Women are only fertile a few days per cycle. It’s ironic that we’re the ones who risk the vast array of side effects and physical ramifications of birth control.  These include increased risk of blood clots, strokes, breast cancer, irregular spotting, severe pelvic inflammatory disease or uterine perforation, heavy and crampy periods, urinary tract infections, cervical inflammation, and allergic reactions to spermicides and latex, to name a few.  And for what? To protect themselves from a man, who produces millions of sperm per minute!

This is a recipe to bring on your period

 EMMENAGOGUE

**precautions**

The following two recipes are in general use. They seem to be erratically successful.  Do not increase the amount of herb. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Do not take for longer than five days. Do not use both recipes together. CAUTION: blue cohosh may raise blood pressure.

Emmenagogue Brew

2 tablespoons dried blue cohosh root

3 tablespoons dried pennyroyal leaves

2 tablespoons dried tansy in flower

            Put the blue cohosh into a quart of water in a pan and bring to a boil.  Put the other herbs into quart jar.  When the blue cohosh and water boils, pour into the jar with the other herbs.  Put on a tight lid and let steep for at least 30 minutes. Strain out herbs and reheat before using.

Blue Cohosh can stimulate uterine contractions, but the responsible principle is not very soluble in water, even when the root is boiled.  American pennyroyal strongly encourages the uterus to empty out and bleed. Tansy has been used by wise women in Europe and the Americas for centuries to facilitate menstruation and induce abortion.  Together, these three emmenagogues can profuse menstrual flow in sensitive women

            The usual dose is a steaming hot cupful every four hours for up to five days, or until bleeding is well under way.  The effectiveness of the formula is enhanced by the addition of a tablespoonful of brewer’s yeast to every cup.

Emergency Contraception

For the Morning-After pill if you feel you need and want it.  Good within 7 days of unprotected intercourse.

 Echinacea Tincture

            1 Ounce dried Echinacea augustifolia roots

OR            4 ounces fresh Echinacea roots (any species)

5 fluid ounces 100 proof vodka or spirit of your choice

Chew dried Echinacea root. If potent, it will cause a numbing, tingling sensation of the tongue.

            Combine roots and vodka in a pint jar. Use enough vodka to totally cover fresh roots. Seal and label.  Keep at room temperature, out of direct light, for six weeks.  Then pour off the tincture into a brown glass bottle.  Remove what tincture remains in roots by squeezing or spinning.  Label and store in a cool, dark cupboard.

            I once made Echinacea tincture in a French raspberry liqueur. Family and friends considered it delicious enough to be an n aperitif. An Irish friend uses Jamison’s whiskey. 

Adjust the dosage if your spirit is less than 100 proof (50% alcohol). For 80 proof tinctures, increase dosage by 10%.

            The dose, preventatively, is 5-15 drops. Take it two or three times a day.  The dose, curatively, is up to one drop per pound of body weight. Take it twice a day.

(I included this recipe because it is a marvel—and it is so easy to make.)

Fertility Awareness for Non-Invasive Birth Control