Herbal labor tinctures?

[Willowrose]

So, my midwives sent me home w/2 herbal tinctures. One is called Labor Enhancer, the other is Start Up. (posted this in the main forum as well)
Ingredients in the Labor Enhancer are Blue Chosh root, Bethroot, Ginger root and a small amount of Geisemium root.
In the Start Up the ingredients are Pennyroyal, Feverfew, Blue Cohosh, Black Cohosh and Bethroot.
Anyone have any experience with these herbs?
Also, when should I take them? They smell terrible and I am really dreading the taste

My mw's said if I don't deliver by next Wed. they will be coming with castor oil! I want to avoid this at all costs, since I tried it with my first son and it was AWFUL!

[ehsclt]

Willowrose, I am sorry that I can't offer any information or experience with the herbs you mentioned. I just wanted to chime in and say I am thinking of you and can only imagine how exasperated you must be at this point. I know I'm feeling pretty frustrated and I'm only 4 days past EDD. I am hoping your labor begins soon and doesn't need much to get it going. Hugs to you,

Emily

[Willowrose]

Emily, I'm glad someone is in my boat! I'm thinking of you and sending you lots of labor vibes!!!

[AAK]

I have some friends who took some tinctures. I don't know if they are the same as what your mw gave you. I am getting some today from my mw. My friends swear by them. One in particular started taking them a couple weeks before edd. She thinks it helped a lot--labor was nice and quick (not too quick) and baby came before edd by a few days.

Amy

[anarchamama]

With my DS I took a b/b cohosh tincture my MW gave us at 41 weeks. It was quite funny caise DH and I debated long and hard about taking it, this was the serious stuff, no measly sex, or pinapple or EPO. We finally decided to go for it, I don't know what we thought wa gonna happen but nothing did. Zip. Zero. I was so mad, this was suppost to make the baby come god dammnit. Anyway DS was born unprompted 5 days later.........So thats my experience, I'm feeling much more laid back about it this time. Well not laid back exactly, I'm still impatients, but I have less hope for "gentle induction methods" working, and don't get my hopes up so much. In fact last night DH asked me to stop making jokes about his protoglandins being "broken" lol.

Heather

[AAK]

Got my tincture--it is a birth prep one (not supposed to actually trigger labor, yet you're not supposed to take it before 37 weeks). It tastes REALLY bad, it has black haw, blue cohosh, helonia (false unicorn) & partridge berry (squaw vine). Sounds like a potion from Harry Potter if you ask me.

To me I guess it is like Dumbo's feather; even if it does nothing, I like to think I am doing something!

Amy