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Contraception means the prevention of pregnancy by interfering with the normal process of ovulation, fertilization, or implantation. The intentional prevention of conception is achieved by the use of various devices, sexual practices, chemicals, drugs or surgical procedures. This is an important measure for population control.  

Contraception means the prevention of pregnancy by interfering with the normal process of ovulation, fertilization, or implantation. The intentional prevention of conception is achieved by the use of various devices, sexual practices, chemicals, drugs or surgical procedures.<ref>Jain R, Muralidhar S. Contraceptive methods: needs, options and utilization. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2011;61(6):626-634. doi:10.1007/s13224-011-0107-7</ref> This is an important measure for population control.  

The literature suggests that contraception has been available from ancient times. The major texts of Ayurveda like Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya describe natural methods of contraception. The ancient Indian epics like Garuda purana (1000 BC), Bruhadaranyaka Upanishad (700 BC), Atharva veda (1000–900 BCE), Ayurveda texts like Rasa ratna  samuchhaya  (1400 A.D.), Bhavaprakasha  (1600 A.D.), Yogaratnakara (1600 A.D.), and Bhaishajya Ratnavali  (1900 A.D.) describe additional contraceptive options in the form of oral and local contraceptives practiced at the respective times.

The literature suggests that contraception has been available from ancient times. The major texts of Ayurveda like Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya describe natural methods of contraception. The ancient Indian epics like Garuda purana (1000 BC), Bruhadaranyaka Upanishad (700 BC), Atharva veda (1000–900 BCE), Ayurveda texts like Rasa ratna  samuchhaya  (1400 A.D.), Bhavaprakasha  (1600 A.D.), Yogaratnakara (1600 A.D.), and Bhaishajya Ratnavali  (1900 A.D.) describe additional contraceptive options in the form of oral and local contraceptives practiced at the respective times.

'''2. Breathing exercise:'''  

'''2. Breathing exercise:'''  

Breathing exercise to be practiced during coitus in order to prevent conception is mentioned in “Bruhadaranyaka Upanishad”.  

Breathing exercise to be practiced during coitus in order to prevent conception is mentioned in “Bruhadaranyaka Upanishad”.<ref>Bruhadaranyaka Upanishad, IV, Brahmana, Sutra 10.</ref>

'''3. Safe period or rhythm method:'''   

'''3. Safe period or rhythm method:'''   

==II. Oral contraceptives==

==II. Oral contraceptives==

The “Atharva veda” describes certain drugs to make a person impotent which is administered by chanting some verses as a punishment to the person committing social sins.  

The “Atharva veda” describes certain drugs to make a person impotent which is administered by chanting some verses as a punishment to the person committing social sins.<ref>Atharvaveda VI-138/1, part 2,Vishveshwaranad vedic institute, Hoshiapur, edition 1, 1961.</ref>

These recipes suppress or delay ovulation. Once the functioning of reproductive hormones (raja) is suppressed or altered, it prevents the conception.  Food and beverages that are excessively hot in potency cause disturbances in the reproductive physiology especially in the growth and development of follicles/ovum (andopachaya). [ Ka. Sa. Kalpa Sthana 7/32]

These recipes suppress or delay ovulation. Once the functioning of reproductive hormones (raja) is suppressed or altered, it prevents the conception.  Food and beverages that are excessively hot in potency cause disturbances in the reproductive physiology especially in the growth and development of follicles/ovum (andopachaya). [ Ka. Sa. Kalpa Sthana 7/32]

!Drugs!!Period of menstrual cycle!!Vehicle/After drink (anupana/prakshepa) !! Dose / Duration  

!Drugs!!Period of menstrual cycle!!Vehicle/After drink (anupana/prakshepa) !! Dose / Duration  

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|Powder of Piper longum Linn(pippali), Embelia ribes(vidanga), borax(tankana)|| First 12-16 days (ritu kala)|| Milk||12- 16 days

|Powder of Piper longum Linn(pippali), Embelia ribes(vidanga), borax(tankana)<ref>Bhavamishra. Bhavaprakasha ,chikitsaprakarana, yoniroga ahikara, verse 33,In:Hindi translation by Pandit Shri Brahma Shankara Mishra, Volume II ,Reprint edition. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit bhawan;2018.pp.-765</ref>|| First 12-16 days (ritu kala)|| Milk||12- 16 days

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|Flowers of Hibiscus rosasinensis (japa)||First 12-16 days(ritu kala)|| fermented rice water (Kanji) and Old jiggery(48g)||3 days

|Flowers of Hibiscus rosasinensis (japa)<ref>Bhavamishra. Bhavaprakasha ,chikitsa prakarana, yoniroga adhikara, verse 34,In:Hindi translation by Pandit Shri Brahma Shankara Mishra, Volume II ,Reprint edition. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit bhawan;2018.pp.-765</ref>||First 12-16 days(ritu kala)|| fermented rice water (Kanji) and Old jiggery(48g)||3 days

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|Root of Amaranthus spinosus (tanduliyaka) ||after the stoppage of menstrual bleeding ||Rice water|| 3 days

|Root of Amaranthus spinosus (tanduliyaka)<ref>Yogaratnakara, Yoniroga Chikitsa, verse 52 In: Yogaratnakara with Vidyaprabha Hindi commentary, Dr. Indradev Tripathi, Dr. Daya Shankar Tripathi editors,3rd ed, Varanasi:Chawkhamba Krishnadas Academy, 2011 Pg no:813</ref> ||after the stoppage of menstrual bleeding ||Rice water|| 3 days

