Biphasic Herbal Formulas for Irregular Menstrual Cycles
Do you have irregular menstrual cycles? Balancing your hormones and strengthening your uterine muscles can reduce and even eliminate symptoms of PMS, dysmenorrhea (painful periods), heavy flow, spotting in between periods, and emotional fluctuations with your cycle.
The concept of using one herbal formula for the first half of your menstrual cycle and another set of herbs during the second, can reset your hormonal cycle, tonify the uterus, and calm your nervous system in order to have care-free menses!
If you are trying to become pregnant, please seek a practitioner who is knowledgeable about herbal medicine as many of these herbs are contraindicated in pregnancy.
The Follicular Phase
The first half of the menstrual cycle begins with the first day of bleeding. Estrogen levels elevate and stimulate the development of the follicle and buildup of the endometrium in order to prepare for pregnancy.
Supportive herbs, foods and oils:
Please work with a knowledgeable practitioner to design a formula specific to your unique needs!
- Omega-3 containing oils – flax, walnut, pumpkin, and fish oil
- Liver supportive herbs – dandelion root, burdock, Oregon grape, verbena, artichoke, milk thistle
- Uterine tonic – raspberry, lady’s mantle, blue cohosh
- Antispasmotic – black haw, crampbark, black cohosh, wild yam, motherwort, white peony, licorice, gelsemium (low dose herb, do not use without practitioner oversight)
- Energy balancing– ginseng, tulsi, devil’s club
- Hormone balancing – wild yam, licorice, peony, black cohosh, vitex
- Circulatory herb – lychee berry, cayenne, ginger, cinnamon, rosemary, anemonae pulsatilla
- Nervine – motherwort, california poppy, oat, skullcap
- Inflammation modulation – feverfew, angelica sinensis, ginger
- Phytoestrogens – alfalfa, red clover, legumes, flax seeds, brassica family vegetables
The Luteal Phase
The second half of the cycle begins with ovulation and lasts until the beginning of menses. This phase is when the corpus luteum is growing and releasing progesterone. When pregnancy does not occur, there is a drop in both progesterone and estrogen levels, triggering the shedding of the endometrium.
Supportive herbs, foods and oils:
Please work with a knowledgeable practitioner to design a formula specific to your unique needs!
- Omega-6 containing oils – evening primrose, borage, black currant, sunflower seeds
- Liver supportive herbs – dandelion root, burdock, Oregon grape, verbena, artichoke, milk thistle
- Emmenogogue (stimulate flow of blood) – rue, mugwort, dong quai, motherwort, feverfew
- Antispasmotic – black haw, crampbark, black cohosh, wild yam, motherwort, white peony, licorice, gelsemium (low dose herb, do not use without practitioner oversight)
- Energy balancing– ginseng, tulsi, devil’s club
- Circulatory herb – rosemary, lychee berry, cayenne, ginger, cinnamon, anemonae pulsatilla
- Inflammation modulation – feverfew, angelica sinensis, ginger
- Hormone balancing – wild yam, licorice, peony, black cohosh, vitex*
- Nervine – motherwort, california poppy, oat, skullcap
*for vitex, if using in follicular phase too, double dose in luteal phase
Spotting between periods?
These astringent herbs will help efficiently excrete the blood during menses and help dry up the endometrium between cycles.
- Yarrow
- Geranium
If you are trying to become pregnant, please seek a practitioner who is knowledgeable about herbal medicine as many of these herbs are contraindicated in pregnancy.
Tags: biphasic, fertility, herbal medicine, herbs, pregnancy, woman's herbs
