Herbs for Female Menstruation Problems

Did you know that most women that walk through my door have some problem with hormones? It could be sore boobs, pains when they have a period, cravings for sweets or starchy foods, fluid retention or they just get plain cranky or teary to the point where you can’t even talk to them.

Does this sound like you? Do you know that this is not ‘normal’ for a woman with her period? We consider it ‘normal’ because so many of us suffer in this way but having your monthlies should be as natural as breathing and not cause the havoc in your lives it often does.

I am always being asked what can be done to help with many female problems. Here are a few suggestions but remember it is wise to consult with your natural therapist to make sure you are taking what is right for you. Walking into a health food store and having a five minute conversation with someone who has not done a full assessment on your health is not wise. Everyone is different so see someone for your health on a regular basis who knows you on an individualistic level. Also if you are on the contraceptive pill watch that it does not gloss over your hormone issues.

Some herbs that are useful are:

• Black Cohosh to relieve menstrual pain, cramping and has anti-inflammatory properties
• Wild Yam for premenstrual syndrome, pain, cramping and sore boobs
• Sage for relief of night sweats & perspiration
• Dong Quai for managing irregular periods, relieve pain and cramps
• Vitex agnus-castus relieves pre-menstrual tension

Some useful supplements are:

• Calcium & Magnesium to prevent osteoporosis later in life when oestrogen levels begin to fall
• Vitamin B6 for sore boobs and bloating from fluid retention such as clothes not fitting or swollen ankles
• Vitamin B complex for stress, anxiety, edgy feelings
• Dr Schuessler tissue salts – Kali phos to soothe the nervous system
• St John’s Wort for feeling anxious – check this one if you are on medications from the doctor. You can’t take this with anti-depressants but you can take it if you feel depressed and are not on medication. It should help.
• Chromium for sugar and starch cravings

However it needs to be said that no supplements compensate for a proper diet. There are different nutritional needs for every illness and your nutritionist will be able to work out what deficiencies you have and what you need to eat. The supplements are when it has gone too far…to the point where you are so run down or have so many symptoms over a period of time that you no longer can get the proper nutrition from your food. This means that your body needs to be healed with extra nutrition that you could not possibly get from normal eating. So it is wise to take the herbs and supplements until you get healthy, and then start to cut them down slowly. Everyone should take a multi-vitamin, an antioxidant and perhaps Vitamin B in today’s busy, stress filled, de-natured world.