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🌸 Medicinal Plants for Women's Health / Menstruation

Around menstruation and the menopause, herbal lore has its own classics: antispasmodic plants for the days themselves, tannins for excessive bleeding, plus lady’s mantle and yarrow from folk tradition. For the menopause, black cohosh is the best studied. Unusually heavy, very painful or irregular bleeding needs medical assessment.

26 plants from our database are traditionally associated with Women's Health / Menstruation – each with a profile, active compounds, safety notes and sources. Poisonous and legally controlled species are deliberately left out of this list; they remain reachable through the search and the plant index.

These plants are traditionally used for the listed conditions. Not medical advice — consult a doctor or pharmacist for persistent symptoms.

Photo of Alchemilla vulgaris
Alchemilla vulgaris
Alchemilla vulgaris

Traditional women's herb since Hildegard von Bingen (12th c.): for menstrual pain, cycle irregularities, PMS and menopausal complaints.

Photo of Argentina anserina
Argentina anserina
Potentilla anserina

For mild dysmenorrhoea (menstrual pain), the use of silverweed herb is recognised by the German Commission E.

Photo of Verbena officinalis
Verbena officinalis
Verbena officinalis

Folk emmenagogue tea from vervain to support menstrual flow and ease mild menstrual cramps — strictly contraindicated in pregnancy.

Photo of catnip
Catnip
Nepeta cataria

Used in traditional European herbalism as a mild emmenagogue for dysmenorrhoea (menstrual pain) and amenorrhoea (absent menstruation).

Photo of Capsella bursa-pastoris
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Capsella bursa-pastoris

Classic for excessively heavy, prolonged or too frequent menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia, metrorrhagia) as well as symptomatic post-bleeding and ca…

Photo of Lythrum salicaria
Lythrum salicaria
Lythrum salicaria

Purple loosestrife tea was traditionally used for excessive menstrual bleeding.

Photo of Oenothera biennis
Oenothera biennis
Oenothera biennis

Evening primrose oil traditionally used for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), breast pain (mastalgia), and rheumatoid arthritis.

Photo of Tagetes patula
Tagetes patula
Tagetes patula

Traditional Mexican infusion of dried florets — reported for stomach cramps, flatulence and menstrual complaints.

Historic botanical plate of black cohosh (Cimicifuga/Actaea racemosa) showing the rhizome, divided leaves and long white flower raceme, from John Torrey's Flora of the State of New-York (1843)
Black cohosh
Actaea racemosa

Main use: relief of menopausal complaints such as hot flushes, increased sweating, sleep disorders and nervous irritability.

Photo of Artemisia vulgaris
Artemisia vulgaris
Artemisia vulgaris

Traditionally used as an emmenagogue for irregular, absent, or painful menstruation (dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea).

Photo of Sanguisorba officinalis
Sanguisorba officinalis
Sanguisorba officinalis

Great burnet root tincture to support heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) and hemorrhoids.

Photo of Bistorta officinalis
Bistorta officinalis
Bistorta officinalis

Rhizome tea was used in folk medicine for excessive menstrual bleeding.

Anise plant with white umbel flowers
Anise
Pimpinella anisum

Folk use for menstrual complaints and dysmenorrhoea.

Photo of Cumin
Cumin
Cuminum cyminum

In Ayurvedic tradition and Iranian folk medicine, cumin seeds are used for dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation).

Photo of Parsley
Parsley
Petroselinum crispum subsp. tuberosum

Parsley leaf tea is used in folk medicine for digestive complaints (flatulence, cramps) and to stimulate menstrual flow.

Historical hand-coloured engraving of the chaste tree with a branch, palmate leaves, blue-violet flower spikes and fruits
Chaste tree
Vitex agnus-castus

Standardised extract for premenstrual syndrome (well-established use) — only after consulting a doctor.

White flower umbel of yarrow
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium

Relieves mild abdominal cramps during menstruation.

Photo of Centaurea cyanus
Centaurea cyanus
Centaurea cyanus

In folk medicine, cornflower tea was used as an emmenagogue for irregular or absent menstruation.

Photo of Crataegus monogyna
Crataegus monogyna
Crataegus monogyna

Folk berry decoction for menopausal complaints, mild restlessness and sleep issues — WHO lists Fructus Crataegi as a traditional cardiovascular rem…

Botanical plate of white deadnettle (Lamium album) showing white two-lipped flowers and toothed leaves, Jacob Sturm 1796.
White deadnettle
Lamium album

Traditionally a women's remedy for excessive menstruation and increased vaginal discharge; the astringent action of the tannins underlies this folk…

Photo of Tanacetum parthenium
Tanacetum parthenium
Tanacetum parthenium

Folk infusion for fever and headache and to promote menstruation — historically widespread, today scientifically supported only for migraine prophy…

Photo of Lovage
Lovage
Levisticum officinale

Folk use of lovage root for dysmenorrhoea — emmenagogue action recorded in tradition; absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy.

Photo of Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata

Spearmint tea (2×/day) showed a significant anti-androgenic effect in clinical trials in women with mild hirsutism and PCOS-associated androgen exc…

Photo of Pelargonium graveolens
Pelargonium graveolens
Pelargonium graveolens

Aromatherapy use of rose geranium essential oil (geranium Bourbon oil) for relaxation, stress, irritability and nervous tension.

Photo of Salvia officinalis
Salvia officinalis
Salvia officinalis

EMA HMPC: well-established traditional use as antihidrotic for excessive perspiration, particularly hyperhidrosis and menopausal symptoms (hot flus…

Photo of Oregano
Oregano
Origanum vulgare

Wild oregano grows on dry, lime-rich Mediterranean slopes and only fully develops its pungent, spicy aroma once the flowering herb, gathered in Jul…

Different concern? All complaints at a glance · all plants

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