Table 1: herbal preparations used by african women in pregnancy and labour
HERB	PREPARION	PURPOSE
Elephant’s dung	Soak it in water and drink at the onset of labour	Quickens labour
Leaves of Mutohwe(Sn ot apple)	Crush and soak in water	Induces labour
Leaves of Mufute	Crush and soak in water	Augments labour
Chifumuro (Dicoma anomala Sonda)	Crush and soak in water /chew	Overcomes labour complications  related to witchcraft
Ruredzo  (dicerocaryum zanguebarium)	Soak in water, lubricate a fist and push it in the vagina	Widen the vagina and makes birthing easy
Mutsvengo/Nhanzva(Pouzolzia mixta Solms)	Roots extract instilled into the vagina	To dilate birth canal
Sweet potato leaves	Boil the leaves and drink the fluid from 36/40 daily until onset of labour	Quicken labour
Rukato(Asparagus Africanus)		Aid in child birth