The Best Herbs For Menstruation Management [2024]
January 18, 2024
Essential Takeaways
- Herbs can help regulate the menstrual cycle.
- Certain herbs may help alleviate common symptoms of PMS and painful period symptoms.
- By combining the advice from their physician and the correct blend of customized herbal medicine for women’s health, individuals can enjoy a more regular and less painful menstrual cycle.
From working through difficult premenstrual syndrome symptoms to managing the length and flow of the menstrual period itself, women must juggle various factors in managing their menstrual cycle. Taking a personalized blend of herbs for menstruation can help.
Unfortunately, many conversations in Western society simply accept that most women will experience a week or so every month of unpleasant symptoms like cramping, mood issues, headaches, and bleeding.
While many aspects of the menstrual cycle are natural and unavoidable, intense pain and life-altering mood swings don’t have to be the reality every month. Many women experience encouraging results through the use of Chinese herbs for menstruation and hormonal balance.
How Can Herbs Help With Your Menstrual Cycle?
Taking steps to manage your menstrual cycle may help reduce pain and make the premenstrual and menstrual phases more comfortable and predictable. Some individuals incorporate the use of herbs for menstrual cramps, irregular periods, period-related stress, and more.
By leveraging a personalized blend of the top herbs for menstruation listed below, individuals may find relief from menstrual symptoms and enjoy benefits including:
- Mood stabilization
- Reduced pain and cramps
- More balanced hormones
- Improved circulation
- Calming and relaxing effects
- A more regular cycle
It’s important to keep in mind that a customized blend of herbs can help improve the overall menstrual cycle, but those experiencing severe pain or extremely irregular periods should also consult their gynecologist to ensure that no underlying conditions are contributing to the symptoms.
The Top Herbs For Menstruation
Choosing the correct blend of herbs is crucial for finding relief from common menstrual symptoms. Qi Health provides customized herbal medicine plans to ensure the best possible outcomes. By meeting with a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor, you can receive a personalized herbal blend made specifically for your concerns and health details. Learn more about Qi Health.
In most cases, the best blend of herbs for period regulation and menstruation management will include the following herbs.
1. Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri)
What it is: Chai Hu, also referred to as Bupleurum, Thorowax Root, or Hare’s Ear Root, is a flower root that is dried and then may be consumed raw or fried in vinegar. It has been used for more than 2,000 years to treat fevers, inflammation, and more. This herb is one of the most commonly used to encourage a more regular period and a more stable mood.
How it can help:
- Reduces bloating in the abdomen
- Treats irregular menstruation
- Eases mood-related symptoms
2. Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae radix preparata)
What it is: Zhi Gan Cao, commonly referred to as licorice root, is an essential herb in various healing blends. Because it can help harmonize the harshness of other herbs, it is an extremely common component in many herbal remedies for pain relief and improved energy.
How it can help:
- Improves progesterone production
- Relieves pain
- Relaxes the muscles of the abdomen
3. Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba)
What it is: Bai shao, or white peony root, is widely used in herbal remedies aimed at treating pain, fever, infertility, and various other gynecological conditions. Its interactions with key enzymes in the body can help modulate estrogen levels and treat low progesterone levels. The anti-inflammatory properties of this herb combined with the interactions with key sex hormones make white peony one of the top herbal remedies for menstruation management.
How it can help:
- Reduces pain
- Promotes regular hormone levels
- Encourages a more regular menstrual cycle
4. Dang Gui (Radix Angelica Sinensis)
What it is: Dang gui, or female ginseng, is one of the top herbs used in women’s health. This dried root aids blood circulation and enrichment, making it a go-to treatment for irregularities in the menstrual cycle and for dysmenorrhea, or menstrual pain. Dang gui is one of the best herbs for menstruation management whether pain or an unpredictable schedule is causing distress.
How it can help:
- Encourages a more regular, predictable menstrual cycle
- Moves vital energy
- Supports blood circulation and health, including in the abdomen and pelvis
- Relieves pain
5. Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae)
What it is: Bai zhu is a member of the sunflower family that is known for its invigorating properties. Many people have used bai zhu for centuries as part of herbal blends for emotional balance, a stronger immune system, and calmer nerves. These effects make it a common treatment for painful and stressful PMS symptoms.
How it can help:
- Alleviates PMS symptoms
- Promotes calm feelings
- Relaxes the body
6. Fu Ling (Poria)
What it is: Fu ling is part of an edible mushroom used for its anti-inflammatory and mood-boosting properties. It has antibacterial and antidiarrheal properties and is used to treat and prevent a wide range of health concerns.
How it can help:
- Reduces pain from period cramps
- Boosts mood, combating emotional and mental PMS symptoms
7. Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens)
What it is: Sheng jiang, or ginger, has been used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years and has been leveraged for culinary and health uses worldwide. As a root with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, ginger is often used to ward off viruses and to settle the stomach. In women’s health, sheng jiang helps ease menstrual cramps and reduce bloating.
How it can help:
- Reduces bloating and nausea
- Eases painful cramps
8. Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan)
What it is: Mu dan pi is tree peony root, an herb used to promote blood flow and reduce inflammation. Known to invigorate the blood and promote balance, this herb is not recommended for those with a very heavy flow but can help ease severe cramping. In some cases, mu dan pi is also used to promote overall menstrual health and fertility.
