Heavy Menstrual Bleeding - Editor's Choice

Over the years, Earth Clinic readers have sent us many reports about their treatments for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. The editors at Earth Clinic consider the below posts to be some of the most helpful and informative and have named them 'Editor's Choice'. We hope that you will find this useful.

Curry Leaf Tea

Posted by Teena (Victoria) on 08/06/2021 233 posts
★★★★★

My pacific island friend complained of debilitating pain, heavy menses, here I use blackstrap molasses a tablespoon a day at the first inkling I am near, I knew it would be very difficult for her to find such a product. I looked into what she has around her and suggested she make a tea of fresh curry leaves. They're high in vitamins and minerals particularly iron. She made the tea and reported hours later that it helped so much with her pains she would take it every day of her period.

You don't need fancy herbs off the internet, look into what's around you. Eg all thistles, and that gardener's bane, couchgrass (root) all excellent for uti, yet usually overlooked.

Best to you.


Cayenne

Posted by Glori (Florida) on 12/02/2020
★★★★★

cayenne powder for internal bleeding

1 teaspoon cayenne powder in a little amount of water saved my life!!! I had been having female bleeding during first part of covid for about a month I had woke up one morning feeling faint like I just might pass away. I said to myself I really want to be here for my 3 grown children then Dr John Christopher's remedy for bleeding came into my head . He said any bleeding, internal or external, will cease with taking cayenne and also stop a heart attack within seconds after getting it in your mouth!!! It WORKED!!! Thank you Dr Christopher!!!


Dietary Changes

Posted by Cat (Austin) on 07/30/2018
★★★★★

Had the same horrifying problem as another poster from 2010-- One week off period; 3 weeks on. Bled so much I soaked a cloth chair at a pizza joint. I've since hit menopause and don't have this worry at all BUT HERE WAS THE REMEDY FOR ME BACK THEN:.

1. NO CARBS: - no rice-potatoes-sugar--wheat/bread. Ate Meat/eggs/fish, salad or cooked veggies, 1 low carb snack daily of berries, cheese, or nuts. Secret: low carb and keto recipes on youtube

2. Took ACV (2 tsp wake-up / 2tsp bedtime w//pinch baking soda in 6oz water)

3. Upped water consumption to 2 liters per day

4. Exercise: I chose to do 5 Tibetan Rites for THAT year - excellent toning!

5. Desiccated Liver Capsule (grass-fed cattle) twice weekly.

The bleeding stopped in 4 days. The pain in my ovaries/uterus ended completely within 10 days. In 6 months, I lost 20 pounds with no loose skin and excellent toning.

I now believe it is a high carb, high sugar diet that is causing these horrifying symptoms in women and if your doctor can't help, try eliminating those high carb foods and sugar. Try it for 30 days. That at least costs you NOTHING!


Herbal Teas to Shorten Menstrual Bleeding

Posted by Teena (Melbourne, Australia) on 04/01/2018 233 posts
★★★★★

Daily garden teas have shortened menstrual bleeding:

I am the type who starts something then gets improvement and stops. Then dig out again when I get sick. But the latest thing I have been doing for three or four weeks and can actually see doing every day. I take some herbs and greens from my garden, wash in a mix of baking soda and vinegar, and steep in just boiled water for 20 minutes. I enjoy being in my garden, while the tea steeps. I take a sprig or few leaves from different plants, but always add lemon verbena and comfrey, for the taste and goodness, respectively. Sage, rosemary, celery leaves, beetroot leaves, dandelion, magnolia leaf, (like Bay), kale, lambs quarters, mallow, dock, sorrel, purslane, leaves from the native anti cancer pittosporum Gumby Gumby, parsley, Madeira Vine, turkey rhubarb, clover, lemongrass, thyme, lemon leaves, moringa leaves, clove basil, oregano are my options,

I pick an assortment each day and drink 750 mls a day, minimum, it's just the time of day that varies, as my work roster is early mornings one week then late evenings the next. But I have been consistent with drinking it every day. The taste is not delicious. But I enjoy it.

My constipation has further improved, and unexpectedly my last period, usually heavy for 7 days, lasted 2 1/2 days. Very unexpected and very welcome. And previous cycles had 24 -26 days between, this time I got 32! (I started to monitor with an app 3 months ago).

