One of the most unfortunate problems caused by this assumption was the legacy caused by birthwort, a vine now more commonly called Dutchman's pipe. To some herbalists tracing far back in history, the plant seemed to resemble a birth canal. Believing this to be a sign from God, doctors in the sixteen-hundreds began using the herb during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Birthwort was believed to be a panacea for childbirth-related problems, and was used to treat issues including retained placenta, stillbirth, post-term pregnancy, preterm labor, and postpartum hemorrhage. Its use continued well into the eighteen hundreds. Its current scientific name, aristolochia, or "excellent birth," even alludes to this historic use.
The tragedy regarding this plant is that it never safely accomplished any of the tasks that it was reputed to achieve. Birthwort contains massive amounts of aristolochic acid, which, although it shares the name meaning "excellent birth," has absolutely nothing to do with a healthy childbirth.
In 1869, a Dr. WIlliam Cook was one of the first to describe the negative effects of birthwort, even after hundreds of years of use and negative effects. He describes:
"During parturition, it will arouse flagging pains with great power, if the patient become weary and chilly, with cold extremities [...] After a time the pulse gets fuller and stronger, till the heart and brain finally feel the stimulation... [Birthwort] will usually act with vigor upon the kidneys... but it very especially influences the uterus."
After hundreds of years of unhindered, frequent use, FDA has released warnings in 2001 insisting that consumers discontinue and avoid any herbs or supplements containing aristolochic acid. It is now widely known to cause severe, acute kidney failure, leading to death in many people, and permanent dialysis for those fortunate enough to survive. It also causes cancer and liver damage.
Several studies have attempted to establish a link between birthwort and healthy childbirth, but so far, no studies have conclusively shown that it has ever offered any benefits to women or their fetuses. In fact, it would appear that the herb has caused thousands of deaths throughout history and provided absolutely no benefit.
Despite its vagina-like shape, birthwort's chemical properties in no way make it an ideal supplement for pregnant women, or anyone else. While modern herbalists are now aware that a plant's appearance in no way signifies its chemical or medical properties, birthwort's damage to thousands of women and their children will never be undone.