Evidence supporting the use of: Black Haw
For the health condition: Afterbirth Pain

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly by Native American groups and later by 19th-century American herbalists and midwives. It was commonly employed to relieve uterine cramps, dysmenorrhea, and "afterbirth pains"—the contractions experienced by women following childbirth as the uterus returns to its pre-pregnancy size. Historical texts, such as King's American Dispensatory (1898), describe Black Haw as an antispasmodic and uterine tonic, recommending it specifically for afterbirth pain and to prevent miscarriage.

Phytochemically, Black Haw contains compounds such as salicin (a precursor to salicylic acid), viburnin, and various tannins, which are thought to have mild muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, while these constituents offer a plausible mechanism for reducing muscle spasm and pain, modern clinical trials validating its efficacy for afterbirth or postpartum pain are lacking. The available evidence is thus primarily anecdotal and historical, rather than rigorously scientific.

In summary, Black Haw’s use for afterbirth pain is justified by longstanding traditional use, with some theoretical pharmacological support but no substantial modern clinical research. It should not be considered a proven treatment by current scientific standards, but it is notable for its historical prominence in herbal obstetric care.

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