Backed by scientific studies, below is an article talking about 10 best herbs for heavy menstrual bleeding.
10 Best Herbs for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Since this is a long article, let’s dive right in to this list of best herbs for heavy menstrual bleeding, a.k.a menorrhagia.
1. Vitex
- Scientific name: Vitex agnus-castus
Also known as chaste berry, vitex is one of the best herbs for heavy menstrual bleeding.
It is an herb native to the Mediterranean and Asia.
For years, it has been popularly used in Europe for the treatment of hormonal imbalances and abnormal bleeding in women.
Higher concentrations of chasteberry, such as in the form of a supplement, have a progesterone-like action which reduces blood flow.
With this progesterone-like effect, chasteberry acts on the hypothalamus and pituary gland, increasing luteinizing hormone as well as inhibiting the release of the follicle stimulating hormone.
The result of this is in a shift of the ratio of estrogen and progesterone (the two major female hormones).
Excess estrogen is a major cause of heavy menstrual bleeding, therefore, chasteberry’s effect on balancing the levels of estrogen is very useful.
According to this research, in a study of 126 women with menstrual disorders, 58 of the women had a decrease in the number of heavy bleeding days using 15 drops of vitex liquid extract.
You need to take vitex supplements consistently to see results – I recommend using it for at least 3 months.
Of course, first consult your doctor before taking vitex.
2. Ginger
- Scientific name: Zingiber officinale
Ah…ginger, an herb so warm and invigorating.
It’s my top herb for menstrual woes.
And guess what? Numerous studies have been have proved that ginger has a powerful effect on painful and heavy menstrual bleeding.
A 2015 study published in the National Library of Medicine was performed on 92 young women who experience heavy menstrual bleeding.
The patients were evaluated for 6 consecutive cycles.
They were randomly allocated to two study groups to receive either ginger capsules or placebo capsules.
The results found that the level of menstrual blood loss dramatically declined in the ginger-receiving group.
The decrease of blood loss in ginger-receiving group was significantly more remarkable than that of participants receiving placebo.
Refer to other studies showing ginger may be considered as an effective therapeutic option for heavy menstrual bleeding here, here, here and here.
You can get high quality ginger capsules here: Nature’s Way Premium Herbal Ginger Root Capsules
3. Shepherd’s Purse
- Scientific name: Capsella bursa-pastoris
Since ancient times, shepherd’s purse has been used as an astringent and antihemorrhagic for reducing heavy menstruation.
According to this study, shepherd’s purse has been useful in the management of preventing or arresting gynaecologic haemorrhage.
In the reproductive system, the astringent properties of shepherd’s purse help correct uterine or cervical bleeding.
A 2018 study published in the Journal of alternative and complementary medicine was conducted as a randomized controlled trial on 84 women with heavy menstrual bleeding.
They were divided into two equal groups: the experimental group and the control group.
The experimental group received two capsules of mefenamic acid (500 mg) every 8 hours and two Capsella bursa-pastoris capsules every 12 hours.
The control group received mefenamic acid and placebo instead of Capsella bursa-pastoris capsules.
The findings showed that there was observed significant decrease in the amount of menstrual bleeding in both groups.
However, the mean decrease in the amount of bleeding was significantly more in the Capsella bursa-pastoris group.
There are other studies that show how effective shepherd’s purse is for menorrhagia or heavy menstrual bleeding. You can refer to them here, and here.
Make sure to purchase a quality shepherd’s purse supplement. Here’s a good one: Naturetition Shepherd’s Purse Capsules.
For the liquid extract, you can get this one: Organic Shepherd’s Purse Alcohol-Free Liquid Extract.
4. Cinnamon
- Scientific name: Cinnamomum cassia
Now who doesn’t love cinnamon rolls?!
We use cinnamon in our daily lives but did you know this spice is also one of the best herbs for menstruation?
Maybe you knew it was good for cramps but it’s also effective in reducing heavy menstrual bleeding.
According to this study, 76 female students were equally divided into two groups, receiving cinnamon capsules 420 mg or placebo capsules containing starch three times a day in 24 hours.
Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to determine the severity of pain and nausea.
Vomiting and menstrual bleeding were assessed by counting the number of saturated pads.
Results showed that the mean amount of menstrual bleeding in the cinnamon group was significantly lower than the placebo group.
The mean pain severity score in the cinnamon group was less than the placebo group at various intervals.
And, the mean severity of nausea and the frequencies of vomiting significantly decreased in the cinnamon group compared with the placebo group at various intervals.
This shows that cinnamon is not only good for reducing heavy menstrual bleeding but also painful menstrual cramps, nausea and vomiting.
Refer to other studies showing how cinnamon is effective for menorrhagia here and here.
Get a good quality cinnamon supplement: NutriFlair Organic Ceylon Cinnamon Capsules.
5. Yarrow
- Scientific name: Achillea millefolium
This publication notes that yarrow has been used since ancient times as a styptic and uterine antihemorrhagic.
It has been widely used in the form of dried plant infusion, reliably reducing acute uterine bleeding. But also, promoting menstrual flow when it is suppressed.
It also says that herbalists have been relying on yarrow tea as a faster and more effective way for stopping acute uterine bleeding than other forms of yarrow.
