#irregular periods

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Making Periods Better Series: #4

HERBS FOR PERIODS

The last installment of this series discusses herbs & how they can impact our hormones, strengthen the uterus, and improve our body’s response to stress.

Vitex (chaste tree berry) is the #1 go to herb for periods. Vitex is a very strong herb that improves the body’s absorption of estrogen (taking estrogen out of the blood stream), therefore regulating the estrogen-to-progesterone ratio, essentially increasing progesterone and decreasing estrogen without giving us extra hormones. It is fantastic for regulating irregular menstrual cycles, ideal for folks with PCOS. It can help calm things down after getting off of hormonal birth control.
Red Raspberry Leaf - I already mentioned it, but RRL is the most loving of herbs, chock full of nutrients and alkaloids primed for strengthening the uterus. Great for heavy, crampy periods.
Adaptogens are a whole class of herb, but they are herbs that decrease the stress response and improve the body’s reaction to stress. They are gentle and deeply soothing. In particular for improving mood, memory & brain function, libido, decreasing PMS & PMDD symptoms, and regulating the cycle are the herbs: Shatavari, Rhodiola, Ashwaghanda, Holy Basil, Eleuthero, and Reishi Mushroom.
Evening Primrose Oil is an oil full of healthy fatty acids, which improve symptoms of PMS such as chest tenderness, mood swings, and irritability.
Black cohosh is a well respected herb that has been used for generations in regulating menstrual cycles, easing childbirth, and soothing symptoms of menopause. It has estrogen-like isoflavanoids that act almost like taking birth control pills or hormone replacement for people who’ve gone through menopause.
Dong Quai is a Chinese herb very well studied that is excellent at bringing back an absent period & regulating cycles.
Motherwortis a tender, sweet herb that I love, which relaxes uterine spasm while also stimulating the uterus to work more effectively.