Natural Birth Control Methods Using Herbs: 22 Emergency Contraceptive Herbs & Herbal Birth Control Pills

Home Remedies To Prevent Pregnancy: Herbal Supplements Birth Control Pills & Natural Remedies To Prevent Pregnancy And Induce Menstrual Period

With the total number of women using birth control pills estimated to be over 100 million, you may begin to wonder, what, then, is the need for natural birth control methods?

Well, the short answer to the above question is this: conventional birth control pills are mostly associated with risks such as tendency to develop cancer, as well as adverse side effects like hormonal imbalance or dominance and depression.

Emergency Contraceptive Herbs List: 22 Herbal Birth Control Pills

This is where natural birth control methods gain the upper hand: they have little or no side effects, besides being highly effective.

So, in this article, we shall take a look at some herbal plants that can be used as natural remedies for preventing pregnancy in women. Some of these natural birth control herbs are:

1. Thistle: Thistles can be used to induce temporary infertility in women by drinking thistle tea. To prepare thistle tea, pour some thistle leaves into a cup of boiling water.
2. Blue cohosh: Blue cohosh helps to prevent conception in women by stimulating the release of oxytocin. You can benefit from blue cohosh by brewing and drinking a tea from the herb. All you need to do is to add bits of dried blue cohosh roots to some cups of water and boil together. Then, steep the mixture for about 5 minutes before filtering. Beware, though, as blue cohosh has some side effects.
3. Mugwort: You can avoid getting pregnant by drinking a mixture of water and dried mugwort leaves. Note, however, that overconsumption of mugwort can lead to kidney failure. So, ensure that you consult with your doctor to know the dosage for you.
4. Ginger: Ginger root has many medicinal properties, including helping to avoid conception in women. The presence of several active compounds in ginger root has been attributed with its contraceptive powers. It is recommended that drinking three to four cups of ginger tea each day for five days can help to initiate menstruation in women. You can make ginger tea by pouring peeled and grated ginger root into a cup of boiling water. After boiling for about 5 minutes, bring down the mixture and steep for another 5 minutes. Then, strain the mixture and drink while it is still hot.
5. Cotton root: Like blue cohosh, the root of the cotton plant helps to prevent conception by stimulating the secretion of oxytocin. Add some dried and chopped cotton roots to a cup of water and boil. Afterward, strain the mixture and drink twice daily.
6. Black cohosh: A relative of the blue cohosh, black cohosh can also be used in avoiding pregnancy. Black cohosh works in the same way as blue cohosh by stimulating the secretion of oxytocin, which, in turn, stimulates the contraction of the uterus.
7. Papaya: Papaya or pawpaw can be used to prevent pregnancy in women. To benefit from papaya as a natural contraceptive, drink a cup of the juice two or three times each day for about four days. You need to also ensure that, papaya is consumed immediately after coitus. You also need to stop consuming papaya when you are pregnant.
8. Buckwheat: Rutin, which is a phenol present in buckwheat, has been proven to prevent egg implantation in the womb. Buckwheat works by forming a protective lining on the uterine wall which prevents fertilized eggs from getting implanted on the wall. For optimum results, you should consume buckwheat before and after having sexual intercourse. Advantages of using buckwheat include the fact that it is highly effective, with no side effects, as well as being cheap to obtain. Note, however, that buckwheat contains gluten, and as such is not recommended for gluten-sensitive people. Women with diabetes are also advised to stay away from buckwheat.
9. Neem: Neem has been proven to be an effective natural birth control herb, according to various research results. Neem oil, leaves, and leaf extract have natural spermicidal and lubricating properties that kill sperm cells or reduce sperm motility in the uterus, thereby preventing fertilization. Apart from these, STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) can be prevented by using neem products. You can inject neem oil into the vagina to act as a lubricant or spermicide. There are also neem tablets and capsules which can be taken by men to temporarily reduce their sterility.
10. Dried apricot: You can prevent getting pregnant by boiling a mixture of dried apricot, honey, and water. Besides helping to prevent conception, this mixture also helps to reduce excessive menorrhea.
