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Modern women do not lack funds for unwanted pregnancies. However, sometimes an unplanned pregnancy occurs. But even in this case, the girl can get rid of the fetus without any problems.
It is generally accepted that women began to control their births not so long ago. This is an erroneous opinion. After all, in the old days, when there were already more than enough children, they were looking for a way out. Someone simply did not want children, someone had nothing to support them. Women had to invent various ways, however, some of them were harmful to health. The girls used them anyway. Some ways for a modern woman will seem ridiculous. For example, in ancient Rome, girls wore an amulet around their necks to protect them from pregnancy. Even moonlight helped women not get pregnant. There were many other original ways. Below is a list of facts about the most popular contraceptives of antiquity.
10 Tincture of pennyroyal
This method was used by the women of Rome and Ancient Greece. It was originally used for cooking. The herb was added to ready meals and wine. It is not known how women learned about the abortive properties of pennyroyal, but soon this remedy became very popular. Girls brewed fresh and dried grass, drank this infusion. Peppermint could not prevent an unwanted pregnancy, but it could provoke an early miscarriage. The fact is that the infusion of marsh mint causes uterine contractions, so it is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women to use it. Tincture of pennyroyal can cause significant harm to health, the risk of death is high. The use of peppermint oil is fraught with damage to the liver and kidneys, but women had no other choice. At that time, there were no other methods of protection.
9. blue cohosh
A decoction of this plant also causes miscarriage in the early stages. Blue cohosh grows in the moist soils of North America. This herb is used now in solving many gynecological problems. Very often, the infusion is recommended if a woman “walks”. But cohosh infusion has many contraindications, its use negatively affects the health of the child. It is not surprising that in ancient times it was used to terminate pregnancy, because the plant stimulates uterine contractions. Women could get rid of an unwanted child, and their own health is the last thing they thought about.
8. Lemon as a contraceptive
The oldest way, which was popular with Jewish women. They inserted a sponge soaked in lemon juice into the vagina. In an acidic environment, spermatozoa died. Surprisingly, some modern women also try to protect themselves in this way. We cannot confirm the effectiveness of this product. Yet if the lemon protected against unwanted pregnancy, there would be no need to invent oral contraceptives and condoms. Everyone would douche with lemon juice or use sponges soaked in lemon juice.
7. Safe contraceptive – papaya
But the residents of Sri Lanka and India were more fortunate. An excellent remedy for unwanted pregnancy is papaya. It is enough to eat at least one fruit every day, and the likelihood of pregnancy will decrease significantly. This effect is due to the high content of vitamin C in papaya. It increases the production of estrogen. By the way, modern birth control pills contain a dose of estrogen. So, women ate papaya and could safely have sex. Only unripe papaya fruits had a contraceptive effect.
6. Fragrant rue
This method was used by women in medieval England. Even earlier, the abortive properties of rue were learned in Latin America. This tool has stood the test of time. Fragrant rue has long been used as a contraceptive. The girls boiled the leaves of the plant and ate it. Fragrant rue causes blood flow to the pelvis. This provokes a miscarriage, so the use of grass is contraindicated in pregnant women. Women often used this remedy, it was considered quite harmless, unlike some others. But, if later they decided to have a child, they did not succeed. After regular use of fragrant rue, the blood flow to the pelvis became weaker and fertilization did not occur.
5. wild carrot
Wild carrots are common in Europe, Asia and Central Africa. The contraceptive properties of wild carrots have been known for a long time. But there are many myths here. Previously, women consumed the seeds of this plant after sexual intercourse, as a means of emergency contraception. As a prophylactic, it was not used. Some sources indicate that eating carrots can also get rid of unwanted pregnancies. All these myths were dispelled by research conducted in 1976. Scientists have confirmed that wild carrot seeds have a contraceptive effect. It turned out that they affect the production of progesterone.
4. Cotton as a contraceptive
Seeds also have contraceptive properties, they block the production of progesterone, without which pregnancy is not possible. This knowledge was used by the women of America. One had only to chew cotton seeds, and the problem was solved. It is not for nothing that modern doctors forbid the use of cotton seeds by pregnant women. An even more ancient method: a mixture of acacia seeds, honey and dates were rubbed, applied to cotton seeds and injected into the vagina. This method is not very convenient, besides, no one guaranteed that it was effective.
3. The “best” and “reliable” remedy is mercury
In ancient times, mercury was considered a cure for all diseases. She was treated for coughs and syphilis, and was also recommended as a contraceptive. The “medicine” was drunk in the morning on an empty stomach. Mercury was mixed with oil or consumed hot. It is not known how many women died from this remedy. Mercury accumulates in the body, negatively affects the nervous and respiratory systems, the heart. After some time, the person dies from severe poisoning.
2. Chinese angelica
This plant can be found in Europe and Western Siberia. Infusion of Chinese angelica was often used in medicine. It was used for gastritis and epilepsy, nervous exhaustion and digestive disorders. This remedy was also used as a contraceptive. The infusion did not prevent pregnancy, but caused a miscarriage in the early stages. A woman who decided on such a method of protection risked her health and even her life.
1. Sylph
Now this plant is no longer found, it has long disappeared from the face of the Earth. However, earlier it was of great value; references to it are found in the works of many ancient authors. This plant grew in Africa and Libya. It has been widely used in medicine. They were treated for many diseases: diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems, cough. It has been used as an antidote for snake bites. But perhaps most often sylphium was used by women as a contraceptive. It has been used as a contraceptive. Also with his help did abortions. There is very little information about this plant. How it affected the body of women, we most likely will not know.