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|Leaves of Abes webbiana (talisa) and red orche (gairika)||4th day of menstruation||Not specified ||12 g, 1 day

|Leaves of Abes webbiana (talisa) and red orche (gairika)<ref>  Yogaratnakara, Yoniroga Chikitsa, verse 54 In: Yogaratnakara with Vidyaprabha Hindi commentary, Dr. Indradev Tripathi, Dr. Daya Shankar Tripathi editors,3rd ed, Varanasi:Chawkhamba Krishnadas Academy, 2011 Pg no:813</ref>||4th day of menstruation||Not specified ||12 g, 1 day

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|Extract of Berberis aristata (rasanjana), Iris germanica Linn. (shweta vacha),and Terminalia chebula (haritaki)|| Not specified||Cold water||Not specified(probably for the whole month)

|Extract of Berberis aristata (rasanjana), Iris germanica Linn. (shweta vacha),and Terminalia chebula (haritaki)<ref>Chakrapani, Chakradatta, yoni vyapad chikitsa, verse 23 In: chakradtta, Hindi translation by Dr.Indradev Tripathi,Reprint edition, Vranasi: Chaukhambha  Sanskrit Bhavan,2018,pg no:382.</ref>|| Not specified||Cold water||Not specified(probably for the whole month)

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|Paste of leaves of Cesampelus pareira (patha) ||After the stoppage of menstrual bleeding||Not specified||Not specified

|Paste of leaves of Cesampelus pareira (patha)<ref>Govinda Das,Bhaisajyaratnavali , Streeroga Adhikara, verse 153 , Hindi translation by Pandit. Shri Lalchandraji, reprint edtion,Delhi:Motilal banarasidas, 2002, pg no:707.</ref> ||After the stoppage of menstrual bleeding||Not specified||Not specified

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|3 years old jaggery || Not specified|| Not specified|| Continuously for 15 days

|3 years old jaggery<ref>Ramsagara triphathi, Anangaranga, https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/ext/dw/0327725/PDF/0327725.pdf, page no:57</ref> || Not specified|| Not specified|| Continuously for 15 days

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|Decoction of Plumbago zeylanica (chitraka)|| From the 4th day of menstrual cycle/after the stoppage of bleeding ||Rice water|| 3 days

|Decoction of Plumbago zeylanica (chitraka)<ref name= anangaranga>Ramsagara triphathi,Anangaranga,https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/ext/dw/0327725/PDF/0327725.pdf, page no:58</ref>|| From the 4th day of menstrual cycle/after the stoppage of bleeding ||Rice water|| 3 days

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|Decoction of Nauclea cadamba/ Nauclea parvifolia (kallambha) and the feet of jungle flies.|| From the 4th day of menstrual cycle/after the stoppage of bleeding||Not specified ||3 days

|Decoction of Nauclea cadamba/ Nauclea parvifolia (kallambha) and the feet of jungle flies.<ref name=anangaranga/>|| From the 4th day of menstrual cycle/after the stoppage of bleeding||Not specified ||3 days

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|19.5 g of marking nut/semicarpus anacardium or seeds of Terminalia bellerica (bibhitaki) boiled in rice water. ||From the 4th day of menstrual cycle/after the stoppage of bleeding)||Not specified||7 days

|19.5 g of marking nut/semicarpus anacardium or seeds of Terminalia bellerica (bibhitaki) boiled in rice water.<ref name=anangaranga/> ||From the 4th day of menstrual cycle/after the stoppage of bleeding)||Not specified||7 days

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|Ashes of stem of  Euphorbia neriifolia (sehunda)||21 days||Not specified ||1 tola(12 gm)

|Ashes of stem of  Euphorbia neriifolia (sehunda)<ref name=kuchimara>Kuchimaratanra, text with English translation by Goli Penchalaprasada, Varnasi: Chawkhamba Krishnadas Academy, 2007.</ref>||21 days||Not specified ||1 tola(12 gm)

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|Curcuma longa (haridra) rhizome having knots ||3 days during menstruation, and continued for 3 more days||Not specified||1 rhizome/day, (total 6 days)

|Curcuma longa (haridra) rhizome having knots <ref name=kuchimara/>||3 days during menstruation, and continued for 3 more days||Not specified||1 rhizome/day, (total 6 days)

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|Powder of Carum carvi (krishna jeeraka), Hedchim spicatum (kachura), Mesua ferrea (nagakesara), Terminalia chebula (haritaki), Ngella sativa (kalonji), Myrica nagi (kayaphala)|| 7 days||Not specified||In the size of Ziziphus fruit

|Powder of Carum carvi (krishna jeeraka), Hedchim spicatum (kachura), Mesua ferrea (nagakesara), Terminalia chebula (haritaki), Ngella sativa (kalonji), Myrica nagi (kayaphala)<ref name=kuchimara/>|| 7 days||Not specified||In the size of Ziziphus fruit

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|Powder of seeds of Brassica campestris a (sarshap), Amaranthus spinosus (tandula), sugar candy (sharkara)- pound with rice water.||Not specified ||Milk||Not specified

|Powder of seeds of Brassica campestris a (sarshap), Amaranthus spinosus (tandula), sugar candy (sharkara)- pound with rice water.||Not specified <ref name=kuchimara/> ||Milk||Not specified

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