Hildegard von Bingen, Physica
Hildegard von Bingen, a German Catholic nun, authored Physica in the twelfth century, which describes medical and scientific properties of plants, animals, and minerals. Among these are several botanical emmenagogues (menstruation stimulators) and abortifacients, including asarum, white hellebore, feverfew, tansy, oleaster, and farn. In describing asarum, she stated, “A pregnant woman will eat it, either on account she languishes or she aborts an infant which is a danger to her body, or if she has not had a menstrual period for a time period so that it hurts.”