I found this article very interesting and have long been interested in natural methods of contraception, esp in light of “the pills” damaging effects, esp after long term use.

Heres a link i found on wild carrot:
http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/cont.html

…John Riddle writes in Eve’s Herbs, that Queen Anne’s Lace (qal) seeds are one of the more potent antifertility agents available, and a common plant in many regions of the world. “The seeds, harvested in the fall, are a strong contraceptive if taken orally immediately after coitus.” (penis/vagina sex) Research on small animals has shown that extracts of the seeds disrupt the implantation process, or if a fertilized egg has implanted for only a short period, will cause it to be released. There has been some research done on wild carrot seeds mostly in other countries, the results of those experiments have been encouraging. The Chinese view QAL as a promising post-colital agent, “recent evidence suggests that terpenoids in the seed block crucial progesterone synthesis in pregnant animals.” When asked about the contraceptive effects of wild carrot, some herbalists have described it as having the effect of making the uterus “slippery” so the egg is unable to implant.

Chris Bellanger
Melbourne

Have you found that Wild Yam has changed the blood or salivary assay of progesterone?

There is no evidence (that I am aware of) that shows that Wild Yam or the derivative, diosgenin, are able to be converted in the human body to progesterone or LH/FSH for that matter. Certainly, these steroidal saponins can be used as precursors to steroidal hormones - but only through complex chemical steps (only in a lab - not the human body). The glycoprotein gonadotropins FSH & LH are specific hormones produced by the pituitary and not easily replicated. Certainly some herbs (such as Vitex) may act on the hypothalamic pituitary axis or locally at the ovarian level to increase hormone sensitivity or secretion - but they don’t get converted to hormones per se.
My understanding of Wild Yam is that it acts as a SERM (selective oestrogen receptor modulator).
In this way it may be possible that Wild Yam has an oestrogenic activity that will impact on fertility as you said.

I was also interested in the study on wild carrot and contraception….can you provide the reference for this please.

Thanks for your time. I look forward to your thoughts.
regards
Karen McElroy
Naturopath & Medical Herbalist