Herbal allies for every phase of the menstrual cycle
Your period is a fifth vital sign and these are plant allies that restore harmony!
The menstrual cycle is a fifth vital sign
The menstrual cycle is a foundational indicator of female health, vitality, and fertility. Your cycle impacts all of you head to toe, from your your emotions and physical energy, to your appetite and sex drive, your mental tenacity, memory and even spiritual connection are influenced by your hormones.
The health of your menstrual cycle can tell you a lot about the health of your being.
Sadly, many women experience irregular and unpleasant cycles. Anecdotally, of the hundreds of professional women I’ve worked with, it’s sadly common to learn so many struggle with PCOS, endometriosis, PMDD, and painful periods.
Even women with “healthy” lifestyles have emotional and physical cyclical pain. Our hormones are extremely delicate and endocrine disruption is the first place your body responds to stressors. Medical studies confirm common environmental exposure to toxins, such as bisphenol-A (BPA), have serious and harmful effects on our hormones.
Healing herbs to restore harmony
Mother nature did not intend for us to suffer this way. There are an abundance of healing herbs to bring us back into balance.
Read on to learn how to use specific herbs during the four phases of the menstrual cycle to restore hormonal harmony.
Note: This is a general guide of how healing herbs can support the different phases of the menstrual cycle. Please know you can consume these herbs throughout the month. If you are past your menstruating years, or have had a hysterectomy, your body can still benefit from the numerous vitamins and nutrients in these healing herbs. You can cycle herbs with the moon phases to restore cyclical harmony. If you’ve had a recent diagnosis, or are pregnant, it’s best to work directly with a holistic practitioner.
The Four Phases of the Menstrual Cycle
Like earth’s seasons, the menstrual cycle has four distinct phases:
Menstruation (winter - new moon)
follicular (spring - waxing moon)
ovulation (summer - full moon)
luteal (fall - waning moon)
These phases are prompted by the natural hormonal changes in the body.
PHASE 1 - MENSTRUATION (approximately day 1-5)
Healing herb: Red Raspberry Leaf
The menstrual phase is the easiest to identify - it begins on the first day of your period. Your two major sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) are at their lowest levels. The body recognizes pregnancy did not occur and prompts the shedding of your uterine lining (bleeding is the uterine lining leaving the body).
When it comes to balancing a woman’s reproductive organs, red raspberry leaf is Queen.
This herb strengthens uterine vitality with vitamins and minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus and vitamins C, E, B, and A. Red raspberry leaf supports the entire endocrine system and is the one of the most profound tonics to address infertility and prepare a woman’s body for pregnancy.
A midwives tool, red raspberry leaf protects against exhaustion following childbirth and enhances the production of breast milk.
Drink red raspberry leaf tea daily during and just before menstruation to tone and soothe the uterus. She does wonders for mitigating and preventing cramps.
PHASE 2 - FOLLICULAR (approximately days 6-13)
Healing herb: Stinging Nettle
Phase 2 begins once you have stopped bleeding. Your body begins preparing for the potential of pregnancy. Estrogen rises, filling us with energy and the ability to look ahead. Your ovaries produce follicles, each containing an immature egg. The uterine lining thickens. Even if you’re not trying to get pregnant, it’s a good idea to support this phase for your overall health.
Every woman needs nettle in her medicine cabinet.
This adrenal adaptogenic herb contains an ocean of nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamins B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, amino acids, calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, and potassium. Nettle restores the blood lost during menstruation and remineralizes the body. During the follicular phase, nettle can enhance egg production by supporting follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Nettle will rid the body of toxic estrogens that have entered the body through outside sources such as plastics, herbicide, and pesticides. For those who experience adrenal fatigue (burnout anyone?), nettle is here to nurture you back to health. On a spiritual note, nettle’s adaptogenic qualities focus a scattered mind and help us get in touch with our intuition. Drink a cold infusion of nettle tea prior to meditation to make the experience more centering.
