At a time when population explosion, unintended pregnancies and sexually-transmitted diseases continue to cause major public health issues world-wide, it’ll be interesting to know how an ancient healthcare system like Ayurveda dealt with such problems.  Vaidya Lakshmi Anoop writes:-

Procreation and no creation, Ayurveda has ways to deal with them. Ayurveda suggests Vajikarana therapy for those who wish to conceive. On the other hand, Ayurveda has many suggestions for those in need of natural contraceptives.

Like in other areas of healthcare, Ayurveda has developed many methods in the practice of contraception. Safe period, coitus interruptus and other contraceptive methods have been described very well in Ayurveda texts. References about practice of contraception have been available since the period of the Vedas. Clinical studies later proved these drugs to be efficacious in contraception and without any side-effects.

Modern methods

In today’s world, halting conception is not that difficult, for we’ve various contraceptives like condoms, spermicidal gels and intra-uterine devices besides surgical measures. Not all contraceptive methods are appropriate for all situations, and the most appropriate method of birth control depends on a woman’s overall health, age, frequency of sexual activity, number of sexual partners, desire to have children in the future, and family history of certain diseases.

However, the failure rate of many of these contraceptive methods is high. Hormonal contraceptives and intra-uterine devices like Copper-T are reported to generate incidents of side-effects. Surgical sterilization in males can also cause side-effects. Available local contraceptive measures do not give 100 percent surety of prevention of conception.

Contraceptives in Ayurveda

Ayurveda suggests a low-cost, user-friendly, reliable and side-effect free approach for family planning, which is the need of the hour. Many research works are on-going in this area. Even the Government of India has recognised the role of indigenous systems of medicine in population control. The Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha, New Delhi, and the Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, are undertaking a lot of research projects on indigenous contraceptive methods.

Regulated sexual life or abstinence from sex was considered as the method of contraception in Ayurvedic classics. Ayurveda treatises like Bhava Prakash, Yoga Ratnakara, Bhaishajya Ratnavali etc have mentioned about different combinations of herbal and herbo-mineral contraceptive preparations for local as well as oral use by men and women.

Single herbal drugs mentioned in ayurvedic texts are found to have anti-ovulatory and anti-implantation activities on pharmacological screening. Research on the properties of the herbs proved their efficacy.

Vidanga (Emblica ribes) -- Research studies show that it possesses 83 percent antifertility activity.

Talisa (Abies webbiana) – Research showed that it possesses 51 per cent anti-implantation activity.

Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica) – It showed anti-fertility, anti-implantation, anti-oestrogenic, anti-ovulatory, anti-gonadotrophic activities.

Nimba (Azadirachta indica) – Its bark extract possesses spermicidal activity. It also showed significant decline of sperm motility and sperm density. Fructose concentration of seminal vesicles was significantly reduced.

Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) – It possesses anti-implantation, anti-zygotic, abortifacient properties.

Nagakesara (Mesua ferrea) – It possesses anti-implantation facilities.

Japakusuma (Hibiscus rosa sinensis) – Research studies showed that benzene extract has 100 percent antifertility effect. It also possesses anti-spermatogenic, anti-ovulatory, anti-implantation, abortifacient properties. It exhibited a post coital antifertility effect in 80 per cent treated rats.

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) leaves -- They significantly reduce sperm count and motility, increase testosterone levels and decrease LH and FSH. They possess a spermatogenic effect. Studies showed that the contraceptive effect of Tulsi in male was comparable to female contraceptive pills, which were also reversible.

Haridra (Curcuma longa) – Studies showed that intra-vaginal administration of curcuma caused reduction in fertility. It results in reversible suppression of spermatogenesis and fertility, thereby suggesting the potential of this plant to regulate male fertility. They produce an anti-andro-genic effect.

Local contraceptives for females

Vaginal application of moistened Saindhava lavana (rock salt) with Tila taila (gingerly oil) before coitus.

Fumigation of vaginal canal with wood of Neem before coitus.

Filling the vaginal canal with Dhattura root (Dattura metal) powder which is uprooted during 14^th day of the first fortnight of lunar month.

The seed of shireesha (Albizia lebbeck) is a potent spermicide. It immobilises the human sperm in one minute. It possesses an anti-ovulatory and anti-fertility effect. Females can use it as a local application.

Neem oil (Azadirachta indica) When applied locally, acts as a vaginal contraceptive. It possesses spermicidal, anti-ovulatory and anti-implantation effects.

Oral contraceptives for females

Talisapatra powder (Abies webbiana) and Gairika (Red Ochre, Fe203) in equal parts in the dose of 1 karsha (12 gm) acts as a contraceptive.

Paste of Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica) root mixed with Nirgundi (Vitex negundo) juice and administered in the dose of one karsha (12 gm) is an effective contraceptive.

Powder of sharshapa seeds (Brassica campestris), Tandulam (Amaranthus spinosus), Sarkara (Sugar candy) pound with Tandulodaka (rice water) when taken with milk prevents conception.

Powders of amla (Embilca officinalis), Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) and Abhaya (Terminalia chebula), along with water, make the follicular development ineffective.

Haridra (Curcuma longa) rhizome, having knot, is to be given one rhizome per day during the three days of menstruation and continued for another three days.

 Powder of Krishna Jeeraka (Carum carvi), Kachooram (Hedychium spicatum), Nagakesara (Mesua ferrea), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Kalonji (Nigella sativa), Kayaphala (Myrica nagi) is to be mixed and given as pills in the size of ziziphus fruit (red date) for seven days.

Flowers of Japa (Hibiscus rosa sinensis), if taken immediately after the delivery of a child, is said to prevent future conception.

The entire seeds of cotyledons of white variety of Gunja (Abrus precatorius), after removing the epicarp, are to be soaked in water for one night. Administration of the potion on the fourth, fifth and sixth day of menstruation is stated to prevent misconception for three years.

Pippali (Piper longum), Vidanga (Embelia ribes) and Tankana (borax), made into a powder in equal quantities, and taken with milk during the fertile phase, is an effective contraceptive. Experimental studies proved its efficacy and there were only two failures amongst 458 users. There is no adverse effect on lactation or any other side-effects. The reversibility of fertility is stated to be immediate after withdrawal of medication.

Oral contraceptives for males

The herb Arka (Calotropis gigantea) inhibits spermatogenesis and acts as oral contraceptives for males. Calotropin, a novel compound, is responsible for fertility control.

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) leaves when administered in the dose of 2 mg daily acts as an effective anti-fertility agent in males.

Haridra (Curcuma longa) extracts induce fertility control in male.

 The natural birth control methods mentioned in Ayurvedic texts helps to minimise chances of unwanted pregnancies and prevent sexually-transmitted diseases. Contraceptive methods were in use since the time of Vedas. Unlike hormonal or other contraceptive methods, Ayurvedic contraceptives are free from side effects and are effective. So this vast field has to be researched more for benefitting mankind.

(The author Vaidya Lakshmi Anoop is a practicing Ayurvedic physician based in Jaipur.)