Menorrhagia or heavy menstrual bleeding can be a common condition among menstruating women. It is indicated by unusually heavy or irregularly extended periods. Here are 8 home remedies for heavy menstrual bleeding that will help you regulate your periods.
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Suggested read: 11 Super Effective Yoga Poses That Cure Irregular Periods
Symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding
If your periods are lasting longer than the usual 7 days, then it is a sign that you are suffering from menorrhagia. The other common signals include the need to dispose a sanitary pad or a tampon every 3 hours, or large clots in your menstrual blood. You may even experience continuous cramps in your lower abdomen area during that time of the month, cramps that are severe and painful.
Nausea and headaches can accompany menorrhagia, along with fatigue, exhaustion, severe mood swings, shortness of breath and feeling of weakness.
Though the condition of heavy menstrual bleeding can affect any menstruating woman, it mainly affects those who have just started menstruating and those who are nearing menopause.
The risk factors of heavy menstrual bleeding include being overweight and side effects of medications like blood thinners. If heavy bleeding is in your family, then your chances of getting menorrhagia is higher.
According to the Mayo Clinic Staff,
“Menorrhagia is most often due to a hormone imbalance that causes menstrual cycles without ovulation. In a normal cycle, the release of an egg from the ovaries stimulates the body’s production of progesterone, the female hormone most responsible for keeping periods regular. When no egg is released, insufficient progesterone can cause heavy menstrual bleeding.
Menstrual cycles without ovulation (anovulatory cycles) are most common among two separate age groups:
- Adolescent girls who have recently started menstruating. Girls are especially prone to anovulatory cycles in the first year after their first menstrual period (menarche).
- Older women approaching menopause. Women ages 40 to 50 are at increased risk of hormonal changes that lead to anovulatory cycles.”
Causes of heavy menstrual bleeding
Your condition of heavy menstrual bleeding can be caused by a number of reasons, the most common being,
- Hormonal imbalance in body
- Non-cancerous tumors in the uterus
- Fibroids of the uterus
- Uterine polyps
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Side effects of using an IUD or Intra-Uterine Device
- Use of blood thinners
Many medical conditions can also be the cause of menorrhagia. Some of these are,
- Adenomvosis
- PID or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Illnesses that prevent clotting of blood
Menorrhagia is painful, and it also disturbs one’s daily routine and activities as it is very uncomfortable. Also it can cause anemia, which is a serious health problem.
To treat heavy menstrual bleeding and the symptoms associated with it, you can consult a doctor and go for a medical treatment. In addition to that, you should try these easy yet effective home remedies to treat the menorrhagia.
Home remedies for heavy menstrual bleeding
Here are the 8 best natural treatments that will cure your heavy menstrual bleeding and comfort you.
1. Cold Compress
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The first home remedy on our list of natural treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding is cold compress.
Cold compress works because cold temperature causes constriction of blood vessels or what is called vasoconstriction. This, in turn, aids the reduction of bleeding.
Cold compress also heals the symptoms linked to heavy menstrual bleeding, such as pain and cramps in the lower abdomen area.
To try the remedy, you need some ice cubes. Put them in a clean, thin towel and fasten it into a knot. Apply the cold compress on your abdomen area. You need to do this for about 20 minutes.
You can repeat the remedy twice or even thrice a day for instant relief.
Do not apply the ice cubes directly on your skin as it can cause frostbites.
2. Blackstrap Molasses
To control heavy menstrual bleeding, depend on blackstrap molasses. Blackstrap molasses is a rich source of iron, which increases production of red blood cells and helps make up for the blood lost due to menorrhagia.
Blackstrap molasses also helps stop the clotting of blood and comfort the walls of the uterus, thus reduce cramps and pain.
To use it as a remedy, bring a cup of warm milk to boil. To this milk, add two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses. You should drink this two times a day for comfort.