PHASE 3 - OVULATION (approximately days 14-16)
Healing herb: Red Clover Blossoms
In the ovulatory phase, estrogen levels peak and the mature egg is released. There is a slight rise in basal body temperature of 0.25- 0.45°C and cervical fluid becomes sticky, clear, or egg white like in texture. This is usually when we are feeling our best. Our sex drive and energy levels are up, our skin is vibrant and clear, and we enjoy being social and externally focused.
Red clover is a powerful herb for the lymphatic system. A wonderful ally for women detoxing off hormonal birth control, red clover is a natural diuretic and cleanses the liver. Medical studies have shown that red clover is high in isoflavones, a phytoestrogen that produces estrogen-like effects in the body like increasing cervical mucus and lubricating the vagina. Red clover blossom is a great ally to use when trying to conceive and also helps reduce symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. Try it as a tea or tincture.
*Because of it’s estrogen-like effects, it’s best to consult with a holistic practitioner or herbalist prior to taking red clover as it may interact with hormonal birth control and other medications.
PHASE 4 - LUTEAL (approximately days 15 - 28)
Healing herb: Ginger Root
The luteal phase begins right after ovulation. It is marked by the breaking down of the unfertilized egg, decreased levels of estrogen, and a spike in progesterone. This abrupt change in hormones can lead to intense, unpleasant feelings and symptoms.
Known by generations for its profound healing qualities, the root of this herbaceous perennial tempers reactionary impulses often present in our premenstrual phase. After ovulation, our digestion slows. Ginger turns on our digestive fire and rids the body of excess fluid that may be retained during this phase of the cycle.
Ginger not only supports us in maintaining healthy digestion, it’s also a powerful remedy for stagnation. For those who experience brown blood or blood clots during menstruation, ginger may be a supportive medicine for you.
Drink ginger as a tea or add fresh ginger to soups or curries.
My recommendations
Buy organic, GMO free, loose leaf herbs from companies that report where their herbs are grown and how they are harvested. If you don’t have access to a local herbalist or apothecary, my reliable online source is Mountain Rose Herbs.
Make Nourishing Herbal Infusions - Rather than just brewing herbs like a cup of tea, make infusions to get a concentrated dose of the minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of the herb.
Avoid a Toxic Kettle - Stainless steel and glass are the safe options.
*Please note, if you are dealing with a serious hormonal imbalance or a recent diagnosis, it’s best to seek support and guidance from a holistic practitioner.
With so much love,
Christina
Flow State is back! 🩸🌀⚡️
Learn to unlock power through mindful menstruation. This 1 hour live virtual class is a foundational framework I share with all of my coaching clients to activate their Conscious Feminine Leader.
Register now and either join us live September 29th at 4pm PT or receive the replay! All registration includes:
On-demand recording for 1 month,
Digital menstrual cycle tracking guide,
And a free 30 minute healing integration session with me!
Bring a friend. Tell your colleagues and boss! Normalize period talk in public!
***Get an early bird discount by signing up today.
I offer a bespoke high-touch 1:1 coaching containers for ambitious, heart-led women to translate their innate feminine power into actionable results.
Women I have worked with have aligned with their purpose, up-leveled their businesses, gotten promotions and raises, reclaimed their inner artist, deepened their spirituality, healed from burnout, attracted an ideal partner, prepared for motherhood, cultivated fierce self-love and so much more.
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What clients are saying:
“I entered a 6 month 1:1 coaching package with Christina with an open mind and an open heart. I was healing from a life altering injury and had just started my own business in the midst of the pandemic, leaving a stable job of 10 years behind. Christina helped me navigate my mind, body and presence. Since working with her, I've felt like I’ve upgraded my life from living in a 2 bedroom apartment to the Palace of Versailles. As a role model and coach, Christina has helped me lean into the wisdom of my menstrual cycle and become aware of patterns that were inhibiting my growth. After sprinkling lessons of self-worth, boundaries, self-love and healthy habits, I've experienced so much growth in not only how I am feeling, but how I am showing up as a business owner. Christina is a reflection of the beautiful Goddess in us and has been anointed with the gift of guiding women to a cerebral center of manifestation. I can't thank her enough”
- Chauntae Moore, Founder, Habitat Hair Salon
Thanks Christina for this beautiful wisdom :)