Unfortunately, between menopause, menstruation or a difficult premenstrual syndrome, it is easy to understand that being a woman is not always easy! As a result, you have to juggle between the pains and the little “whims” of a body that doesn’t really make things easy for you. But as good warriors as they are, women can arm themselves with certain medicinal plants to sweep away gynecological problems with a wave of the hand. So, with herbal medicine, discover the best that Nature has to offer to deal with typical female worries.
1. Plants for menopausal women
Menopause is often accompanied by small symptoms that are not always easy to live with. For example, we can mention the famous hot flashes, osteoporosis or a low libido. Of course, you can use hawthorn and sage to combat hot flashes.
But to calm the symptoms mentioned earlier and bring an overall well-being thanks to an effect on the autonomic nervous system, there is also hop. In fact, this medicinal plant has no equal for taking care of menopausal women and bringing them better sleep and reducing their anxiety. You can take standardized extract as long as you take breaks. For example, you can take it 5 days out of 7.
2. The plant to fight premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
We often talk about problems related to menstruation and less about PMS. However, it can also be very difficult to live with! In addition to the swollen breasts that hurt and the belly that feels like it’s going to explode, it can also affect your mood. So some women may be on edge or depressed during this time.
There aren’t many herbs for women who suffer from this, but chasteberry helps manage the hormonal changes that cause it! By taking it in the form of a mother tincture or capsules, you will benefit from its sedative and regulatory effects. Over approximately 3 months, take 50 drops twice a day in a glass of water between the 8th and 21st day of the cycle (You can use a calendar or a free phone app to count the days). Also, you can consume evening primrose or borage oil from day 5 to day 24. You can find them in capsules or in bottles to pour as a dressing in the salad!
3. What about plants for women with heavy periods?
Witch hazel is the queen of plants against varicose veins! Nevertheless, its vasoconstrictor effect is also ideal against hemorrhagic periods. Indeed, in addition to tonifying the vascular walls, it also makes it possible to reduce the pelvic congestion. Not to spoil anything, it is found in several forms and we can therefore choose the one that suits us best: capsules, mother tincture, infusion, etc. And if they are as painful as they are abundant, do not hesitate to take Juniperus sabina 30C! Finally, you can slowly massage a pure drop of tarragon essential oil on the lower abdomen to complete your efforts.
4. A plant for irregular periods
Menstruation can be irregular in duration and timing for several reasons. Often it is due to hormonal changes and ovulation problems. Young girls who are starting to have them, like their older menopausal counterparts, are particularly affected. The solution is quite simply parsley, a notorious emmenagogue. Indeed, it acts on the blood flow in the pelvic region and the uterus thanks to a component: apiol. And really, it is not worth looking further, because the infusions based on this well-known food are very effective! From the supposed beginning of the cycle until the arrival of the period, we do not deprive ourselves of drinking it three times a day.
What if your period is late?
There is common mugwort, a plant with extremely powerful medicinal virtues to be taken over a maximum of one week and recognized for nearly 2000 years. Perhaps your grandmother wore a sprig of it sewn under her shirt in her youth to calm her troubled periods? This technique was the ancestor of modern patches! Like parsley, this plant is an emmenagogue and can be consumed in herbal teas.
5. And finally, what are the best plants for women who suffer during menstruation?
Suffering during your period is not normal and deserves a good follow-up with a trusted gynecologist. But if you are one of those women who are looking for herbs to relieve the pain while waiting to be diagnosed, opt for clary or officinal sage! Unfortunately, they cannot be used on the long term without medical advice or in case of hormone-dependent cancer (uterus, breast). Indeed, they have an effect close to estrogens. However, they are marvelous against pain and loss of energy related to menstruation, especially in infusion. Also, think about clary sage essential oil: two drops in a spoon of honey two or three times a day.
There are other very effective plants against menstrual pain such as mugwort, yarrow, valerian, tarragon, raspberry leaves, angelica root, etc. Easy to obtain in herbalist’s shop or pharmacy, their active principles will relieve you!