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Ways to Control a Menstrual Period

Some problems that can be experienced with a menstrual period is that it is too heavy, too painful or not occurring on a regular cycle. The action of hormones in the body is what causes menstruation to start with, so manipulating these hormones can sometimes bring a period on or slow it down and help ease the pain. The appropriate hormones can be attained in the form of birth control pills or herbal supplements.

  1. Inducing Menstruation

    • Short of visiting your gynecologist and obtaining a prescription for birth control pills, which usually keeps your period on a regular schedule, you can take certain herbs and foods to help start your period. You can induce menstruation with parsley or ginger. These herbs are considered as emmenogugues, meaning they can cause your body to start menstruation. Drinking a very strong tea from either of these herbs two to three times per day should bring on your period in a few days. Start drinking it at the time or right after you think your period should start. Be prepared to experience hot flashes if using the ginger tea for this reason.

    Postponing Menstruation

    • You can also drink a tea of yarrow and shepherd's purse to delay your period. Steep 1 tsp. of each dried herb in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain and sip two cups per day. It is not as easy to delay a period with herbs as it is to induce a period with herbs. You will also need to limit your consumption of red meat and caffeine. You should stay away from estrogen supplements and aspirin when trying to postpone your period.

    Easing Menstrual Flow and Pain

    • Dong quai is a Chinese herb which, although it has no hormonal activity, has been found quite useful in toning the uterus. It helps with menstrual cramping, in particular, and can be consumed in the form of a tea or capsules. Tea, or decoction, can be made by simmering 2 tsp. of the dried root in a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes. Alternately, you can take the dong quai in tincture form and herbalists will typically suggest a dose of 10 to 40 drops to be taken up to 3 times each day.

      Other herbs which can regulate hormonal activity and help with heavy periods are shepherd's purse, yarrow, red raspberry and vitex. According to the herbal Web site, mothernature.com, you can make a tincture to take by combining 1 tsp. each of tinctures of shepherd's purse leaf and yarrow flower and 1/2 tsp. each of tinctures of red raspberry leaf and vitex berry. Use 1/2 a dropper every 15 to 30 minutes during episodes of heavy bleeding.

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