There are many herbal allies that help us prevent pregnancy, and they work in different ways and for different purposes.
Some prevent implantation of a fertilized egg and should only be taken after unprotected sex during the fertile window.
Queen Anne's Lace (also called wild carrot and pictured above) is a great example of one such plant. She works by making the uterine lining less hospitable for a fertilized egg to nestle into.
Other herbs work by bringing on the period, such as mugwort. Mugwort is a great friend to women at many stages of life beyond contraception, including moontime support, perimenopause, connecting with the magic of dreamtime, and encouraging a bleed to begin.
Unlike Queen Anne's Lace, mugwort should be taken starting about a week after ovulation (and potential conception) and continued until bleeding begins.
When working with these plants, it's really important to know where you are in your cycle and when you ovulated. Without that information, you may end up taking the wrong herb at the wrong time.
Be sure you know when your fertile window opens, when you ovulate, and when your fertile window closes. Knowing these simple things can help you prevent pregnancy in and of themselves, but they can also let you know when it's a good idea to add in some backup herbal support!
In my Beldam Fertility Awareness course, I teach women how to integrate herbal allies into their contraceptive practice, should they need to.
I wish you all the best in your journey with plants and contraception!
Love,
Laura
