South African traditional herbal medicines used during pregnancy and childbirth.

Many black South African women use traditional herbal remedies as antenatal medications or to induce or augment labour. Very little is known about the pharmacology and potential toxicity of the plants used in these herbal remedies. The ethnic background and traditional usage of these remedies was researched and a literature survey revealed that 57 different plants were used in herbal remedies during pregnancy and childbirth. Several of these plants are poisonous and details of their toxicity are given.