Evidence supporting the use of: Bethroot
For the health condition: Afterbirth Pain
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Bethroot (Trillium erectum), also known as birthroot, has a long-standing history of use in North American Indigenous and traditional herbal medicine, particularly for women’s reproductive health. The root was commonly used by Native American tribes and early settlers to address various female complaints, including afterbirth pain, excessive postpartum bleeding, and to facilitate recovery after childbirth. Traditional herbalists believed that bethroot possessed astringent and uterine tonic properties, which could help “tone” the uterus, reduce cramping, and control bleeding following delivery. These uses were passed down through generations and included in several 19th-century American herbal texts.
However, there is little to no modern scientific research specifically validating the effectiveness of bethroot for afterbirth pain. Most evidence remains anecdotal or based on historical usage patterns. Some phytochemical studies have identified saponins and other compounds in bethroot that might account for mild astringent or antispasmodic effects, but no clinical trials or rigorous pharmacological evaluations have been conducted to confirm its efficacy or safety for postpartum pain. Therefore, the use of bethroot for afterbirth pain is justified primarily by traditional practice, and the strength of evidence remains weak by modern standards.
Other ingredients used for Afterbirth Pain
ashwagandhablack cohosh
chamomile
turmeric
fennel
ginger
ginseng
lavender
licorice root
parsley
rhodiola
xanthium (cockleburs)
shen-chu
mugwort
anise
punarnava
caesalpinia crista
boxthorne
goldenrod
yarrow
myrrh
siler root
fern
trichosanthes
queen of the meadow
arnica
Avens
Agrimony
Achyranthes
Alchemilla
Aletris
Anserina
Aerva lanata
American Liverleaf
Aquilegia formosa
Ashoka
Abuta
Amor seco
Arisaema
Blue Cohosh
Bai Ji
Baliospermum
Black-Eyed Susan
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Butea monosperma
Bethroot
Comfrey
Cohosh
Calendula
Calotropis gigantea
Capillary Artemisia
Cinquefoil
Cyathula
Cynodon dactylon
Castor Oil
Chrysophanics
Didymocarpus
Dragon's Blood
Davilla rugosa
Erigeron
Eupolyphaga sinensis
Eupatorium
Little ironweed
Other health conditions supported by Bethroot
Afterbirth PainAmenorrhea
Bleeding (external)
Cramps (menstrual)
Cramps and Spasms
Dysmenorrhea
Menstrual Irregularity
Pain (general remedies for)
Ulcers
Wounds and Sores