Postpartum

Western Tradition

General for Postpartum
1. Give her broth of a Chicken or other suitable nourishing broth.
2. Fresh Mother of Thyme (1 spoonful) is beaten with salt and taken in broth as soon as possible following birth relieves afterpains.
3. Licorice, Raisins 2 parts ea., Cinnamon. 1 part. Decoct; take following childbirth. (Dr. Chamberlain’s Midwives Practice, 1665)
4. Date stones, Cumin, Grains of Paradise, Saffron. Powder and take with wine. (Natura exenterata, Philiatros, 1655)
5. Coldness before or after Birth:
Calamus, Clove, Nutmeg, Galangal, Cinnamon equal parts. Powder and heat in wine, then take, (Natura exenterata, Philiatros, 1655)
6. Winter Cherries, Ginger, Black Pepper, White Pepper. Boil, then add Ghee and Sugar. (Ayurveda)
7. Sesame, Ginger, Cummin, Parsnip. Powder or decoct. (Ayurveda)
8. Licorice, Lotus Seed, Sugar equal parts. Powder. (Ayurveda)
9. Clove, Saffron, Mace equal parts. Put in a little bag and steep in diluted wine which she may take a little occasionally after birth, as long as there is no heat.
10. Apply St. John’s wort oil to the belly.

Expel the Afterbirth
1. Boil Garlic in water and get her to sit over the steam.
2. Cassia wood, Madder
3. Powder Calendula flowers, light them with a candle and let the fumes rise to “her place of Nature”. (Secrets of Alexis)
4. 1 dram of Amber is good when there is bleeding due to retention of the Afterbirth. It stops the bleeding while expelling the Afterbirth. (Platerus)
5. To expel the afterbirth, dip a cloth in a decoction of Pennyroyal and apply to the abdomen. (Platerus)
6. Angelica root, Mugwort, Majoram, Cinnamon, equal parts
Decoct in wine.
6. A Powder:
Troches of Myrrh 1 dram, Madder root, Saffron ½ scruple ea.
Powder and take with wine or Cock (Chicken) broth.
7. Opopanax, Galbanum 1 dram ea. Powder and take ½ dram in a suitale vehicle.
8. Bayberries, Parsley seed, Lovage ½ oz. ea., Mugwort, Pennyroyal,
Marjoram 1 handful ea., Mace 2 drams, Saffron ½ dram. Bruise the seeds, cut the herbs and boil in 4 pints of wine until 1/3 has wasted. The dose is 4 oz. (Dr. Chamberlain’s Midwives Practice, 1665)

Antidotum Haemagogum (Nicholas)
Birth Powder
Troches for the Womb
Auscpicious Conqueror (Bkra shis rnam rgyal) (Tibetan)
Flying Squirrel 3 (Bya sha gsum sbyor) (Tibetan)
Pacific 6 (Zhi byed drug pa) (Tibetan)
Paraquilegia 6 (Mde’u ‘byin drug pa) (Tibetan)

Postpartum Weakness
1. Egg Yolks taken promotes strength after birth.

Syrup of Five Opening Roots
Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)
Antidotum Haemagogum (Nicholas)
Stanyajanana Rasayanum
Auscpicious Conqueror (Bkra shis rnam rgyal) (Tibetan)

Postpartum Pain
1. Take 2 new laid eggs, beaten with a little sugar, immediately after birth, then drink a little water and wine mixed. (Lemery)
2. ½ dram of Bayberries taken in wine. (Culpeper)
3. Boil Camomile and Aniseed in White Wine and drink.
4. Mugwort Water is effective
5. Motherwort, Chickweed
6. A plaster of Onions boiled soft mixed with oil, Cumin, and Egg yolk.
7. Marshmallow decocted in wine, mixed with oil and applied
8. Cinnamon, Saffron, Vervain taken as an infusion.
9. Sweet Almond oil 1 ½ oz., Syrup of Violets 1 oz., Aniseed water 3 oz. Mix and give warm.
10. Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cardamon ½ oz. ea., Ginger 5 drams, Clove 2 drams, Saffron ½ dram. Make a powder. (Dr. Chamberlain’s Midwives Practice, 1665)
11. “Powder of a dried Secundine or After-birth, cureth the pains after Child-birth”. The same source also states the ashes can be used (Platerus). “Placenta dried and powdered and taken in drink eases all afterpains” (Rondeletius)
12. Boil Rosemary, Camomile and Southernwood (equal parts) in water and apply hot to the belly.
13. Apply oil of Camomile or Feverfew to the abdomen and pubic region.
14. Lamb skin applied to the belly warm gives relief.
15. Wormwood, Motherwort, Elder leaf 1 handful ea., Bean flour 1/4 pound, Egg yolks 2; Boil in water until thick and apply to the navel. (Natura exenterata, Philiatros, 1655)

Powder of Galangal Compound (Diagalanga)
Electuary of Cumin (Diacyminum)
Powder Against Postpartum Pain
Powder for After-pains (Lemery)
Powder for After-pains (Midwife to Queen of France)
Antidotum Haemagogum (Nicholas)
Troches of Myrrh
Troches for the Womb
Auscpicious Conqueror (Bkra shis rnam rgyal) (Tibetan)

Postpartum Fever
1. Licorice, Lotus seed, Sugar. Powder and take. (Ayurveda)
2. White Sesame, Ginger, Cumin, Parsnip seeds (Ayurveda)

Abbots Confect of Rose
Auscpicious Conqueror (Bkra shis rnam rgyal) (Tibetan)

Postpartum Bleeding
Diet: Chicken Broth, Rice, Quince Marmelade, Old Conserve of Rose
1. Emulsion of Sweet Almond made with decoction of Oak leaf
2. Infusion of Tormentil in Red wine
3. Poached Egg with a little Nutmeg
4. Rose with Plantain water
5. Shepherd’s Purse and Horsetail
6. Powder of Crab shells taken with wine.
7. “Juice of Quince newly pressed and strained through Hippocrates sleeve, and drunk, is very profitable and much commended”.
8. Powder of Burnt Sponge 1 dram with a little sweet wine.
9. Annoint her lower abdomen with Oil of Mastic.

Syrup of Coral
Cooling Powder of Gems
Troches of Spodium (Mesue)
Astringent Pills
Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)

Postpartum Swelling of the Body
Sagapen, Savory, Mastic, equal parts. Form pills with Honey. “It should relieve the swelling instantly”. (Rhazes)

Stretch Marks
1. Boil whole Beans in Vinegar, form a Poultice and apply.
2. Oil of Myrrh, Oil of St. John’s wort, equal parts, apply