Post Abortion Care with Herbs
Post Abortion Care with Herbs
1 in 4 pregnancies ends in induced abortion
1.2 million abortions occur every year
1/3 people who menstruate will have an abortion by age 45
There are two main types of clinical abortions:
Surgical abortions account for the vast majority, less than 10% are medical.
Surgical abortion: Local anesthesia is applied to the cervix, a speculum holds the vagina open and a dilator is inserted into the cervix to stretch it open. Afterwards the dilator is removed and a tube is inserted into the uterus which is attached to a vacuum pump. This removes the pregnancy. Antibiotics are given afterwards to prevent infection. Soreness and cramping are common after the procedure, and sometimes bleeding lasts up to six weeks.
Medical abortion: First, the pharmaceutical mifepristone is taken which binds to progesterone receptors without activating them, acting as an anti-progesterone agent. The lining of the uterus thins, preventing implantation, and the cervix softens. 2 days later, misoprostol is taken orally or vaginally, which causes uterine contractions that expel the contents of the pregnancy. Heavy bleeding and cramping are typical, and a follow up appointment is scheduled two weeks later to confirm full expulsion.
Caring for yourself before, during, and after an abortion:
It’s always good to be aware of symptoms that indicate necessary emergency care which include an enlarged, tender uterus, severe cramping, fever, excessive blood loss, or less blood than expected hours after the procedure.
We talk a good deal about the right to have an abortion but not necessarily how to care for oneself after an abortion. Like most other menstrual issues, we don’t have very many rituals which support rest and recovery. Abortion is normal, but it is still an invasive procedure which can benefit from some awareness of what to expect, both during and afterwards.
A pregnancy causes the hormone levels of estradiol and progesterone to rise significantly. Post abortion, they will decline rapidly. Under most normal circumstances in healthy menstruators, ovulation will return the following cycle.
Because of this sharp hormonal drop, intense emotion is not uncommon post-abortion. These feelings can be all over the map, sometimes relief and elation, other times sadness, distress, and depression. Abortion can present some mental health issues because of the body's stress response and increased cortisol levels, including post traumatic stress disorder in one in five patients. The point here is that these feelings, however complicated, are normal, and in part physiological in nature, due to the hormone fluctuations.
There is no current pharmacological research on herbal therapies post abortion to help people through these emotions and physical challenges.
Here is an herbal guide to post abortion care with herbs.
From the herbal toolbox we can use herbs that are nervines, anti-depressants, and adaptogenic in nature.
St Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum): anti-depressant with antimicrobial, nervine, and astringent
Common Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris): mild nervine, anti-depressant, anti-spasmodic, anti-bacterial
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): nervine, anti-depressant, anti-spasmodic
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis): mild anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, trophorestorative (nutritive restorative, balancing)
True Lavender (Lavandula officinalis): anti-depressant, nervine, particularly associated with helping deal with grief and loss
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca): nervine, anti-spasmodic, menstrual balance
Adaptogens are useful because of their ability to deal with stress response and increased cortisol. These can be used before an abortion as well as afterwards.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): adaptogen, immune stimulant, nervine, anti-spasmodic, mood stabilizer, contains iron
Rehmannia (Rehmannia glutinosa): adrenal trophorestorative (nutritive restorative), anti-hemorrhagic, menstrual hormone balancing, contains iron
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): inhibits glucocorticoid hepatic metabolism (slows rate of cortisol breakdown, so adrenals don’t have to continue to make more), serotonin re-uptake, balancing menstrual hormones
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus): adaptogen, rejuvenating tonic which reduces corticosterone levels produced by stress, modulates estrogen levels, anti-depressant, immune stimulant, anti-bacterial
These are just a few of the herbs you might be called to when recovering from abortion.