prevent conception”. (Avicenna)

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Special Formulas:

TRADITIONAL AYURVEDIC CONTRACEPTIVE
  Borax
  Long Pepper
  Embelia ribes      equal parts
These are made into a powder. This is taken in a dose of 2 grams, once a day, for 5 days after the start of Menstruation, preferably in the morning, for 7 days. This has been used as a traditional contraceptive in India. Versions of it are still used today.
Research (2003) from India has confirmed its effectiveness as a Contraceptive, and it was planned to be developed for widespread use in that country.

UNANI CONTRACEPTIVE
  Embelia ribes
  Asafetida
  Piper betle
  Abrus precatorius
These prepared into a dry extract to be given for 20 days produces a contraceptive effect for 4 months. (Indusyunic Medicine, Khan Usmanghani, Aftab Saeed, Muhammad Tanweer Alam, Pakistan)

A PATENTED FORMULA
  Embella ribes fruit
  Piper longum fruit
  Borax
  Asafetida
  Piper betle
  Polianthes tuberosa
  Abrus precatorius
This was administered orally to woman (dose of 0.28 grams/person) starting from the second day of menstruation, taken twice daily for 20 days. Sex was not permitted during the dosing period (20 days). This produced a contraceptive effect for 4 months. (See here)

KITAB AL HAWI (Rhazes)
  Colocynth
  Scammony
  Bryony
  Iron rust
  Cabbage,  equal parts
Powder, mix with Pinus sylvestris, use as a pessary after menstruation.

QARABADEEN AZAM
  Vernonia anthelmintica
  Chebula
  Mesua ferrea
  Zerumbet
  Myrica nagi,  5 grams each
Powder and form 7 tablets; one tablet is taken daily during menstruation as a contraceptive for the following month. (Unani)

BAYAAZ E KHAS
  Aniseed
  Celery seed
  Marsh Mint
  Pennyroyal    2 parts each
  Indian Spikenard
  Cinnamon
  Cassia Wood
  Balsam fruit
  Balsam wood
  Juniper
  Costus    1 part each
Form Tablets. To be taken by females before Intercourse.

TIBETAN FORMULA
Rgya skyegs gnyis sbyor
Lacca
Salt from Barley ashes, equal parts
Powder and take 3–5 grams daily after cessation of Menstruation for an entire month. This is said to inhibit pregnancy for 1 year.
NOTE: this is taken from a Russian translation from Kosoburov. In that text the second ingredient in Yung Ba, which means Turmeric. However, Kosoburov has given it “Barley grain ash”, probably meaning the salt extracted from Barley ashes and has made a comment after about the use of an alkaline salt in the preparation. Therefore the author believes it to be Barley ash salt, but the translation suggests Turmeric.

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To Cause Miscarriage
1.  Juniper
  Asafetida
  Gum Ammoniac   2 grams each
Form Tablets to be taken in a single dose. (Unani)
THIS SHOULD NOT BE USED EXCEPT UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION IN A HOSPITAL SETTING.

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Research:

1. FERTILITY CONTROL WITH UNANI MEDICINE: A REVIEW. Salma et al., Adv J Pharm Life sci Res, 2015
2. Medicinal Plants Used in Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) as Contraceptive Agents.
3. A Critical Review and Scientific Prospective on Contraceptive Therapeutics from Ayurveda and Allied Ancient Knowledge
4. Antifertility activity of medicinal plants
5. Research on plants for fertility regulation in India.
6. Study of Antifertility Effect of Luk Maghsool (Laccifer lacca Kerr) in Albino Rat with Reference to its Antiovulatory and Oestrogenic Activity
7. RUE
–“Not tonight zebrafish”: the effects of Ruta graveolens on reproduction.
–Medicinal Plants Used in Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) as Contraceptive Agents.
–Immobilising effect of Ruta graveolens L. on human spermatozoa: coumarin compounds are involved.