The Best Herbs for Common Menstruation Issues

Are you having painful periods? Are you looking for PMS relief in a natural way? I have gathered the most common herbs for menstruation issues to help!

In this post, I will cover the most common menstruation and PMS symptoms and recommend herbs to help with each ailment.

Note: This post covers common menstruation issues. For any illness or disease, especially something as serious as polycystic ovary syndrome or endometriosis, please consult a doctor or medical provider. Jump to the bottom of this article to view my Medical Disclaimer.

As a beginner herbalist, I started off learning about herbs for women’s health. I felt most comfortable practicing on myself before the rest of my family. You may find comfort in doing the same.

Herbal Medicine for Menstruation Issues

Herbal medicine does not necessarily work the same way as prescription or over-the-counter medicines. I tried to choose the most commonly used herbs for each ailment that are widely known and accessible. Many of these herbs are also great for reducing menopausal symptoms and other women’s health issues.

While some herbs may relieve symptoms more immediately, these herbs work with your body naturally in the long run to help you maintain a healthy menstrual cycle. Herbs often treat the underlying cause of the ailment (such as hormonal imbalances), unlike many modern medicines that tend to just treat the symptoms.

Herbal medicine is known as “the medicine of the people.” Sources of knowledge are not always well-known or cited.

Common Menstrual Issues Include menstrual cramps, moodiness and hormonal imbalance, heavy flow, headaches, nausea, dizziness, acne, upset stomach or diarrhea, hot flashes, stress and anxiety, inflammatory issues, and hormonal imbalance. Below is my list of the best herbs for these menstruation issues.

I want to note that many herbs have several different healing properties and can ease more than one symptom at a time.

Best Herbs for Menstruation Issues

This list is meant to be a starting point to help you. Once you find an herb that you think is the right fit, please do more research on that herb. This list is also not all-inclusive. There are many other great herbs that may help. If you have any favorites that I did not list, please leave them in the comments.

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What symptoms are bothering you today?

Best All Around Herbs for Menstrual Issues	–Black cohosh is an excellent herb that fights hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and moodiness –Mugwort helps regulate and release flow and is a dieuretic that can help debloat excess water retention
Herbs for Menstrual Cramps	–Ginger is a great pain reliever -Red Raspberry Le https://thehomesteadchallenge.com/the-best-herbs-for-acne/af helps tone and tighten pelvic area muscles -Cramp Bark relaxes muscles -Mugwort regulates flow, releasing cramps and reducing clotting
Herbs for Moodiness and hormonal balance	-Cinnamon (can regulate period frequency) -Black cohosh -Vervain (lifts mood, relaxes)
Herbs to Help Heavy Flow	-Yarrow (regulates blood flow) -Lady’s mantle (reduces heavy bleeding and pain)
Herbs to Ease Headaches	–Chamomile (anti-inflammatory) –Peppermint (relaxes muscles, eases pain) –Feverfew (pain relief, helps light sensitivity) -Rosemary (helps boost circulation to the head)
Herbs for Nausea	-Peppermint -Ginger (calms stomach for nausea) –Lemon balm (relaxes and soothes gut) -Meadowsweet (antacid)
Herbs for Dizziness Due to Heavy Menstrual Bleeding	–Nettle (high in iron and magnesium)
Herbs for Acne	–Nettle (antibacterial)
Herbs for Upset Stomach and Diarrhea	-Licorice root (soothing on digestive tract) –Marshmallow root (soothing on digestive tract) -Agrimony (heals inflamed gut)
Herbs for Hot Flashes	-Fenugreek seed (estrogenic, eases hot flashes and night sweats)
Herbs for Stress and Anxiety	-Chamomile is calming -Skull cap (releases anxiety and relaxes tension) -Lavender (calming) -St. John’s wort (antidepressant and nerve tonic)
Herbs for Inflammatory Issues	-Red clover -Turmeric (anti-inflammatory)
Herbs for Hormonal Imbalance	-Chaste berry (balances sex hormones via the pituitary gland)

FAQs about Herbs for Menstruation Issues

What is Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)?

According to the Mayo Clinic, Premenstrual Syndrome ” has a wide variety of signs and symptoms, including mood swings, tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue, irritability and depression.” Menstruating people may start seeing these symptoms about a week or two before their period.

Are Medicinal Herbs and Alternative Medicine Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration?

No. The Harvard Study, “FDA and the Challenge of Alternative Medicine: Realistic Assessments and Regulatory Flexibility,” explains that the FDA stance is pretty wishy washy. The article explains the vast reasons why and calls the FDA to take a stance as Americans have turned to taking a larger role in their own healthcare.

You can decide what is right for you. I am not a medical expert. I am simply offering knowledge on what I have learned to help you relieve your menstrual pain naturally. Also, different herbs may work for different people.

Is an essential oil an herb?

No. Essential oils require a very large amount of crop to create a very potent product. The oils are usually made from just one part or a few parts of the plant, a.k.a. the plant “essence”. Essential oils can be very strong, sometimes even stronger and more anti-bacterial than the “drugs” you might be trying to avoid. Using whole herbs for wellness contains the whole plant, which can have added benefits. By nature, different parts of the plants contain different constituents that help make the benefits more readily available in our bodies.

How can you take these herbs?

Herbal teas
Tinctures
Topical salves or lotion
Eat fresh leaves

To learn more about making these herbal preparations, check out The Herbal Academy or this playlist on herbal bases from The Green Witch on Youtube.

What are some other natural remedies for menstrual issues?

Hot water bottle or heating pad
B vitamins (mood and energy levels)
Vitamin C (fights inflammation)
Acupuncture (helps regulate hormones)
Vitamin E (reduces hot flashes)
Ice packs

Why choose herbal medicine over modern medicine to treat menstruation issues?

Herbs tend to have less side effects than modern medicines
You can make herbal remedies at home

Check out my Herbal Wellness Gift Guide for more herbal medicine making supplies!

Where can I purchase these herbs?

S tarwest Botanicals
You can grow or forage you own!

What are other lifestyle changes that can help with period problems?

Relaxation
More sleep
Exercise: endorphins to increase mood, blood circulation
Diet: eat foods that are high in iron, low salt (bloating), healthy fats, organic foods (pesticides can make periods irregular and hurt fertility)

Can I mix or combine herbal remedies?

Absolutely. However, just like any other type of medicine, some herbs can interact in negative ways. Please research the herbs you wish to take and see if they have any warning against herbs or medicines to avoid mixing.

Pin Herbs for Menstruation Issues for Later!

I received my knowledge of these herbs from the following sources:

Wild Mother’s Medicine Chest– a course on herbal remedies for mother’s and babies
The Complete Wellness Guide– my favorite book for quick reference
The Herbal Academy Mini Course on Herbal Preparations

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