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These 5 Herbs Can Help You Have an Easier Period
Herbs have been used to treat health complaints for thousands of years across many cultures and civilizations, and their use continues to this day.
There are many good reasons for using herbs, including:
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They are natural, rather than synthetic/chemical, and as such usually carry far fewer (if any) of the side effects commonly listed among pharmaceuticals.
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An herb in a liquid extract form (a tincture) contains needed compounds of the whole plant, and is more effective than in pill or capsule form.
- Herbal tinctures (liquid extracts) allow for more flexibility in the volume used, as a person can more easily adjust the amount used according to their own body’s response.
In order to support healthy liver function, over 30 years ago Linda Burger formulated a unique blend of five distinct herbs. Quickly, she discovered the benefits of the specific herb blend did much more - the formula had a significant, positive impact on issues women had with their periods.
That was the birth of the Perfect Period.® formula.
Since then, this formula of five herbs has been helping women have better, easier period experiences. It provides a natural solution for irregular periods, enhances female hormonal balance and supports healthy, problem-free periods.
What are these five herbs?
Catnip
Chaste Tree Berry
Dong Quai
Motherwort
Common Ragweed (yep, we said ragweed - more on that below)
In this article, we’ll dive into the benefits of each herb and the role they play in helping to minimize or eliminate symptoms related to your menstrual cycle and period.
First, a note about the blend.
This blend of herbs in this particular formula creates something greater than the sum of its parts. Women for centuries have turned to each of these herbs for their reported healing properties. Now women are embracing this combination, this blending, and discovering a healthier, happier period.
Now, let's dive into the herbs.
Catnip 
The main role this herb plays in your period?
Relaxing muscle spasms and cramps.
What is it used for?
The use of catnip leaves and flowers in herbal teas was documented at least as early as 1735 in the General Irish Herbal. Catnip (nepeta cataria) is known for its calming qualities that promote relaxation; which may boost mood and reduce anxiety, restlessness, and nervousness. Several Native American tribes used Catnip to support immune function and for relaxing muscle spasms and cramps.
Medicinally, the plant has been used to treat intestinal cramps, for indigestion, and to induce delayed menstruation.
Possible side effects?
A possible side effect of catnip may be a headache. Since it’s a diuretic it might also cause frequent urination and heavier perspiration.
Important precautions?
Not to be used during pregnancy. If you have a medical condition or take medications please consult with your doctor before use.
You should not drink catnip tea if you’re pregnant, as it can cause uterine contractions that may result in premature labor. These uterine contractions can also cause a woman’s period to start earlier, so catnip tea isn’t advised for women with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or those with heavy menstruation, as it can aggravate both symptoms.
Chaste Tree Berry
The main role this herb plays in your period?
Stimulate progesterone & treatment of PMS.
What is it used for?
The botanical, Chaste Tree Berry (agnus castus), has long been used throughout Europe for a variety of female hormones and gynecological conditions. The German Commission E has approved the use of Chaste Tree Berry extract for the treatment of PMS.
It has also been studied in clinical trials to support normal hormone levels, particularly progesterone. Many studies to date have demonstrated positive clinical outcomes for conditions related to the female menstrual cycle, including breast pain.
Possible side effects?
Possible side effects are generally mild, and may include nausea, headache, gastrointestinal disturbances, or itching.
Important precautions?
It may not be safe for women with hormone-sensitive conditions, such as breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer, to take this herb. It’s possible that Chaste Tree Berry might interact with some medicines, such as birth control pills, drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease, and drugs used to treat psychosis. If you’re taking medicine, talk with your health care provider before using Chaste Tree Berry.
Dong Quai
The main role this herb plays in your period?
Anti-inflammatory properties to balance hormones.
What is it used for?
Dong quai (angelica sinensis) has been used as an herbal medication for more than 2,000 years. It’s a mainstay of Eastern herbal medicine. Dong Quai - specifically, the root - is rich in compounds with anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating effects to help regulate the hormones associated primarily with the menstrual cycle.
The available data on how your body absorbs and excretes Dong Quai suggest that it may improve blood circulation and relieve discomfort. It’s also used to improve blood health and support the immune system.
The National Library of Medicine reports that Dong Quai may alleviate hot flashes.
A 2004 study showed that 39 percent of the women who took a concentrated dose of Dong Quai twice daily reported an improvement in their abdominal pain (such that they didn’t need painkillers) and a normalizing of their menstrual cycle. The majority (54 percent) thought that the pain was less severe but still needed other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to perform day-to-day tasks.
Possible side effects?
Possible side effects can include skin sensitivity to light, loss of appetite, feeling bloated, and diarrhea.
Important precautions?
Dong Quai is not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you have a medical condition or take medical drugs, contact your doctor prior to use.
Motherwort
The main role this herb plays in your period?
Regulates menstruation.
What is it used for?
Motherwort (leonurus cardiaca) is used to balance the female reproductive system and reduce stress. It has been used for thousands of years to treat various conditions, including anxiety and irregular menstruation. It is used to regulate menstruation, bring on delayed periods, and can reduce smooth muscle cramping - particularly menstrual cramps.
Possible side effects?
Based on recent findings, the potential side effects of consuming excess amounts of Motherwort include diarrhea, uterine bleeding, and stomach pain.
Important precautions?
Due to a lack of research and its potential to stimulate uterine contractions, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are also advised to contact their health professional before use.
Common Ragweed
The main role this herb plays in your period?
Reduce menstrual discomfort & irregularity.
What is it used for?
When most people find out that one of the herbs in the Perfect Period formula is Ragweed, they respond with “wait, aren’t a lot people allergic to ragweed?”
For those with allergies, they are allergic to the pollen from the flower on the ragweed plant. But the plant itself has beneficial qualities. We harvest the ragweed plant before it flowers and pollinates allowing us to reap the benefits without risking the allergic reactions.
Early Native American healers valued this plant for medicinal uses and took advantage of its topical and internal applications. Herbalists use ragweed to relieve nausea, menstrual discomfort, and fever, and some Native American tribes have used the root of the ragweed plant to make tea that works as a laxative.
Other traditional medicinal uses of common ragweed (ambrosia artemisiifolia) include use for menstrual issues, as an antiseptic (antibacterial), to stop bleeding from a cut, and as a fever reducer. It has also been used as a liver cleanse.
And, as a side note: Some have reported relief of their Ragweed allergy symptoms after beginning the use of Ragweed.
Possible side effects?
Because most shy away from Ragweed due to its association with allergies, there is little to no studies on this plant.
Important precautions?
Not to be used during pregnancy. If you have a medical condition or take medications please consult with your doctor before use.
To learn more about the blend of these five herbs and to meet the creator behind the formula that’s been helping women have a better period experience for 30+ years, visit:
https://perfectperiod.com/meet-the-partners.html
Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a doctor or naturopathic physician.
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