I have to note also, I would make salads from my garden greens, take to work every day, and never got these benefits. It's unsurprisingly an absorbency issue for me. I'm not saying you need to grow what I do, but I do suggest researching the benefits of the plants, herbs and 'weeds' that are growing around you, although I do recommend comfrey, made into a salve it relieves any skin irritation, and I used the leaves to repair a young tree that our dog had eaten the stem.

As usual, I don't believe it is any one plant that is benefiting me, but rather a synergy of many parts of many plants.

PS Shepherd's purse is specifically used to stop bleeding, wound and menstrual, the birds will gift me this in winter.

Best to you.


Pineapple, Lemon

Posted by Bb (California ) on 01/29/2018
★★★★★

I use this remedy (Fresh Pineapple and Lemon Juice) and it has worked well for me but I do it the easy way. Using this ratio of 3/4 cup of pineapple juice (store bought is fine, you don't need fresh) and 1/4 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice, you save time and money and still get results. I take it every two hours if I have a super heavy flow. Sometimes I double the quantities and take it two or three times a day. It always reduces the flow to a manageable level and it works fast.

I have tried virtually every other remedy on this site and the lemon/pineapple combination is the only thing that worked.


Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Dougngwen (Slidell, La ) on 03/26/2017
★★★★★

What a blessing!!!! I promised God if this worked for me I would write a review so here is my story, I always had somewhat heavy periods but, as I got older around the age of 43 I started getting heavier periods with flooding and huge blood clots . Here I am at age 45 and didn't want to have the heavy bleeding and clots because I was on a cruise last year that kept me basically in my cabin bc of heavy period . I am about to go on a cruise in three weeks and didn't want the same experience ( my period is due two days before I come home ) so I decided to experiment on this period some holistic cures. I stumbled across this thread and read that Apple Cider Vinegar would help me. I was skeptical but, said to myself what do you have to lose? So I started the regime on the second day of my period I took 1 tablespoon 3 times a day in water. My period was almost non existent I only had to change my pad once!!!! ( I usually use ten pads a day sometimes double up ), last night I was waiting to wake up from "flooding " nope!!!!! What a blessing!! Thank u God for this miracle and this news thread!!!!!!


Vitamin D

Posted by Annieg (Hurst, Tx) on 06/15/2016
★★★★★

I'm 46 and I've had problems with heavy, long periods for the past four years. Mine weren't as heavy as some on here have described (thank goodness) but got bad enough at times that it definitely made me apprehensive about leaving the house, particularly if the place I was going didn't have a bathroom. I've always been very regular, even since having my son 8 years ago. 4 years ago I was over a week late for my period which freaked me out. I took several pregnancy tests which were all negative, but I knew that the tremendous stress I was under at the time (mother had medical issues) could cause me to be late. That period finally started but was a bit longer than normal. On what should've been one of the final days, I was watching fireworks - it was July 4th - and felt that I was suddenly bleeding...a lot. I ran for the house and barely made it into the bathroom. I was pouring blood. Totally freaked me out...have NEVER had that happen before. My bleeding was always "normal". My husband grabbed a towel and drove me home. On the way I called a family friend who is a naturopathic doctor. She assured me that I was most likely perimenopausal and that yes, it can just suddenly happen that way.

Fortunately, the bleeding did slow that night thanks to taking some herbs I had on hand plus Advil. That began 4 years of this aggravating bleeding. I've had episodes of very heavy bleeding like that from time to time but have gotten the worst of it under control by taking various things: apple cider vinegar, arnica pills, yarrow, shepherd's purse, white oak bark, blackstrap molasses, etc. While most of it seemed to get the worst bleeding under control, none of it stopped my periods completely that lasted for WEEKS. What a frustrating thing to have it slow to the point where you think it will FINALLY stop but then it just starts back up again. Bleeding sometimes heavy but mostly moderate. The longer it affected my life the more stressful it became. I couldn't take my son to the pool - his favorite thing in the summer - because I never knew how much I'd bleed.

