In the Greco-Roman world the use of ‘medicine men’ (pharmakai) was common for the poisoning of your political opponents, inducement of paranormal experiences and obtaining toxic herbs to induce abortions.
Poisonous herbs were used to induce abortions. Such a practice, in part, led to the downfall of the Roman Empire
“Abortion may not have been easy or safe for a woman in ancient times, but it was nevertheless widely practiced… The declines in population of the Roman Empire at the time of Augustus and again after Hadrian were probably due in part to such action by both rich and poor.” — Michael J. Gorman, Abortion & the Early Church (1982)
