Emmenagogues

Many dietary supplements should be avoided in pregnancy because they may have emmenagogue activity, promoting menstruation. Some herbs that are considered emmenagogues are feverfew, garlic, and hawthorn [4]. St. John s wort should be avoided in pregnancy due to its emmenagogue and abortifacient properties. 

The drug consists of the small, red tuberculate follicles enclosing black, round glossy seeds, which are aromatic, pungent, with a somewhat acrid aftertaste. It is a carminative and a stimulant, it promotes sweating, is an emmenagogue, astringent, and an... 

The roots of Aristolochia indica, commonly known as an Indian birthwort, are reputedly used in Indian folk medicine as an emmenagogue and as an abor-tifacient. Aristolochic acid and its methyl ester, sesquiterpene (12S)-7,12-secoishwaran-12-ol, isolated from this plant, possessed significant antifertility activity in mice (103-105). 

China. Decoction of the seed is taken orally as an emmenagogue° . Root juice is taken orally for cancer of the stomach, bowel, and uterus, and for ulcers° . 

France. Hot water extract of the fruit is taken orally as an emmenagogue . Greece. Infusion of the dried flowers is taken orally as a tonic and to relieve sluggishness " . 

Dried seeds are mixed with crude sugar and eaten to terminate early pregnancy " " . Hot water extract of the dried root is taken orally as a tonic, expectorant, diuretic, stomachic, and liver cleanser " "" ". Hot water extract of the leaf is taken orally as a uterine stimulant during parturition " """". Hot water extract of the seed is taken orally as an abortifacient, emmenagogue, and aphrodisiac " """ . The dried seeds are used as a powerful abort -facient " """". The root is taken orally as a hypotensive medication " """ . 

Italy. Decoction of the root is used as a gargle for loss of speech " """". Root juice is taken orally as an anthelmintic and cicatrizing agent, for leukorrhea, and to improve sight " """. The fresh root is used externally for dermatitis and burns. The fresh root juice is taken orally for loss of voice and persistent coughs, and the decoction is taken orally for diuresis " """". The root is taken orally as a diuretic and a digestive and to treat uricemia and constipation " " "". Kuwait. The seeds are taken orally as an emmenagogue " """. 

Peru. Hot water extracts of the dried root and dried aerial parts are taken orally as a carminative, emmenagogue, and vermifuge " "" . 

United States. Hot water extract of the fruit is taken orally to stimulate menstru-ation° l Hot water extract of the seed is taken orally as an emmenagogue° . Seeds are taken orally as an emmenagogue, diuretic, and abortifacienH h The fresh root is taken orally for general nervousness, and the hot water extract is taken orally as a diuretic in dropsy and as a tonic . Hot water extract of the dried root and seed is taken orally as a carminative, diuretic, and stimulant . 

United States. Fluid extract of the resin is taken orally as an emmenagogue, a stimulating expectorant, an anthelmintic, an aphrodisiac, and a stimulant to the brain and nerves. It is claimed to be a powerful antispasmodic . ... 

Europe. Seed oil taken orally is used as an emmenagogue k... 

Jordan. Seed oil is taken orally to induce lactation and as an antitussive Malaysia. Hot water extract of seeds is taken orally as an emmenagogue and in a large dose as an abortifacient . Seed oil is taken orally as an emmenagogue and used by males as a tonic for sexual neurasthenia . 

Mozambique. Juice of the entire plant is taken orally as an aphrodisiac . Hot water extract of the seed is taken orally as emmenagogue and abortifacient ". 

United States. Dried seeds are eaten as an emmenagogue " ". Hot water extract of the seed oil is taken orally to promote menstruation " . ... 

Cuba. Hot water extract of the rhizome is taken orally as an emmenagogue and for its stimulating and aphrodisiac properties by men o3S4 fresh rhizome is taken orally as an antispasmodic . ... 

Thailand. Hot water extract of the dried rhizome is taken orally as a carminative " , an antiemetic, an anticolic, a hypnotic, a cardiotonic , an emmenag-ogue, and a stomachic . The fresh rhizome is taken orally as an antiemetic and a gastrointestinal sedative . Hot water extract of the fresh rhizome is taken orally for fever, headache, and diarrhea and as an emmenagogue, a carminative , and an aromatic stimulant . The powdered fresh rhizome, together with cloves, are mixed with water and rubbed on the body for the relief of rheumatism . 

Emmenagogue. A substance that promotes or assists the flow of menstrual fluid. Emollient. An agent that smoothes and protects the skin when applied locally. Emphysema. A pathological accumulation of air in tissues or organs applied especially to such a condition of the lungs. Endometrium. The inner mucous membrane of the uterus, the thickness and structure of which vary with the phase of the menstrual cycle. 

Aloe barbadensis Miller var. chinensis Berger A. vera L. Lu Wen (Aloe) (aerial part) Aloins, barbaloin, aloe-emodin, polysaccharides 49,50,403,450,510 Laxative, stomachic, emmenagogue. 

