Parturifacients

Parturifacient: stimulates, facilitates, and hastens labor

Parturifacient/Parturients are herbs that help pregnant women give childbirth. Health practitioners should pick the correct parturifacient herbs for varying situations.

Examples for rigid os: if the os is not dilated or relaxed enough

  • Aralia racemosa (spikenard)

  • Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh)

  • Gelsemium sempervirens (gelsemium) (LD = low dose)

  • Lobelia inflata (lobelia)

  • Oenothera biennis (evening primrose oil, topically used on os)

Examples for weak contractions: if the os is open and relaxed, but the muscle contractions are weak and inadequate

  • Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh)

  • Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh)

  • Cytisus scoparius (scotch broom, topically used as douche)

  • Gossypium herbaceum (cotton root bark)

  • Trillium spp. (trillium or wood lily)

Examples for tetanic contractions: if the muscle contractions persistently last longer than 90 seconds, contributing to fetal stress — the desired length of a contraction is between 45-60 seconds

  • Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh)

  • Gelsemium sempervirens (gelsemium) (LD)

  • Lobelia inflata (lobelia)

  • Scutellaria lateriflora (skullcap)

  • Valeriana officinalis (valerian)