11. Rue: Rue contains rutin and pilocarpine, which have the ability of initiating abortion in women. If you are a woman and you want to prevent conception, you can drink a tablespoon of rue tea two or three times daily. Rue tea can be made by adding some rue leaves to a cup of boiling water and boiling for a few minutes. Then, bring down the liquid and allow to steep for about five minutes before filtering. Do not drink rue tea more than the recommended dosage as it can affect the kidneys.
12. Silphium: Silphium is another herb that is commonly used as a natural birth control plant. The herb belongs to the giant fennel family of plants and is native to Northern America. This herbal remedy can be used by consuming the heart-shaped seeds. Although silphium has been used since ancient times as a contraceptive, it has now become rare and expensive to get.
13. Angelica (Dong Quai): Angelica, which is also known as Dong Quai in Chinese, is a common herb that is used for pregnancy prevention in women. The oil of the herb present in the root can be used as a decoction to avoid getting pregnant. To reap the benefit of Angelica, mix a quarter cup of the herb with a quarter cup of lukewarm water and drink. A word of caution, though, the use of Angelica as a natural contraceptive should be done with care as it stimulates menstrual bleeding which can lead to hemorrhaging.
14. Asafoetida: Asafoetida is a native Iranian plant that is known for its strong smell. Several studies have confirmed the contraceptive abilities of asafetida, which makes it one of the best choices for natural birth control. To benefit from asafetida, it is recommended that you drink Asafoetida juice diluted with water once each month ? taking more than recommended can cause side effects like nausea. You can also try adding the herb to your meals if you don?t fancy drinking the juice. Asafoetida is a good alternative to silphium because of its availability and affordability.
15. Jack in the Pulpit root: Also know as Devil?s Ear or Indian Turnip, Jack in the Pulpit is another effective herbal plant that can be used in preventing conception in women. To prevent conception using this herb, simply a tablespoon of Jack in the Pulpit root extract with half a cup of cold water and drink. Another way of benefiting from the herb is by consuming a tablespoon of dried Devil Ear?s powder. Take caution, though, as overconsumption of this herb can lead to infertility in women.
16. Wild carrot (Queen Anne?s lace): Wild carrot seeds can also be taken by women who do not want to get pregnant. This herb works by preventing implantation of fertilized egg in the uterus. You can get the seeds from the flower of the plant. Then, eat a tablespoon within a period of eight hours before coitus, and every day for one week. You need to be aware also that, chewing wild carrot seeds can cause constipation.
17. Pomegranate: Pomegranates have been used as natural birth control herbs as far back as in Ancient Rome. This native Asian plant is also mentioned in Greek mythology where it was used to make the land sterile.
18. Cinnamon: While cinnamon?s use as a natural contraceptive may not be as effective as other herbs on this list, it still helps to prevent pregnancy when used over a prolonged period. Cinnamon also works as an abortion inducer, so, you need to take utmost care when using it.
19. Smartweed leaves: Smartweed is a common weed that can be found in most parts of the globe. The leaves of this weed have been found to contain several powerful compounds like quercetin and rutin, which have both been linked to contraception. In addition, drinking smartweed tea can help to reinforce the endometrium so as to prevent egg implantation. You can prepare the tea by boiling some smartweed leaves in water, and subsequently straining.
20. Stoneseed root: Another natural birth control herb is the stoneseed root. The only issue with this herb is that it needs to be taken for a long time (at least six months) before noticing the effects. That aside, stoneseed root is an effective natural contraceptive, mainly due to the presence of lithospermic acid, which inhibits estrogen production. Women with thyroid problems are advised to avoid this herb due to its side effects.
21. Pennyroyal: Common in North America and Europe, pennyroyal is another natural birth control plant that has been used since Ancient Grecian times. To reap the contraceptive benefits of pennyroyal, add some of the plant?s dried leaves to water and drink.
22. Vitamin C: Although not a herb, vitamin C is present in many herbal plants and can be used as an temporary contraceptive. This is possible because vitamin C contains ascorbic acid, which inhibits the functioning of progesterone in women.

Majority of the herbs listed in this article have been based on anecdotal reports, and some with scientific backings. However, the effectiveness of these herbal plants does not mean that they will work the same way for everybody. Hence, you need to consult with your doctor first before you start to use any of the aforementioned emergency contraceptive herbs.