You can, to a glass of lemongrass tea, add one-fourth tablespoon of blackstrap molasses and drink that every morning on an empty stomach.
3. Red Raspberry
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The third remedy on home remedies to treat heavy menstrual bleeding is red raspberry. The leaves of red raspberry make for a good remedy because of the tannins in them. These tannins help make the muscles of the uterus stronger.
Red raspberry leaves also reduce the pain in the lower abdominal area, a symptom associated closely with heavy menstrual bleeding.
To use this remedy, you should bring a cup of water to boil. Remove it from the fire, and add two teaspoons of red raspberry leaves and let it steep. Do not forget to cover the container. Now after 10 minutes, you should strain the tea and drink it.
You can drink this red raspberry leaves tree three times a day for best results.
Suggested read: 15 Of The Most Effective Home Remedies For Delayed Periods
4. Coriander Seeds
The next remedy on our list is coriander seeds, a remedy backed by Ayurveda. Coriander seeds can cure heavy menstrual bleeding and also enhance uterine functioning.
Coriander seeds also help balance hormones like estrogen and progesterone in the female body.
Bring two cups of water to boil. To this add a teaspoon of coriander seeds and boil until the water is reduced to half. Now strain the solution. You can add a teaspoon of honey for taste. Drink it while it is still warm.
You should drink three cups of this water, a day for desired results.
5. Cinnamon
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Another effective remedy on our list is cinnamon. The spice helps cure heavy menstrual bleeding that is caused by endometriosis. Also, menorrhagia linked to fibroids and/or adenomvosis.
Cinnamon is a great remedy in this case because it manipulates blood flow away from our uterus, thus prevented excessive flow of blood. Cinnamon is also anti-inflammatory, which helps it cure the symptoms associated with menorrhagia.
For the remedy, bring a cup of water to boil, and to it add half a tablespoon of cinnamon powder. Now heat it on simmer. You can add a teaspoon of honey for taste. You should drink this two times a day for desired results.
6. Comfrey
Comfrey is the next remedy on our list. Herbalists say that comfrey controls heavy bleeding during periods by constricting blood vessels.
To use it as a remedy, bring a cup of water to boil. Add 2 teaspoons of comfrey to this water and let it steep for about 20 minutes. Do not forget to cover the container while letting comfrey steep. Strain the drink and drink it two times a day.
7. Eat Iron-Rich Foods
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The next natural treatment is iron. You will need to increase your intake of food that are rich in iron, because heavy bleeding during menstruation can cause anemia, which is a serious medical condition.
You can take iron supplements, but do consult a doctor for the correct dosage.
You can also start eating dark green veggies for iron. Legumes and pumpkin seeds are also rich in iron. Apart from that, you can also eat red meat, liver, cereal and prunes for iron.
8. Magnesium
The last remedy on our list is magnesium. This helps balance the hormones, like progesterone and estrogen. Magnesium deficiency can cause heavy menstrual bleeding and taking magnesium supplements can help you cure your condition on a more long-term basis. However, before taking supplements, do consult your health care provider for the correct dosage.
Thus, the best way to increase magnesium levels in your body is by eating more foods that are rich in magnesium, like oats, dark chocolate, pumpkin, watermelon, avocado and nuts.
Suggested read: 14 Effective Home Remedies For Postponing Periods
Additional Tips
- You should maintain a proper record of your menstrual flow so that diagnosis is easier and proper.
- Always keep extra tampons and sanitary pads handy.
- You can apply a bottle of hot water on your back or the lower abdomen area during your periods.
- During your periods, drink cups of chamomile and/or green tea once or twice every day.
- Exercising regularly or brisk walking can help you regulate your menstrual flow and the cramps associated with it.
- Draw yourself a warm bath. This will help you soothe the lower abdomen pain.
- Try to get ample rest and do not over exert yourself.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects as they can trigger heavier menstrual bleeding and worsen the condition.
That’s a wrap on home remedies for heavy menstrual bleeding.
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