I tried all sorts of store bought herbal blends to balance out my hormones but some seemed to make it worse or gave me headaches. None felt quite right to me. I finally came to the conclusion that my hormones were really out of whack or I had fibroids and decided to make an appointment to get those checked. Yes, I avoid doctors like the plague and didn't want to go. 20 plus years of knowledge of natural medicine can make you that way. While waiting for my appointment, I had the idea one morning to up my Vitamin D. I'd taken it for some time but was forgetful sometimes about it. At the time I was taking 5000 iu, that morning I took another 5,000 and upped it to 10,000 iu total. My period stopped that afternoon. Huh. I also had started taking more blackstrap molasses to up my iron, in case I had become anemic with all that bleeding. My research had shown me that anemia can actually lead to MORE bleeding. So those two things were the only things I had changed. A week later (still no bleeding) I had my doctor's appointment and mentioned those things to her. She had my vitamin D level checked, along with hormones, and was going to check for anemia. Told me to keep taking the D because it would take a while for levels to rise. Sonogram showed no fibroids. Results came back in a few days: D levels WERE low (still) and I was anemic. Hormones were just fine.

Since then I went a whole month with no bleeding, and have had a normal period with fairly light bleeding. It's like a darned miracle. A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine told me she was having a longer than normal period with heavier bleeding and she was worried about it because that wasn't normal for her. I told her about the vitamin D. She told me a few days later that she had taken an extra dose the next morning and her bleeding had stopped by the next day. I know that Vitamin D acts as a hormone in your body, and most people are deficient in it...some severely. I know I tried just about every other remedy I could find on this site plus others and nothing worked until I boosted my Vitamin D. I'm not sure if I'm still anemic, I know it can take a while to fix that and plan to go in for another blood to to check that out. I finally feel like I can get back to normal living now, and have taken my son swimming twice already. :)

Good luck to all you ladies out there!


Pineapple, Lemon

Posted by Sunshine (Rochester, Michigan) on 04/14/2016
★★★★★

Juice Fresh Pineapple with core, Lemons with Pith

Hi, I had been heavily bleeding for 9 days.I had many other heavy bleeds before this and had already tried the following remedies with no success:

  • Low fat diet
  • homeopathic remedies (tried two different remedies)
  • cayenne pepper
  • flax oil
  • Shepard's purse tincture
  • flax oil
  • vitamin D
  • red raspberry tea
  • vitamin C with bioflavonoids
  • yarrow

I read a comment on another blog (not earth clinic), that a women juiced a whole pineapple including the core, but not the skin and with it juiced 4 lemons, carefully cutting the skin off but not removing the white pith, as you will juice the white pitch of the lemon and the lemon seeds. I drove to the store (10 min. away) and did not think I would make it through the store, without spotting, I was gushing so bad. When I got home I made the juice and drank the whole amount. It tastes bitter with the ratio of 4 lemons to one pineapple. In 4 HOURS the bleeding flow reduced by half. After 6 hours I took another juice of 1 pineapple 4 lemons, and in 3 Hours the bleeding completely stopped. Next period, flow began a little heavy, I did one juice of pineapple and lemons (Must be Fresh, must include pineapple core and lemon pith in the juice), went to normal flow never had a another heavy flow which really was a hemorrhage).

I told my sister about this, because she was having very heavy flows. One of her flows was 21 days. Her doctor had given progesterone, but it was not greatly helping. She decided to do pineapple, lemon and it stopped her flow after 21 days.


Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Sunshine (Florida) on 02/13/2015
★★★★★

First of all I must tell you that I am 44 and in peri-menopause. Which, has been horrible for me. First, my periods I noticed were heavier. I was told because I no longer take the pill and my tubes are tied was the reason. Then, my cycle was lasting 10 days, then 15 and so on. Finally after five half month period heavy non stop bleeding, seeing Drs, trying depo. Shot, hormones and whatever as ginnie pig they wanted to give me. Anything but actualily taking care of the problem. I have no health insurance just basic Medicaid. Which I believe they don't want to cover surgery if at all possible not too. So, I got send for an ultra sound and they found cysts, tumors, fibroids. When I got the results my MD. Doctor said I needed emergency D&C. Which to this day I have not got ton. Finally the doctor agreed to schedule surgery for Summer. Yes, you heard my right Summer 2015. This problem started 2014. Months on end with on going cycle. So, as I was headed to my GYN appt. To finally get surgery scheduled my phone rang, it was the Gyn office calling to cancel my appt. Due to fact one doctor was hurt and other had to cover hospital patients. That was in Dec2014 it's now Feb13th and no call to set surgery for D&C and cervical ablation. So, my period started back up few days ago after being gone for six weeks. After my 5 half month period. Which I am at my wits end. So, I decided to search internet for home remedies. I came across this web site. Believe I am willing to try about anything.