Arethusa japonica A. Gr. Ze Lan (aerial part) Essential oils, tannins.49 Diuretic, emmenagogue. 

Callicarpa formosana Rolfe. Tu Hung Hua (Callicarpa) (flower, root)54 No information is available in the literature. Diuretic, for arthritis and nerve pain, gonorrhea, and emmenagogue. Externally applied as a styptic to wounds. 

Campsis adrepens Lour. C. chinensis Voss. C. grandiflora (Thunb.) Loiseleur (Syn. Bignonia grandiflora) Zhu Wei (Chinese trumpet creeper) (flower) Protein, dextrose, cyanidin-3-rutinoside.48 As emmenagogue. Treat amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, leucorrhea, menorrhagia, metrorrhagia. 

Conioselinum univittatum Turcz. Gong Chong (root) Essential oil.49 Emmenagogue, sedative. 

Daucus carota L. subsp. sative Hoffm. Nan He Chi (Carrot) (whole plant) Carotenes, lycopene, phytofluere, umbelliferone, alpha-pinene, camphene, myrcene, daucol, alpha-phellandrene, bisabolene, luteolin-7-glucoside, daucine, pyrrolidine, geraniol, citronellol, carotol, citral, caryophyllene, p-cymene, asarone, daucosterol, petroselinic acid.48 For chronic dysentery, worms, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, lower blood sugar, prevent cancer, diabetes, dyspepsia and gout. 

Dictamnus albus L. subsp. dasycarpus (Turcz.) Winter D. dasycarpus Turcz. Bai Xian Pi (Fraxinella) (root bark) Dictamnine, skimmianine, saponins, preskinnianine, choline, fragarine, aurapten, bergapten, isomaculosindine, limonin, obakinone, fraxinellone, psoralen, trigonelline.50 60 Antifungal, antipyretic, antiseptic, antitussive, sedative, emmenagogue, tonic. 

Elettaria cardamomum Maton. Yi Zhi Zi (Cluster cardamom) (seed) Phytosterol, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, p-cymene, camphene, d-limonene, myrcene, alpha-phellandrene, pinene, sabinene, terpinene, thujone, cineole, camphorm citral, linalol, citronellal, dl-bomeol, citronellol, geraniol, terpineol, sabinene.50 Carminative, emmenagogue, stimulant, stomachic, tonic. Treat ague, cachexia, dyspepsis, enuresis, gastralgia, nausea, spermatorrhea. 

Euphorbia coraroides Thunb. E. lasiocaula Boiss. E. lunulata Bunge. E. pallasii Turcz. E. pekinensis Rupr. E. sampsoni Hance E. sieboldiana Moore et Decne. Da Ji (Peking spurge) (root) Euphorbon, euphorbias, butyric acid, calcium malate, calcium oxalate, vitamin C.48-50 Diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, purgative. 

Evonymus alatus Regel E. subtriflorus Blume E. thunbergianus Blume Wei Mao (twig)50 No information is available in the literature. For analgesic, emmenagogue, purgative in female disorders. 

Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. Lian Qiao (Forsythia) (leaf, fruit, root) Phillyrin, rutin, taraxasteryl palmitate and acetate, bigelovin, dihydrobigelovin.50-260 Febrifuge, for cancer, carbuncle, chickenpox, antiphlogistic, diuretic, emmenagogue, antiemetic, laxative, antipyretic. 

Hedera rhombea (Miq.) Bean H. helix L. Chang Chun Ton (leaf) Hederin, hederaic acid, tannic acid, oleic acid.50 For cough, headache, diaphoretic, emmenagogue. 

Leonurus sibiricus L. L. sibiricus L. f. albiflorus (Nakai et Kitag.) G. Y. Wu Chung Way Bai Hua Yi Mu Cao (Siberian motherwort) (seed) Essential oil, leonurine.49 Emmenagogue, diuretic, vasodilator. 

Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit Yin He Huan (leaf, seed) Leucanol, leucaenine, phenolic compounds, condensed tannins.60-228 This herb is toxic. Anthelmintic, for diabetes, an emollient, emmenagogue. 

Ligusticum jeholense (Nakai et Kitag.) Nakai et Kitag. L. pyrenacum Couan. L. sinense Oliv. L. tenuissimum (Nakai) Kitag. Gao Ben (root) Nothosmymol, coumarin, chromone, polyacetylene.33-259 Induce diaphoresis, for gout, an anodyne, emmenagogue, sedative. 

Nerium indicum Mill. Jia Zhu Tao (Indian oleander) (leaf, stem, flower, root) Oleandrin (toxic), oleandrose, neriodorin, nerioderin, karabin, scopoletin, scopoline, neriodin, ursolic acid, adynerin 33>45° Treats psychosis, congestive heart failure, analgesic, emmenagogue. 

---