Category:Emmenagogue

Emmenagogues are defined in herbal medicine as herbs capable of stimulating the menstrual flow even when it is not due, and are also to be avoided during pregnancy. For centuries, they have been colloquially defined as “herbs for delayed menses,” sometimes a euphemism for eliminating an unwanted pregnancy. Many emmenagogic herbs are therefore also abortifacients. There is disagreement in the literature as to what actually constitutes an emmenagogue. Certain herbs such as chamomile are frequently and erroneously listed as emmenagogic. Other herbs, such as Dong quai and peony, are considered emmenagogic, and in fact do have uterine stimulatory activity, but are nonetheless used extensively in the Chinese and Japanese formulary for the prevention of miscarriage. Finally, the recorded data on other herbs are contradictory; for example, Ashwagandha has been described as an abortifacient yet was used historically to prevent miscarriage. Many herbs that are high in essential oil content are undisputed emmenagogues, although the presence of essential oils in an herb does not mean it acts as an emmenagogue.26 Commonly accepted abortifacients and emmenagogic herbs include (but are not limited to) tansy, thuja, safflower, scotch broom, rue, angelica, mugwort, wormwood, yarrow, and essential oil of pennyroyal.