So, day one in the evening I did 3 tbsp of ACV. With the Mothers on it. Made sure it was this kind only! Second day, 3 tbsp of ACV. With splash of apple juice. Drank quickly followed with 8 oz water. I noticed my cycle was getting lighter. I could hardly believe my eyes! I figured it couldn't hurt to keep drinking away. Day three period almost gone and only spotting. Can't believe this has actually worked!! I want to yell from ROOF top to all women suffering. This is hands down the best thing ever.

Thanks, earthclinic for for sharing the info. If you had not posted I wouldn't be better.


Cinnamon

Posted by Mountain Mom (Polson, Montana) on 07/07/2013
★★★★★

In response to:

08/24/2008: Michelle from Round Rock, Tx: "I had not had my period in a matter of months. I thought it was because I had gained some weight and I tend to miss or skip when I lose weight or gain. Well About 3 weeks ago I got what I thought was my normal period... this time it isn't. I haven't stopped bleeding, not even slowed down. I've gotten large clots as well. I'm kind of scared about it because I'm feeling weak and tired as well as sick and tired of it. I cant do anything."

Cinnamon works. After reading about the cinnamon tea here, I decided to give it a try for my extremely heavy and prolonged bleeding. After having an entire day of heavy flooding, I tried 1/2 tsp of cinnamon in my coffee and kept stirring it as I drank it down. Within the hour, the flooding completely stopped and my period became very light. I also felt a boost of energy.

Later that evening when things picked up again and got heavy, I took 2 cinnamon capsules I had on hand and got the same response, the bleeding went lighter. Cinnamon also took away my painful cramps. I could not believe it.

The next day, I tried it again and to my surprise it worked. I continued cinnamon the next two days and my period came to an end much sooner. I would say, don't overdo it however. If you research it, cinnamon can also be known to bring on bleeding for those seeking to start their periods. I stick with 1/2 a tsp in the morning, and 1/2 tsp at early evening and that seems to work fine. You will have to find your personal balance.

If you are experiencing heavy flow and it's going on too long, and seems not normal for you, then please do get this checked out and make sure it's just hormonal. And please make sure you do not get anemic. I let it go so long, I almost lost my life and had to have multiple transfusions. I went through all kinds of testing, ultrasound, ct scan, biopsy to make sure I didn't have anything going on. When I got the all clear, I went right for the natural treatment. It's worth the peace of mind to make sure and, when you know what you are dealing with, you can go at it with a treatment. Peace!


Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Jill (Suburban Chicago, IL) on 10/06/2008
★★★★★

I would like to share my experince with Apple Cider VInegar (remedy):

I am 50 years old and had been experiencing flooding (term I was unaware of until my OB/GYN used this label for extremely excessive menstrual and mid-cycle bleeding) for about 6 months. I was bleeding 6 months STRAIGHT, without stop.... to the point where use of a maximum-flow tampon would not inhibit blood from running down to the floor, 5 or 6 times a day. It was just horrible. I was searching on-line for a solution to this demoralizing, debilitating problem, when I came upon references to ACV as a remedy for excessive bleeding.

I started the next morning: 2 T ACV mixed with 1/2 cup water or orange juice, quickly sipped down with a straw, then followed immediately by a full glass of water. I mention these practices specifically, because you'll want to drink the vinegar as quickly as possible, and then, be certain you have rinsed it all down your throat and diluted it in your tummy. (vinegar is so acidic that you need to protect your teeth, throat, and tummy).

I am sorry to frighten you with the preceeding warnings, but they're important precautions to take. However, it is worth drinking ACV, and being careful about it, too, because I found that it entirely stopped the flooding problem I had been experiencing. About a month ago, I became complacent, and missed an entire day of using the ACV, and I immediately had break-through bleeding the next day. So, I started faithfully right back on my routine of 3x a day, and NO MORE BLEEDING PROBLEMS FOR ME! That brief day when I got lazy and stopped using the AVC, and the immediate relief I found when I started using it again, are sufficient to keep me using ACV.
I have never been any sort of holistic/organic/folk person when it came to making decisions about medical care... but I certainly have changed my mind, now!

Good luck to anyone who tries this- I hope you have the success that I have had!



Advertisement