The Medicinal Herb Info site was created to help educate visitors about the often forgotten wisdom of the old ways of treating illnesses. Many of today's drugs and medicines were originally derived from natural ingredients, combinations of plants and other items found in nature.

We are not suggesting that you ignore the help of trained medical professionals, simply that you have additional options available for treating illnesses. Often the most effective treatment involves a responsible blend of both modern and traditional treatments.

We wish you peace and health!

Menstrual Problems

Definition

Absence of flow when normally expected is called Amenorrhea.
Scanty flow is known as Oligomenorrhea.
Painful menstruation is Dysmenorrhea.
Excessive loss of blood is termed Menorrhagia.
Loss of blood during intermenstrual periods (between periods) is known as spotting or Metrorrhagia.
In all the above cases, the gynocologist should make the diagnosis and prescribe treatment, rule out causes, complications, etc.
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Symptoms

In addition to the previously mentioned in the definitions, symptoms may include: depression, cramps, water retention, skin eruptions, headaches, bloated abdomen, backache, cramps, breast swelling and tenderness, insomnia, fatigue, nervousness, (See also PMS) joint pain, fainting spells, and changes in personality (such as outbursts of anger, violence, and thoughts of suicide).

Menstrual pain in young girls is often severe and relatively long-lasting. Especially at the onset of the menstrual period, the pain usually is experienced as severe. Ideally a gynecologist should be seen at the outset of menstrual periods to determine if everything is normal. If normal, the aches and pains can be eased or cured by a cup of chamomile tea, drunk very warm, or with peppermint tea or even caraway tea. These herbs contain essential oils with antispasmodic effects. Rotate the three teas, if preferred. Prepare the tea: pour 8 oz. boiling water over 2 heaping tbsp. of the herb, let steep, covered, for 10 minutes, then strain. Drink 3 cups of tea daily.
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Nutrients

Calcium with magnesium chloride, 1,500 mg. per day, relieves cramping, backache, and nervousness.
Primrose oil, 2 capsules 3 times per day. Vitamin B complex, 50 mg. 3 times per day, reduces water retention. Vitamin E, 400 IU at first, increase to 800 IU, helps relieve sore breasts, and improves oxygen utilization.
Kelp, 4 tablets per day, is a good mineral source. L-Lysine, 500 mg. daily, start 5 days before menstrual period for those who suffer from hypoglycemia and/or herpes. L-Tyrosine, 500 mg. daily, is needed to reduce anxiety, depression and headache.
Multivitamin and mineral complex with manganese, taken as directed on the label. Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, 3,000 mg. daily in divided doses, helps in the relief of discomfort and breast swelling, and boosts the immune system. Vitamin D, taken as directed on the label, is needed for uptake of calcium and magnesium.
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Herbs

The following herbs are taken in teas for difficult menstruation.

  • Balm, lemon
  • Black Haw
  • Blessed thistle
  • Calendula
  • Camomile, German
  • Catnip
  • Celery
  • Cohosh, blue
  • Dittany
  • Dong quai
  • Marjoram, wild
  • Oak
  • Pasque flower
  • Pennyroyal
  • Raspberry, red
  • Rosemary
  • St. John’s wort
  • Strawberry, wild
  • Valerian
  • Willow, white
  • Yam, wild
  • Yarrow

The following herbs are taken in teas for excessive menstruation. (to decrease flow)

  • Alum, wild roo
  • Bayberry bark
  • Birthroot
  • Bistort root
  • Burnet, great
  • Burnet saxifrage
  • Ceyenne pepper
  • Comfrey
  • Goldenseal
  • Lungwort
  • Nutmeg
  • Pilewort
  • Plantain
  • Sanicle, American
  • Shepherd’s purse
  • Smartweed
  • Sorrel
  • Strawberry, wild
  • Yarrow

The following herbs are taken in teas for tardy menstruation.

  • Birthroot
  • Blessed thistle
  • Cohosh, black
  • Cramp bark
  • Dong quai
  • Ginger, wild
  • Lady’s mantle
  • Lovage
  • Marjoram, sweet
  • Nettle
  • Parsley
  • Pennyroyal
  • Peppermint
  • Ragwort, European
  • Raspberry leaves
  • Rosemary
  • Skullcap
  • Sumac
  • Tarragon
  • Watercress

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Bibliography

Buy It! The Nature Doctor: A Manual of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, by Dr. H.C.A. Vogel; Keats Publishing, Inc., 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT. 06840-0876. Copyright Verlag A. Vogel, Teufen (AR) Switzerland 1952, 1991

Buy It! Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss; Back to Eden Publishing Co., Loma Linda, CA 92354, Original copyright 1939, revised edition 1994

Buy It! The Healing Plants, by Mannfried Pahlow, Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. 250 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11788, 1992

Buy It! The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, Inc, 232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, First American Edition, copyright 1993

Buy It! Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, Shambala Publications, Inc., Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973

Buy It! The Old Herb Doctor, by Joseph E. Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1984, sixth printing 1994.

Buy It! Secrets of the Chinese Herbalists, by Richard Lucas, Parker Publishing Company, Inc., West Nyack, NY, 1987.

Buy It! Earl Mindell’s Herb Bible, by Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., Simon & Schuster/Fireside, Rockefeller Center 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

Buy It! Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000

Buy It!The Magic of Herbs, by David Conway, published by Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, England. (Out of print)

Buy It! The Herb Book, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.

Buy It! The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine, by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988.

Buy It! Planetary Herbology, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. WI 53181., Copyright 1988, published 1992

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