Top 5 Herbs for Menstrual Cramps
Ladies, it’s that time of the month.
There are two types of scenarios:
The painless, flowing, bright red, happy mood-type period and
The painful, moody, crampy, clot-y period.
If you experience #1, then congratulations! Your body is happy, healthy, nourished and your vital signs are doing well. Keep up the good work!
If you experience #2 frequently and you’re looking for a better more healthy flow, I have some great tips for you.
In a perfect world our period’s should be a time of rest with an easy flow, healthy bright red blood, and minimal to no signs of PMS.
Does this sound like a fantasy to you, too?
In all honesty, I didn't know that a period was supposed to be painless until I was 23!
And even then, I’ve known women who didn’t know this until they were post-menopausal and wishing they had known this. It’s an unspoken reality.
I was under the assumption that every month it was expected to have
painful cramping
tender breasts
mood swings
clotting
bloating
intense cravings
nausea
dark red/brown blood
But after attending Herb School I learned these are all signs of stagnancy.
Which basically means: cold, sluggish, stuck energy.
Thankfully we have herbs that help tremendously with warming and stimulating our menstrual cycles so that we can move through the stagnancy.
In this article I'll be reviewing my Top 5 Herbs for Menstrual Cramps.
Let’s start with my go-to herb!
Crampbark
(Viburnum opulus)
This has to be one of the most potent and powerful antispasmodics I’ve ever used.
The perfect indication for this herb is when the cramps become so painful that it’s difficult to move or think clearly.
There are times where I seriously consider taking an Advil for cramps, but that’s usually when I forget about this incredible bark.
Which, by the way, I will one day soon write an entire article why you do not want to rely on non-steroidal anti-inflammatories regularly!
While I usually prefer teas compared to tinctures, in times of serious onset pain, Crampbark Tincture can be the simplest and quickest way to quick relief.
And the great thing about it is that 1-2 dropper fulls (about 30-60 drops) of a tincture is all you really need!
Lobelia
(Lobelia inflata)
My sweet, acrid friend. My most used herb in times of cough, cramps, and stress.
This herb has the potential to relax, relieve, and welcome rest in times of serious spasmodic menstrual or muscular discomfort.
Unfortunately, Lobelia has an infamous history which essentially began from an illegitimate accusation in the early 1800s. Due to this controversy, Lobelia has been pigeon-holed as a toxic or dangerous herb and this is simply not true.
This herb is one of my top 10 used herbs and for good reasons.
It’s a powerful anti-spasmodic, relaxant, and vital stimulant.
A vital stimulant is one that sends a jolt of energy to our core.
Whether it’s a stimulation of the nervous system, hypothalamus, or simply a connection between plant and person, this connection is powerful and very helpful in times of crisis.
It’s also classified as an emetic, so large doses could potentially lead to vomiting. Not to worry, this is not a sign of toxicity but simply a reaction from the herb.
Ginger
(Zingiber officinale)
Did you know that Ginger is a famous anti-nauseant?
It’s been used historically for nausea, car or sea sickness, and in small doses for morning sickness in early pregnancy.
This remarkable use of Ginger is largely in part due to its warming anti-inflammatory effect.
Ginger is indicated if you experience light, scanty period’s with intense cramps, and the reason why is due to its effect on the body.
Zingiber is warming, anti-inflammatory, carminative, and analgesic.
All of these actions make this herb an exceptional pain-reliever. It also makes for a delicious tea! Simply steep a few slices of fresh Ginger, or 1/2 Tablespoon dried herb (dried is much more potent!), and steep for 10-15 minutes. Add in some lemon, and honey and you’ve got yourself relief in a cup.
Chamomile
(Matricaria recutita)
I’m not sure I can explain through words how gentle yet powerful Chamomile can be.
We’ve all known this dainty herb for its massive commercial use in restaurants, airplanes — even bars! The reason, I believe, is because Chamomile is a superb carminative.
A carminative is an herb that acts as an antispasmodic that targets the gastrointestinal tract - think cramping or griping pains. It can also target the pelvic area, too, in times of crisis.
Matricaria is also an exceptional nervine, meaning it calms the nerves.
It’s incredible to think that there can be all of these properties in one tiny flower. Which is why I use Chamomile in a majority of complaints: pain, period, headache, nervous issues like irritability, overwhelm, insomnia, and emotional conditions.
Lemon Balm
(Melissa officinales)
Okay friends, we’ve gone over some of the most potent menstrual allies. However, I am now going to present to you one of the best herbs with the most subtle and enriching benefits.
It’s a mild sedative relaxant, diaphoretic (so it brings tension from the center out to the surface), Nervine, and Uterine Tonic.
Lemon Balm is a deeply relaxing and enjoyable herb, especially when prepared as a tea. My very first experience with Melissa was a long infusion over ice on a hot Southern California day. I immediately felt relaxation throughout my whole body and knew that this would be a go-to herb for many reasons.
Putting it all together
Now that we have a list of some of the many herbs that are extremely helpful in times of menstrual discomfort, let’s make a tea blend!
First, I like to work in terms of parts for most recipes.
In example, if 1 part is 1 cup, 2 parts is 2 cups, 1/2 part is 1/2 cup and so on. For this recipe we’ll be doing parts based on Cups so that you can make a large enough batch to last for a few cycles.
Her Harmony Menstrual Cramp Relief Tea
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Chamomile can get really bitter if steeped for too long, so keep this in mind!
If dried ginger isn't available, substitute 2 fresh 1/2 inch slices at the time of steeping.
If you’d like a custom tea blend, or would like a deep-dive on women’s health & nutrition, book a session with me, or send me an email!
Danielle Waterman
CCH, CCN
Danielle is a certified Vitalist Herbalist. She specializes in natural weight-loss, pain-management, digestive complaints, hormone balance, and overall increased wellness and Vitality.