Herbs Used for Irregular Periods

The clockwork predictability of of 28-day menstrual cycle is a myth. Anything between 21 days and 36 days is considered normal. Getting sick, travel, stress or too much exercise can cause your cycle to fluctuate from month to month. Menstrual irregularities also are normal once you approach menopause. Herbs can be used to help restore normal hormone levels and regulate your cycle.

Significance

• There are generally two types of menstrual irregularities. There are those women who are normally irregular, and there are those whose cycles are jumbled. If your cycles are irregular, they will need fixing. If your periods are more than six weeks apart or closer than three weeks apart and don't follow a fixed pattern, you may have a hormone imbalance.

  Several herbs can address the issue of hormone imbalance in women. Among these are chasteberry, black cohosh, dang gui, red clover and raspberry.

  Black cohosh and chasteberry are particularly effective in stimulating hormones in the body that regulate menstrual cycles. Black cohosh acts as an estrogenic, picking up the slack in low levels of estrogen in the body. It can help regulate your cycle. Try taking black cohosh by drinking the tea three times a day, or taking two capsules of black cohosh per day.

  Chasteberry is recommended to regulate menstrual cycles, and along with black cohosh, helps to regulate the timing of the menstrual cycle by acting on the pituitary gland, which in turn helps regulate hormones that operate ovary function. Chasteberry can be taken daily in capsule form; follow dosing instructions carefully. Try adding some ground chasteberries to your food for a peppery addition to your diet. Avoid taking chasteberry during the time of your period. Prolonged use of chasteberry can cause your period to disappear altogether due to its effect on hormones.

  Another common problem that accompanies menstruation is the appearance of scanty periods, which often coincides with irregularities of the menstrual cycle. Dang gui is a good choice to deal with these problems as it helps with abnormal menstruation. It works by improving blood flow to the uterus. It is optimal to stop taking one week before your period starts, then resume once your period ends. Dang gui is available in tincture form at most health food stores. Follow dosing instructions carefully.

  Nutritional deficiencies often lead to menstrual irregularities. Correct these deficiencies by drinking red clover and raspberry tea. Both of these herbs serve to support the pelvic muscles and contain high levels of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamin B, C, and E. The astringent properties of raspberry help with excessive menstruation. Try drinking a cup of tea using a couple of teaspoons of these herbs mixed with one cup of water daily.