Cotton root seems to be an effective abortifacient. Some research has been done on this herb here in the US and in China. The problem with this herb is that it is not very available. Although large quantities of cotton are grown, tons of chemicals are used in growing it, all of these chemicals are poisonous to people, because cotton is a non-food crop, the government allows more toxic pesticides and herbicides to be used. If a person uses the roots from these plants grown this way, there is a very strong possibility that these chemicals will make one very sick.
Cotton is being grown organically in some areas but the roots are not widely available. I have had reports of women finding tinctures made from cotton root bark, but at this time it is still an uncommonly found herb.
Cotton root has the effect of shutting down the corpus luteum's ability to produce progesterone. (The corpus luteum is created when ovulation occurs, it is the little hole made by the egg when it burst from the follicle. It 'scabs' over, becoming a little yellow body who's function is to secrete progesterone to prepare the uterus just incase the egg gets fertilized. If not, it dries up and fades away.) Progesterone is essential for pregnancy, without it the pregnancy cannot maintain itself. The corpus luteum is the fertilized eggs only source of progesterone until the pregnancy advances to the point where the placenta takes over hormone production.
Research in China supports this claim, showing cotton root bark has the ability to interrupt pregnancy due to its anti-progesterone and anti-corpus luteum effect. These effects cause the lining of the uterus to be non-supportive to a fertilized egg. This verifies Cotton's ability to interfere with implantation and cause abortion.
It also "seems to increase receptor sites on oxytocin sensitive cells, causing uterine contractions." Making it useful for suppressed or obstructed menstruation and to hasten or initiate childbirth as well.
from:Natural standard substance