How it can help:
- Eases menstrual cramping
- Reduces swelling
- Alleviates muscle spasms
- Lessens inflammation
9. Bo He (Menthae haplocalyx, Mentha arvensis)
What it is: Bo he is commonly known as mint, which is a plant used for its leaves in culinary and medicinal settings. From cold and fever treatments to topical applications for easing soreness, itchiness, and rash, mint has a wide range of healing uses. Peppermint can improve digestion and relax the muscles, alleviating common stomach issues and even easing headaches.
How it can help:
- Settles the stomach
- Reduces cramping
- Treats pain and headaches
10. Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi)
What it is: Gui zhi, or cinnamon twig, is used to rid the body of pathogens and treat colds, headaches, and various gynecological diseases. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it useful in reducing cramps and abdominal pain during menstruation.
How it can help:
- Reduces pain in the abdomen
- Alleviates cramping
- Treats headaches
More Information On Menstruation Herbs
The best way to get answers to specific questions about herbs for menstruation is to talk with your doctor and consult with a certified Chinese Medicine Doctor.
With clear information from your doctor, you can more easily share your health conditions and goals with an herbal medicine practitioner to develop the best possible plans for your particular needs. In the meantime, learn answers to common questions about using herbs for menstruation.
What are Chinese herbs for periods?
The Chinese herbs that are best suited to alleviating painful and undesirable period symptoms are the ones listed above, but herbal medicine is never a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Instead, certified Chinese Medicine Doctors take a patient’s specific symptoms, health history, and health goals into account to determine the best possible plan of action.
At Qi Health, patients can meet with doctors on an ongoing basis to discuss how their current herbal blend and dose are working. Here’s how it works:
- Head to the booking page and answer a few questions about your health concerns.
- Make an appointment with a certified Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor through Qi Health.
- Meet with your doctor to discuss your health background and concerns.
- Your doctor will create a personalized herbal medicine plan for you, which you can purchase directly through the Qi Health pharmacy.
- Take your herbs as directed.
- Schedule follow-up appointments for help adjusting your herbal medicine blend for the best possible results.
This way, you can ensure that you are taking the best possible blend of Chinese herbs for periods and pivot your blend and dose as necessary.
Are herbs good for regulating menstrual cycles?
Everyone’s health journey and healthcare goals are different. For some people, a customized blend of high-quality herbs can make the menstrual cycle more regular and predictable while easing painful symptoms like cramps.
For many, dialing in on a routine for each menstrual phase and fully predicting their menstrual cycle is very important for their overall health and lifestyle. In particular, many women coming off of hormonal birth control methods find that it’s difficult to practice accurate menstrual cycle tracking.
In some cases, finding a predictable pattern will simply take time as the body adapts to being without synthetic hormones. It can help to optimize your nutrition with a healthy diet and practice regular movement.
Stress can also throw a menstrual cycle off of its usual timeline, so practicing self-care and stress management can go a long way. In addition to these lifestyle changes, women can also use personalized, high-quality herbal supplements to help regulate their cycle.
Can you use herbs for menstrual cramps?
A variety of herbs have been historically used to treat menstrual cramps. The correct type and dosage of herbs will vary from person to person, so it’s important to talk with a certified functional medicine doctor who specializes in herbal health–before you begin taking herbal supplements.
A few helpful herbs for menstrual cramps include chai hu, dang gui, bai shao, and zhi gan cao. Oftentimes, these herbs are most effective when combined with others in a customized blend.
Should I speak with my gynecologists before using herbs?
Some herbs can pose problems for those with very heavy periods or other gynecological concerns. It’s always best to talk with your doctor before beginning a new strategy for your diet, exercise, or supplement plan.
A conversation with your gynecologist about your specific symptoms and concerns can also help you gain clarity and additional medical information that you can then share with your certified Chinese Medicine Doctor. This way, your Chinese Medicine Doctor can operate with as much information as possible as they set out to find the ideal blend of herbs for your needs.
What herbs are good for your period?
In many cases, a different blend of herbs might be necessary to treat PMS symptoms than the blend you need for relieving period pain. For example, while bai zhu helps balance the mood swings that can often occur due to PMS, other herbs like gui zhi may be better suited for treating symptoms during the menstrual phase itself.
Because every person’s experience and cycle are so different, the best herbs to take for managing your period will depend on your specific symptoms. While some people experience debilitating headaches, others have digestive issues, and some experience painful cramps.
The beauty of personalized and customized herbal remedies is that you can treat the exact symptoms you need help with to experience the most comfortable period possible.
What herb stops menstrual bleeding?
There are no herbal remedies to completely stop the body’s natural cycles such as menstruation. In some cases, herbs like yarrow and cinnamon may help with a heavy flow.
What herbs lengthen the menstrual cycle?
Herbs commonly used to balance and support the length of your luteal and follicular phases include sheng jiang and bai shao, but the particular herbs that will work best for this health goal will vary for each person.
Choose The Best Herbs For Your Menstrual Cycle
Identifying the best blend of herbs to use to regulate your menstrual cycle and provide a more comfortable experience during the PMS and period stages can be tricky. The best route to ensure that you find the right herbs for your specific needs is to talk to a certified Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor.
With Qi Health, speak with a certified herbal medicine practitioner to get a customized blend and dose of herbs to help you reach your health goals. Ensure that you take only the highest quality medicinal herbs with easy ordering through Qi Health.
Get started with a few easy steps.
Book your consultation to begin!
External Sources:
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- A systematic review of the active saikosaponins and extracts isolated from Radix Bupleuri and their applications
- Paeoniflorin
- Pharmacological effects of Radix Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) on cerebral infarction
- Comparison of effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea
- The traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Cinnamomi ramulus: a review
- Herbal Medicine - Johns Hopkins