Birthwort Aristolochia species Aristolochiaceae, the birthwort family Native to tropical and warm areas

People in many countries have used birthwort as medicine. Birthwort was often used to make childbirth easier. However, people who take it for a long time can develop serious kidney disease. Because this happened rarely, traditional healers did not know about it. When traditional medicines are used in new ways, they could have risks that people don’t expect.

Aristolochia is Greek for “best birth.”