Table of contents:
- What are the traditional medicines that are believed to be pregnancy prevention?
- 1. Papaya
- 2. Moringa leaves
- 3. Lemon
- 4. Turmeric
- 5. Biduri
- 6. Hibiscus flowers
- Can traditional ingredients be effective birth control drugs?
- Choose proven medical birth control over the myths of natural birth control
There are a variety of natural ingredients that are thought to prevent pregnancy. Even though there is a choice of contraception, it is not uncommon for couples to choose the natural way. Some people believe the consumption of natural ingredients that can help prevent pregnancy. However, is it true that there are natural ingredients that are effective in delaying pregnancy, or is it just a myth of natural birth control? Check out the following explanation.
What are the traditional medicines that are believed to be pregnancy prevention?
There are several natural ingredients that are often considered to be birth control or contraceptive methods. However, is it true that natural ingredients can work effectively if used as family planning, or is this statement just a myth? Here are some natural ingredients that are widely believed to be used as birth control or contraception.
1. Papaya
A myth about natural birth control states that papaya fruit can be a method of preventing pregnancy. However, instead of a myth, it may well be a fact.
The reason is, based on research published in a journal entitled Procedia Chemistry, papaya seeds are thought to be a natural birth control.
Apart from myths or facts, papaya seeds are considered to be one of the natural birth control options because these fruit seeds can reduce sperm count in male rats.
In addition, researchers also found that papaya seed extract can reduce viability (sperm life span) and motility (sperm movement). These two things can reduce sperm quality.
If you want to use these foods as birth control or your choice of natural birth control, try to eat papaya twice a day, to be precise after you have unprotected sex. This is believed to prevent pregnancy naturally.
2. Moringa leaves
Based on the myth that circulates, besides papaya fruit, Moringa leaves are one of the plants that can be used as natural family planning.
However, this myth has been proven by a study published in a journal entitled Frontiers Pharmacology.
In a study that was tested on these animals, it was found that the mixture of Moringa leaf extract and leaf ethanol can be a natural kb by reducing fertility by 73.3% in rats and rabbits.
Moringa leaves in this study contain oxytocin properties which stimulate uterine contractions. When contracted, the smooth muscle of the mice would resist implantation (early stage of pregnancy).
In another study summarized in the journal, it was reported that Moringa leaf extract was 100% able to cancel implantation in seven mice that had only been mated for 10 days.
Moringa leaf extract is reported to be a natural contraceptive in rats because it can make the uterus unprepared to facilitate pregnancy.
Although this experiment has not been proven in humans, it does prove that the use of Moringa leaves as natural family planning is not just a myth or a figment.
3. Lemon
Based on the myth, the benefits of lemon fruit can also be a natural birth control in an effort to prevent pregnancy.
In fact, women in the country of Moldova are suspected of inserting slices or water from the juice of sour lemon into the vagina after sex. The goal, as a natural contraception.
Women in this country believe in the myth that lemon can be a natural birth control. The reason is, the acidic nature of lemon will kill sperm, so consuming it can prevent conception and pregnancy.
This myth was later corroborated by a study conducted in 2015.
Research contained in The Journal of the Chinese Medical Association shows a concoction in the form of lemon seeds mixed with petroleum ether and alcohol can be used as a medicine to prevent pregnancy by thwarting the embryo implantation process in female rats after 1-7 days of insemination.
Meanwhile, after the lemon extract stopped being given, the uterus of the albino female mouse returned to fertility. So, it can be concluded that lemon which functions as natural birth control is proven not just a myth.
4. Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the herbs that is said to be used as a traditional birth control medicine. Not just a myth, this claim has been tested on human sperm and mice.
Research examining this was published in the journal Molecular Reproduction and Development in 2011.
The study shows that the curcumin contained in turmeric can be a traditional pregnancy prevention medicine.
This is evidenced by collecting human and mouse sperm, then incubating it to test the effect of curcumin on motility (sperm movement), acrosome reactions (the process of sperm penetrating the egg), and fertilization.
The results showed that giving curcumin to human and rat sperm was shown to reduce motility, acrosome, and fertilization.
Not only that, giving curcumin through the mice's vagina actually caused a drastic decrease in fertility.
Although the results are promising, there are no studies that prove that turmeric is effective as a traditional birth control medicine in humans. Therefore, further studies are needed to find evidence of this.
5. Biduri
Biduri or its Latin name Calotropis gigantea traditionally used as a pregnancy prevention drug. The part of the plant that is used as anti-fertility or anti-fertilization is the leaves.
The study, cited in the Journal of The Chinese Medical Association, states that the anti-fertility properties of hysteria root can prevent pregnancy in mice.
Another study also cited in the journal suggested that the root of biduri exhibits strong anti-implantation effects.
That is, the content in the root of the biduri may prevent the implantation process, which is when the embryo sticks to the fetal wall.
6. Hibiscus flowers
Hibiscus or the Latin language Hibiscus rosa-sinensis contains various compounds that are useful as traditional medicines for various diseases.
A study also mentioned in the Journal of The Chinese Medical Association shows that this plant extract exhibits strong anti-implantation properties.
Research conducted in India states that hibiscus flowers have indeed been used by women and local doctors as a traditional pregnancy prevention medicine.
Apart from hibiscus flower, a plant that is also said to have anti-implantation properties is palasa (Butea monosperm) and Basil (Ocimum sanctum).
Can traditional ingredients be effective birth control drugs?
In fact, until now there has been no research that can prove the existence of various myths that state certain natural ingredients can become natural family planning.
In fact, the studies that are considered to prove the myth of natural birth control above are still being tested on animals, not humans.
This means that the research succeeded in proving the use of natural ingredients as birth control or an effective contraceptive method only in animals.
Meanwhile, these studies have not been able to prove that the myths about natural birth control can also work to prevent pregnancy in humans.
In fact, the workings of natural birth control have not been proven to affect the fertilization process between human sperm and egg cells.
As we know, pregnancy occurs in the female reproductive system, while a number of contraceptives above involve the work of the digestive system.
The work of the human digestive system itself is not directly related to the work of the reproductive organs.
Health experts and doctors agree to advise women not to use natural contraceptives as a way to avoid unwanted pregnancies.
The only most effective and 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy is actually not to have sex through penile and vaginal penetration.
Choose proven medical birth control over the myths of natural birth control
Compared to using natural birth control which is still not necessarily effective in helping you prevent pregnancy, there are still many medical birth control options whose effectiveness has been tested.
So, if you still want to have sex without worrying about getting broken, medical contraception is still the top recommendation.
Medical contraceptives such as birth control pills, spiral birth control (IUD), or barrier contraception in the form of condoms have been tested and many doctors recommend to prevent pregnancy effectively.
For example, the spiral contraceptive device is copper coated and placed in a woman's uterus.
This contraception works by preventing sperm from entering the fallopian tubes (the tube between the uterus and the ovaries), so that they cannot meet the egg, aka pregnancy occurs.
Therefore, instead of being confused by the myths of natural birth control, it would be wiser to use medical contraceptives which are clearly more potent and effective at preventing pregnancy.
In addition, don't forget to always consult with your doctor about the type of contraceptive device or method that suits your needs and health conditions.
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