Catherine Kay
On what basis are herbs contraindicated in pregnancy
Abstract
The use of plants as medicine pre-dates written records. Historically, the most frequent indication for herbal medicine has been to assist in labour and delivery, and to help with menstrual problems. The taboos surrounding abortion, however, has meant that information concerning abortifacient recipes is shrouded in secrecy and is often obscure. This trend continues today. Article One of the Code of Practice of the National Institute of Herbalists in the UK prohibits members from administering a known abortifacient or uterine stimulant remedy to a pregnant woman. This has led to many herbals providing a list of herbs which should not be taken in pregnancy: but the reasons for such a contra-indication are rarely supplied. This study suggests that detailed knowledge of the basis on which herbs are contra-indicated in pregnancy is necessary if the practitioner is to make an informed judgement on the risk-to-benefit ratio of using herbs during pregnancy.
A knowledge of the history of abortifacients is necessary not only to establish the traditional use of such agents: it is also important to understand the social context of that use, and the meaning that terms such as ‘emmenagogue’ had within that historical context.
Emmenagogue has been equated directly with abortifacient, but this may not be historically accurate. If such knowledge is ignored, it is difficult to defend the empirical tradition of herbalism against the reductionist models of some strands of modern research.
