What follows is a review of the literature on two herbs that can be
used to prevent miscarriage: false unicorn and black haw.
This is an excerpt from a paper that was published in the journal
Advances in Therapy, 2001, Volume 18 (1), pages 47-55.
The full reference list is included here. You can find the abstract and order the article
here.
Rachel Emma Westfall, Copyright 2001
Approximately 25% of all pregnancies do not continue to term.
Reasons may include rejection of the fetus by the mother's immune
system, a loose ("incompetent") cervix, and a nonviable fetus. Women
who face a threatened miscarriage have few options. Spotting and
contractions early in a pregnancy typically trigger confinement to
bed until the threat is over or the miscarriage occurs.
Two North
American plants-black haw (Viburnurn prunifolium) and false
unicorn (Chamaelirium luteum)-may hold the key to preventing
some miscarriages.
Black Haw
The
bark of the roots and stems of black haw was cited in most l9th
century pharmacy reference books as "a treatment for painful
menstrual cramps and threatened miscarriage."2
The Eclectic Physicians used black haw and its cousin cramp bark (Viburnum
opulus) interchangeably to prevent and treat miscarriage, to
prepare for labor, and to relieve false-labor and postpartum pains,31,32
although black haw is believed to be more potent.l2 The
Eclectics identified black haw as the most effective drug treatment
for miscarriage if used in small doses over time as a preventive or
in larger doses for a threatened event.31
The
extensive use of black haw in folk medicine and mainstream pharmacy
has led to a fairly good understanding of its pharmacologic effects.
Black haw contains salicin and scopoletin, both of which relax and
sedate uterine muscle,26 and it is an effective uterine
antispasmodic.9-11
Black
haw is used in contemporary herbal medicine to prevent miscarriage
due to inappropriate uterine irritability33 or a loose
cervix.9 The herb is taken as capsules, tea, or tincture,
although whether these forms are equally effective is not known.
Clinical
trials have not been conducted, but both black haw and cramp bark
are considered safe for long-term use in pregnancy.l3
Black haw is contraindicated in women with hypotension, as large or
frequent doses may lower blood pressure.l0,19
Anecdotal evidence suggests cramp bark as a safe substitute in such
cases.l9
False Unicorn
The
rhizomes of false unicorn are a common ingredient in herbal formulas
for promoting fertility, preventing miscarriage, and preparing the
body for delivery.2,3,9,34
In women who have had a succession of miscarriages, false unicorn is
used specifically to correct uterine prolapse and tighten a loose
cervix.9,35 Taken before conception, it is believed to
promote fertility as well.3,5,9,10,18,35 Some women
use false unicorn during pregnancy to decrease the likelihood of
miscarriage; others, as a remedy for spotting and contractions that
indicate a threatened miscarriage.3,5,10,30 Herbalists
generally consider it safe for use in pregnancy, although safety has
not been tested in the laboratory.
False
unicorn may arrest miscarriage even after hemorrhaging and
contractions have begun. In one report10 of threatened
miscarriage, hourly doses stopped the cramping and bleeding; the
woman carried her baby to term. The herb appeared to elevate serum
levels of human chorionic gonadotropin, thereby preventing
miscarriage. In another woman, false unicorn and other herbs
prevented completion of an inevitable miscarriage causing prolonged
bleeding.10
The
pharmacologic effects of false unicorn have not been studied
clinically, but the herb is widely believed to be an ovarian and
uterine tonic2l and an emmenagogue,10
although it apparently does not stimulate the pregnant uterus.4
It is said to promote hormonal regulation and support hepatic and
digestive function.35
False
unicorn can be taken in tea, tincture, or capsule form. Because the
mechanism of action remains umknown, it is uncertain whether the
active principles are present in all of these forms. The herb's
bitter taste underlies a recommended use in capsules or a tincture
rather than as a tea.3 An overdose can cause nausea.30
No other contraindications or side effects have been noted.
References
1. Lieberman L.
Remedies...to file for future reference. Birthkit. 1995;5(Spring):1-8.
2. Duke JA. The Green
Pharmacy. Emmaus, Pa: Rodale; 1997.
3. Weed S. Wise Woman
Herbal for the Childbearing Year. New York, NY: Ash Tree; 1986.
4. Hudson T. Women's
Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative
Medicine.
Lincolnwood, Ill: Contemporary; 1999.
5. Romm AJ. The Natural
Pregnancy Book: Herbs, Nutrition and Other Holistic Choices. Freedom,
Calif:
Crossing Press; 1997.
6. Cryns YL. Postpartum
hemorrhage: prevention and treatment. Midwif Today. 1995;34(Summer):
37-40.
7. Scott M. Three keys to
avoiding postpartum hemorrhage. Midwif Today. 1998;48(Winter):23-24.
8. Parsons M Simpson M
Ponton T. Raspberry leaf and its effect on labour: safety and efficacy J
Aust Coll Midwives. 1999;12(3):20-25.
9. Lipo A. A holistic
approach to 'loose cervix.' Birthkit. 1996;10(Summer):3-5.
10. Belew C. Herbs and the
childbearing woman. / Nurse Midwif. 1999;44:231-252.
11. Bartram T. Bartram's
Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. London, UK: Robinson; 1998.
12. Grieve M, ed. A Modern
Herbal [reproduction of the 1931 original]. New York, NY: Dover; 1971.
13. Hobbs C, Keville K. Women's
Herbs, Women's Health.,Loveland, Colo: Botanica Press; 1998.
14. Whitehouse B. Fragarine: an
inhibitor of uterine action. BMJ. 1941;203:370-371.
15. Burn JH Withell ER. A
principle in raspberry leaves which relaxes uterine muscle. Lancet.
1941; 241:6149-6151.