Always get organic yarrow tea: Buddha Teas Organic Yarrow Tea
Yarrow capsules are also very effective since they are more potent than the tea: Secrets of the Tribe Yarrow Capsules
6. Myrtle
- Scientific name: Myrtus communis L
Myrtle is another one of the herbs for heavy menstrual bleeding that is backed by scientific research.
This Iranian study was conducted on 30 patients, equally divided into 2 groups: myrtle group and the placebo group.
The participants were given either 5 ml of prepared syrup or placebo three times a day, 30 minute after each meal for seven days starting from the onset of bleeding. This treatment was repeated for three consecutive menstruation cycle.
It is interesting to note that myrtle fruit syrup prepared from 63 of dried pulverized myrtle berries macerated for 24 hours in 200 ml of distilled water, after which 108 g of sucrose was added to create the fruit syrup.
Results showed that the mean number of bleeding days significantly declined from 10.6 ± 2.7 days to 8.2 ± 1.9 days after 3 months treatment with the syrup.
Because of this, the participants in the myrtle group used fewer pads after 3 months compared with the number of pads used at the beginning of the treatment.
Oh the other hand, bleeding days and number of pads used by the participants in the placebo group did not change significantly.
Also, significant changes of quality of life scores were observed in the myrtle group after 3 months compared to the baseline.
This is so fascinating and seems so easy yet miraculous. I would love to give it a try.
However, I honestly have tried to find dried myrtle berries on online stores but I haven’t seen any sources. If anyone knows where, then please share in the comments below.
7. Pomegranate Flowers
- Scientific name: Punica granatum
Taking pomegranate flowers in capsule form is a herbal remedy for heavy menstrual bleeding.
According to this randomized controlled study carried out on 94 ladies, 500 mg of Persian golnar (pomegranate or Punica granatum flower) capsules of 250 mg were administered every 6 hours for consecutive days of menstrual bleeding for 3 cycles.
The results showed that a pomegranate flower supplement was as effective as 500 mg tranexamic acid capsules daily in reducing heavy abnormal uterine bleeding with no significant difference between the two treatments!
As someone who has taken tranexamic acid to stop heavy menstrual bleeding that literally ‘poured’ onto the floor, this is a miracle!
The pomegranate supplement contains fruit and flower extracts of pomegranate. You can try it out – after consulting your doctor, of course.
8. Blue Cohosh
- Scientific name: Caulophyllum thalictroides
I’ve heard and talked about black cohosh before and its benefits for perimenopausal troubles, but blue cohosh?! Now that’s new.
However, blue cohosh is listed in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (1983) as a spasmolytic and emmenagogue.
It also may be used as an ovarian tonic.
This publication shows that blue cohosh is effective for the treatment of various menstrual problems including menorrhagia, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and pelvic congestion syndrome.
9. Lady’s Mantle
- Scientific name: Alchemilla vulgaris
Another women’s herb that research suggests is helpful for heavy menstrual bleeding is lady’s mantle.
It is an ally for women with prolonged periods.
According to this publication, lady’s mantle is a uterine tonic and anti-hemorrhagic herb that is effective for stopping abnormally heavy uterine bleeding.
This study categorizes lady’s mantle as an astringent herb with tannins, which as this publication notes, helps thicken the blood which makes it effective for menstrual hemorrhage.
Drink 100% organic good quality lady’s mantle tea. Just steep 1 tsp of the dried herb in 1 cup of hot water for 10 minutes. You can drink this every day for a month. Use it once a month every six months (this is from anecdotal/personal experience – consult your doc before use).
You can find lady’s mantle tincture here: Secrets of the Bible Lady’s Mantle Organic Alcohol-Free Tincture
10. Bay Berry Bark
- Scientific name: Myrica cerifera
And last but not least on this list of herbs for heavy menstrual bleeding is bayberry bark.
According to this publication from Science Direct, bayberry is a uterine homeostatic/antihemorrhagic.
Midwives widely used bayberry bark tincture along with shepherd’s purse tincture to control mild postpartum bleeding.
This extensive study of herbs for menorrhagia also mentions that bayberry is an herb that is helpful for menorrhagia.
How to Use Herbs for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
First things first, consult your doctor before taking any herbs for heavy menstrual bleeding.
For most of these herbs like ginger, cinnamon, vitex, shepherd’s purse, pomegranate flowers, lady’s mantle and bayberry extract, you can take them in supplement form.
In tincture form, here’s a good recipe called ‘Great Flood’ Formula, extracted from the book Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health by Aviva Romm, Mary L. Hardy and Simon Mills:
What you need
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) tincture – 40 ml
- Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) tincture – 20 ml
- Bayberry bark (Myrica cerifera) tincture – 15 ml
- Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) tincture – 15 ml
- Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) tincture – 10 ml
Directions
- In tincture form, combine 40 ml yarrow, 20 ml lady’s mantle, 15 ml bayberry bark, 15 ml shepherd’s purse and 10 ml cinnamon.
- It makes 100 ml total.
- Store in an amber glass dropper bottle.
- This formula’s dosage is 2 to 4 ml taken every 15 minutes for 1 hour until bleeding subsides or has stopped.
Take Care
- Taking some the above herbs during pregnancy or while breastfeeding may not be safe.
- Some of these herbs may not be safe for women with hormone-sensitive conditions, such as breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer.
- It’s possible that some of these herbs might interact with certain medication like birth control pills, drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease and drugs used to treat psychosis. If you’re taking medicine, talk with your health care provider before incorporating the above herbs for heavy menstrual bleeding.
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