Pregnancy outcomes in women using herbal therapies

Complementary and alternative medicine for induction of labour

“…8,10,11 A combination of blue cohosh, black cohosh, squaw vine and false unicorn root have been traditionally used in a herbal concoction commonly called 'mother's cordial' to prepare the uterus for labour in the final weeks of gestation. 8,11 The herbal remedies most frequently recommended by midwives to induce labour include raspberry leaf, blue cohosh black, cohosh, evening primrose oil and castor oil.…”

“…8,11 The herbal remedies most frequently recommended by midwives to induce labour include raspberry leaf, blue cohosh black, cohosh, evening primrose oil and castor oil. 8,10,12 Raspberry leaf Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus) has a long history of use as 'partus preparatus' -a plant which prepares the uterus for labour. 11,13 It is still one of the most common herbs consumed by pregnant women.…”

“…50 Raspberry leaf is consumed by thousands of expectant women every year to prepare the uterus for birth and no adverse outcomes have been reported. 10 The available evidence indicates that it is safe during pregnancy and may decrease post term births. 11 However, there is some evidence that blue cohosh may be harmful in pregnancy and therefore it should not be consumed until further studies are undertaken.…”

“…10 Its ingestion for induction of labour is associated with an increased incidence in meconium stained liquor and side effects such as nausea, vomiting, intestinal colic and diarrhoea are common. 8,10,20 Further studies are underway including a randomised clinical trial being conducted in Israel which is investigating its effects in post-date pregnancies. 51 Evening primrose oil is also recommended to assist with the onset of labour.…”

“…Although it is still common in some parts of the world, the use of castor oil for IOL has largely been abandoned since the introduction of oxytocic drugs. 10,21,23 A number of studies have investigated its effectiveness. Boel and colleagues 24 examined the hospital records of 612 women who were more than 40 weeks pregnant and attended antenatal clinics on the Thai-Burmese border.…”