16. McFarlin BL, Gibson MH,
O'Rear j, Harman P A national survey of herbal preparation use by
nurse-midwives for labor stimulation. / Nurse Midwif. 1999;44:205-216.
17. Balch JF Balch PA.
Prescription for Nutritional Healing. New York, NY: Avery; 1990.
18. Ody P Herbs for a Healthy
Pregnancy. Los Angeles, Calif: Keats; 1999.
19. Gardner J. Healing Yourself
During Pregnancy. Freedom, Calif: Crossing Press; 1987.
20. Webster HT. Mitchella
repens. Eclectic Med /. 1996;2:23.
21. Burch E, Sachs J. Natural
Healing for the Pregnant Woman. New York, NY: Perigee; 1997.
22. Blumenthal M Goldberg A
Brinckmann J, eds. Herbnl Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs.
Austin, Tex: American Botanical Council; 2000.
23. Yarnell E. Stinging nettle:
a modern view of an ancient healing plant. Alternative Compl Ther.
1998;4(June):180-186.
24. Bombardelli E, Morazzoni P
Urtica dioica L. Fitoterapia. 1997;48(5):387-402.
25. Lieberman L. Remedies...to
file for future reference. Birthkit. 1995;6(Summer):7-8.
26. Duke JA. Handbook of
Phytochemical Constituents of GRAS Herbs and Other Economic Plants. Boca
Raton, Fla: CRC Press; 1992.
27. Bradley P ed. British
Herbal Compendium, 1. Bournemouth, UK: British Herbal Medicine
Association; 1992.
28. Gardiner C. Formulary:
nettles. Midwif Today. 1992;22(Spring):35.
29. Goldstein L. Remedies...to
file for future reference. Birthkit. 1995;8(Winter):7-8.
30. Gladstar R. Herbal Heating
for Women. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster 1993.
31. Felter HW, Lloyd JU, eds.
King's American Dispensatory j1898 ed.]. Portland, Ore: Eclectic; 1992.
32. Brinker E Black haw and
cramp bark. Eclectic Med J. 1996;2:2-3.
33. Yarnell E. Botanical
medicine in pregnancy and lactation. Alternative Comp1 Ther. 1997;
3(April):93-100.
34. Campion K. Holistic Herbal
for Mother and Baby. London, UK: Bloomsbury; 1996.
35. Lipo A. More information
from herbalist Anna Lipo, author of A holistic approach to 'loose
cervix.' Birthkit. 19%;10(Summer):8.
36. Stelling K. Caulophyltum
thalictroides (blue cohosh). Can J Herbal. 1994;15(3):22-25.
37. jones TK, Lawson BM.
Profound neonatal congestive heart failure caused by maternal
consumption of blue cohosh herbal medication. J Pediatr.
1998;132:550-552.
38. Beal MW. Women's use of
complementary and altemative therapies in reproductive health care. J
Nurse Midwif. 1998;43:224-234.
39. Duke JA. Handbook of
Biologically Active Phytochemicals and Their Activities. Boca Raton,
Fla: CRC Press; 1992.
40. Tyler VE. The Honest
Herbal. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Pharmaceutical Products Press; 1993.
41. Gunn TA, Wright IMR. The
use of black and blue cohosh in labour. N Z Med J. 1996;109:410-411.
42. Baillie N; Rasmussen P
Black and blue cohosh in labour. N Z Med J. 1997;110:20-21.
43. Ferguson HC, Edwards LD. A
pharmacological study of crystalline glycoside on Caulophyllum
thalictoides. J Am Pharm Assoc. 1954;43:16-21.
44. Keeler RF Teratogens in
plants. J Animal Sci. 1984;58:1029-1039.
45. Kennelly EJ, Flynn TJ,
Mazzola EP et al. Detecting potentiaI teratogenic alkaloids from blue
cohosh rhizomes using an in vitro rat embryo culture. J Nat Prod.
1999;62:1385-1389.
46. Ortega JA, Lazerson J.
Anagyrine-induced red cell aplasia, vascular anomaly and skeletal
dysplasia. J Pediatr. 1987;111:93-99.
47. Snow jM. Cimicifuga
racemosa (L) Nutt. (ranunculaceae). Protocol J Botanic Med.
1996;5pring:l7-19.
48. Felter HW ed. The Ectectic
Materia Medica, Pharmacotogy and Therapeutics [reproduction of the 1922
original]. Portland, Ore: Eclectic; 1985:466-469.
49. Knox DR. The influence of
Cimicifuga racemosa upon parturition [reprinted in: Eclectic Med J.
1995;1:18]. N Y Med J. 1885;267:41.
50. Brinker E. Macrotys.
Eclectic Med J. 1996;1:2-4.
51. Shao Y, Harris A, Wang M,
et al. Triterpene glycosides from Cimicifuga racemosa. J Nat Prod. 2000;
63:905-910.
52. Liske E. Therapeutic
efficacy and safety of Cimicifuga racemosa for gynecologic disorders.
Adv Nat Ther 1998;15:45-53.
53. Wade C, Kronenberg F Kelly
A, Murphy PA. Hormone-modulating herbs: implications for women's health.
J Am Med Womens Assoc. 1999;54:181-183.
54. Dixon-Shanies D, Shaikh N.
Growth inhibition of human breast cancer cells by herbs and
phytoestrogens. Oncot Rep. 1999;6:1383-1387.
55. Phillips R, Foy N. The
Random House Book of Herbs. New York, NY: Random House; 1990.
56. Niederkorn jS. Macrotys.
Ectectic Med J. 1910;70:63-66.
57. Hufford CD, Liu SC, Clark
AM. Antifungal activity of Trillium grandiflorum constituents. J Nat
Prod. 1988;51:94-98.
Cheap Reseller Hosting 
