To Promote Birth

Western Tradition

Simples

To Prepare for Birth
The following can be taken 2–4 weeks before the due date to prepare for Birth:

1. In the month before birth, apply Almond oil, or Linseed oil, or infused oils of Dill or Camomile to the abdomen, pubis and vagina regularly..
2. Slice Pippins (Green Apples) thin and fry in Almond oil. Eat twice daily for 5 or 6 weeks before the due date.
3. Raspberry leaf tea can be taken daily in the last month, adding a teaspoon of Honey.
4. Cinnamon and Licorice powder taken daily for 2 weeks before the due date prepares for Birth.
5. Hyssop, Vervain, Betony (1 handful each), boil in stale Ale (or water) and take once or twice daily. (Dr. Chamberlain’s Midwives Practice, 1665)

To Promote Birth
1. “It is common among the Women to give a groaning wife a spoonful or two of Cinnamon Water, or Cinnamon itself in Powder”. (The Practice of Physick, 1663)
Some used Oil of Cinnamon is 4–5 drops doses.
2. “Saffron alone being given ten grains (650mg) in every Mess of Broth the woman takes, or every hour being taken in a little Wine is very good”. (The Practice of Physick, 1663)
3. Betony decocted in water with Honey, or else the powder taken in water quickens delivery and eases pain.
4. Date kernel
i. powder with Wine relieves pain of labor
ii. Powder of Date kernels with Betony. (Natura exenterata, Philiatros, 1655)
iii. Date kernel with half a Nutmeg in powder, taken with wine. (Natura exenterata, Philiatros, 1655)
5. Vervain juice taken in red wine, or the herb decocted in wine, is taken for easy delivery.
6. Mugwort:
i. decocted in water and applied as a plaster to the Navel and thighs promotes both Birth and expulsion of the Afterbirth. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
ii. Mugwort 2 drams decocted in wine and taken.
7. Maidenhair taken in wine causes speedy delivery. (Avicenna)
8. One dram of Myrrh drunk in warm wine causes quick delivery. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
9. “The juice of Leeks has a mighty operation in this case, if it be drunk with warm water”, (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
10. Juniper leaves taken with water and Honey. Juniper berries have also been used.
11. Polypody beaten and applied to the feet of a woman lin labor] “causes the Birth of the Child instantly” (Culpeper)
12. “put Birthwort on a piece of wool and put it in her vagina, she will deliver on the spot”. (Rhazes)
13. Amber powder (1 scruple), or Tincture (1 spoonful), or the oil to 12 or 15 drops, taken in wine is very good.

14. Parsley juice, Leek juice
Mix with a little Oil and take. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
15. Cinnamon
    Myrrh                             ½ dram ea.
Powder and take with wine
16. Cinnamon                    1 dram
    Saffron                           1 scruple
Divide into 3 doses to be taken 1–2 hours apart.
17. Fresh Marjoram
    Fresh Hyssop                3 handfuls ea.
Express the juice, strain and give 3 ounces warm, fasting afterwards “and she shall be delivered” .(The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
18. Hyssop, Vervain, Betony equal parts
Decoct and take to promote quick and easy delivery.
19. Calamint, Sage, Rosemary 1 handful each, White Wine 6 pounds
Boil gently until one-quarter has wasted. Use to wash the legs once daily when the time is near. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)

20. The Milk of another woman causes speedy delivery.
21. Dried Bull Bile: ‘It is a Secret, worth ten times its weight in Gold. If ½–1 dram be given in a glass of Wine, it hastens not only the Birth, but facilitates the Labor to admiration’. (Salmon, Seplasium, 1693)
22. Cut a Rabbit liver into pieces, dry in an oven, then add 1 oz. each of powdered Ginger, Clove and Sugar. Mix well and give half ounce as a dose. (Albertus)
23. Amber, half a dram in powder taken with a suitable decoction, or white wine.
24. “she should hold a Magnet in her left hand, for this works wonders”. (Rhazes)
25. “A fumigation made of the horns and hooves, of Goats moves mightily the Matrix [Uterus] to deliverance”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)

Pain During Labor
Sweet Almond Oil 2 oz., Cinnamon water 1 oz. Mix and take.

Difficult or Dangerous Labor
1. Fumigate with Myrrh
2. take some Asafetida powder with Wine or warm water.
3. “Against dangerous childbirth. many say that the scrapings of Date stones given with wine, does wonderfully ease women of their travelings in Childbirth”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)

Birth Powder
Potion for Difficult Labor
Decoction for Difficult Childbirth (Barbette)

A Remedy only used in Urgent Cases, or when the Fetus is Dead:
    Savin juice                     2 oz.
    Borax                              1 dram
    White Wine                   1 oz.
A small amount can be taken regularly until the desired result is achieved. Note if modern (purified) Borax was used, a maximum of 2 grams should be used. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)

Weakness during or after Labor:
Take Letificans, Manus Christi, Cooling Pearl Powder, or Aromaticum Rosatum in broth.

If she becomes weak or faint, give her:
1. Yolk of poached Eggs or Boiled Eggs can be taken during labor to increase strength
2. Warm Broth such as Chicken Broth
3. Cinnamon Water, 1 oz.
4. Confectio Alkermes, 1 dram

Partum facilitant–Facilitate Birth
Potion for Difficult Labor
Decoction of Marshmallow
Decoction for Difficult Childbirth (Barbette)
Birth Powder
Diacalaminthe Compound
Powder to Facilitate Birth (Renodeus)
Powder to Promote Birth (Alexander)
Powder of Crabs Claw (Countess of Kents Powder)
Troches of Myrrh
Tincture of Saffron
Tincture of Musk
Triphera Minor (Triphera Phoenonis) (Mesue)

Flying Squirrel 3 (Bya sha gsum sbyor)
Pacific 6 (Zhi byed drug pa) (Tibetan)
Pacific 11 (Zhi byed bcu gcig) (Tibetan)
Paraquilegia 6 (Mde’u ‘byin drug pa) (Tibetan)