Menorrhagia

LADY’S MANTLE – ALCHEMILLA VULGARIS – LEAF, FLOWERS

Lady’s mantle as an herb is better known in Europe than here in America, where it is often planted as a shade-loving garden plant. Lovely lady’s mantle can help relieve cramping, spotting between periods and excessive bleeding from menstruation (Soule, 1998; Trickey, 1997). As an astringent, lady’s mantle, can tighten and tone breast and uterine tissue (Soule, 1998).

Lady’s mantle leaves and flowers are harvested in early spring and dried. This herb makes a lovely tea or may be taken as a tincture.

Safety: None known.

Dose: 2-4mL 3x/day of a 1:5 in 25%. For tea, 2 teaspoons dried herb steeped for 15 minutes in boiling water, 3x/day.

SHEPHERD’S PURSE – CAPSELLA BURSA-PASTORIS – AERIAL PARTS

Shepherd’s purse is best known to arrest bleeding of all kinds. Here, shepherd’s purse is ideal for slowing or arresting the flow of a heavy period. It is also used after childbirth and can be found in many a homebirth midwife’s “tool bag.” A roommate of mine who experienced a prolonged and heavy period one month told me she was starting to get very concerned. Losing blood is not trivial and being a slight woman and perhaps already with a low iron level, I started to become concerned, too. I advised her to start taking shepherd’s purse. In less than 12 hours her troubles were resolved.

Safety: Contains high amounts of oxalic acid – those with kidney stones may wish to avoid.

Dose: The tincture works best but a tea can also be made. In tincture form take 1 mL in intervals of 10 minutes apart until bleeding slows (Guido Mase, 2012 online).

YARROW – ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM – AERIAL PARTS

Unlike conventional medications, the plants that help regulate the menstrual cycle have the peculiar ability to do both; bring on absent or delayed menstruation or help reduce excessive menstruation and cramping. Yarrow is one of these herbs. Yarrow has many other uses including being a powerful anti-inflammatory herb. Here it functions as an emmenagogue.

A blend of the above three herbs in a tincture form is a perfect prescription for Amenorrhea associated with hormonal imbalance. Combine 2 parts of blue cohosh, 2 parts of chaste tree and 1 part of yarrow tinctures (Hoffmann, 2003). Dosage is ½ teaspoon 3 times per day until menstruation begins.

Safety: Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Dose: 2-4 mL 3x/day of a 1:5 in 25%; 1-2 teaspoons dried yarrow infused in 8 ounces boiling water for 15 minutes 3x/day.

From: https://theherbalacademy.com