Menstrual Problems, Balancing on Your Cycle

Menstrual Irregularity/Late

Best Single Herb: Pennyroyal

Best Combinations: Black cohosh, squawvine, dong quai, butcher’s broom, red raspberry; ginger; licorice root; evening primrose oil

Other Helpful Supplements: Vitamin E

Possible Cause: Stress; glandular imbalance; anorexia

Complementary Help: Reflexology; acupuncture

Menstruation can be viewed as your body’s monthly house cleaning. Each month, the body prepares the uterus while the ovaries are busy preparing an egg with the anticipation of attracting the best sperm and creating new life. If no lucky sperm make the grade, the lining of the uterus is shed and the process repeats again.

There are three important stages during this cycle which include:

• Actual menstruation: This is the three to seven days of your period, when the uterus is shedding its lining. This is when all your hormone levels drop. You can use this time as a time of rest, for gentle exercise like walking, and clean eating (less fats and sugar) to help your entire body get the most from this cleansing time.
• The follicular phase: After your period is the time when your body is being prompted by hormones to produce eggs in the ovaries. At this time, estrogen levels begin to build and reach a peak. This is a time when your immune system strengthens in order to rid the body of germs and prepare for new life. (Note that some women become compelled to enthusiastically scrub their homes just before baby is due!) During the last part of this stage, is the time when most women feel their best and strongest (just before ovulation), skin tends to clear, and sexual urges rise. Nature designed this for the female to be better able to attract her mate just at the right time for fertility — isn’t that cool?
• The luteal phase: This is the time when the produced egg leaves the ovary on its journey to the uterus. This is the time when progesterone takes over to prep the lining of the uterus to support a growing fetus. At this time, the immune system drops so that the potential sperm and (hopefully) fertilized egg can do their thing without being attacked by the immune system. If no sperm happens to show, the body goes back to the next phase, menstruation, and the cycle continues.

Terms related to herbs or holistic health

Epimenorrhea is a period that comes in shorter than normal intervals.

Amenorrhea is an absence of menstruation (other than pregnancy) caused by a host of factors, including glandular abnormalities, diabetes, mental illness, anorexia, stress, and excessive exercise.

Menorrhagia is abnormally heavy bleeding at menstruation.

Dysmenorrhea is a painful period that can lead to nausea, vomiting, and fainting.

Menstrual problems are frustrating and include all the symptoms of PMS, irregularity in the cycle, late periods or no periods (amenorrhea), periods that come too frequently (epimenorrhea), periods that are heavy and may last too long (menorrhagia), and painful periods (dysmenorrhea).

If you have any of these problems, you should get a check-up and find out what is causing the irregularities or pain. Endometriosis and other abnormal growths, pregnancy, and hormonal imbalances and anorexia can all be factors.

Warnings about the use of herbs

Consider sanitary napkins instead of tampons. Some doctors and holistic practitioners recommend against tampons and believe that blocking the natural flow and release of dead cells may be a factor in endometriosis and other female-related disorders. See for herbal help with endometriosis and PMS.

In this section, we will focus on herbs for you ladies who are not pregnant but that need a little herbal help to bring on a late period (amenorrhea).

Pennyroyal for That Womanly Period

Pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides), or the more potent version from Europe (Mentha pulegium), is an herb that is hard to find. Because of its possible misuse, many manufacturers will not offer it to the consumer. Pennyroyal is an abortifacient, which means that it should never be taken while pregnant because it may cause the mother to abort a fetus.

Terms related to herbs or holistic health

Abortifacient is an herbal property meaning that an herb may cause miscarriage — therefore, an abortifacient herb is never suggested during pregnancy.

If you are a generally healthy woman, however, pennyroyal can be effective in bringing on a late period. Others have used the herb after giving birth to help the delivery of the placenta (known as the afterbirth). Just a little pennyroyal also may lessen the cramps and bloating associated with menstruation. In this case, a penny goes a long way!

Pennyroyal should also be noted for its use in getting rid of bugs and pests. This herb is one of the most powerful bug repellents and seems to be effective against a wide range of bugs.

Here are some uses of pennyroyal as a bug repellent:

• The plant itself has been grown in pots or flower beds surrounding porches to repel mosquitoes. Because of this, it has also been commonly known as mosquito plant.
• Used externally, the essential oil repels mosquitoes, fleas, and flies.
• The dried herb can be made into a sachet and put in with wool clothing to repel moths.
• The dried herb, burned for incense, can also serve as a great repellent.
• The plant has been rubbed directly on the skin not only as a bug repellent but also for the relief of poison oak or poison ivy rashes.

Warnings about the use of herbs

Pennyroyal should be taken only in situations where a period is overdue due to stress. Pennyroyal may cause you to abort a fetus or can bring on hemorrhaging if taken when pregnant or if you have a weak uterus. Never take pennyroyal during pregnancy or if you are planning a pregnancy.

Again, remember to avoid any applications of pennyroyal — whether internal or external — if you are pregnant.

Hormonal Helpers

For other female problems, see the associated chapters: PMS; endometriosis; infertility. For irregular periods, take vitamin E to help increase fertility and bring more oxygen into the blood; licorice root has helped some of my menopausal clients rid themselves of hot flashes. Licorice root nourishes adrenals, regulates menstruation, and helps the body to release excess water retention. Sip ginger root tea to help promote the menstrual flow once

you do get your period. Dong quai has come to the rescue for many women and is used to regulate periods, ease PMS, help menopausal symptoms, nourish female glands, calm nervousness, expel retained placenta after birth, reduce hot flashes, and eliminate anemia.

Evening primrose oil has also been a saving grace for many women with raging hormones, has been used to help regulate periods, eases PMS symptoms, aids skin and hair health, and boosts the immune system. Try taking up to six evening primrose capsules daily 7 to 10 days before your period is due. Stay consistent. You will need to give your herbal hormonal helpers at least a few months to be able to correctly evaluate if your cycle is becoming regular. Patience and experimentation will be needed unless you are working with a holistic practitioner who can help guide you, of course.

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

Reflexology or acupuncture can release blocked energy, induce relation, and balance the glands. Reflexology has always helped me balance my own cycle, and frequently my female clients will get their period after their reflexology appointments.

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