Cramp bark contains phytochemicals
that calm cramps

Herbal teas for menstrual cramps : Herbs that relax the stomach muscles, called antispasmodics, contain phytochemicals that ease muscle spasms and help relax the uterus. Many of these same herbal allies have a gentle sedatating effect, helping to calm frayed nerves at the same time. Black and blue cohosh, though unrelated herbs, can be combined to treat painful cramps. My favorite old remedy is a soothing cup of raspberry tea, sipped slowly until the cramping subsides, others prefer a cup of lemon balm or catnip. Whatever your favorite, try adding a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger to enhance both flavor and effect.

Using Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy for painful periods: A soothing abominal massage can go a long way in releasing pain and tension from the lower belly. Some good choices are for massage blends are clary sage, chamomile, geranium and Jasmine. These same oils can be added to a warm, relaxing herbal bath.

Herbs Used for Dysmenorrhea

Angelica * Black Haw * Blue Cohosh * Catnip * Chaste Tree * Clary Sage * Corydalis * Ginger * Jasmine * Kava-Kava * Lady's Mantle * Motherwort * Rosemary * Valerian * White Peony * White Willow * Wild Yam * Yarrow *

Angelica For: Cramping menstruation
Profile	Relieves congestion of the pelvis, often helpful in easing painful and cramping menstruation Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Healing for Women (1993)

Black cohosh For: Menstrual cramps
Profile	The herb has powerful antispasmodic properties and is helpful in relieving menstrual cramps.

Black Haw For: Cramps
Profile	Cramp bark contains at least four phytochemicals that facilitate uterine relaxation calm cramps James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Black haw ,cramp bark For: Uterine cramps
Profile	Both viburnums are excellent for "quieting" the uterus and are used for threated miscarriage, uterine cramps, and dysmenorrhea.. Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Healing for Women (1993)

Blue cohosh For: Rheumatism
Profile	Blue cohosh eases the cramping pain of dysmenorrhoea. It has also been used to treat arthritis and ease stomach cramps. Richard Mabey, The New Age Herbalist (1988)

Catnip Tea For: menstrual cramps.
Profile	An infusion of catnip (catnip tea) is good for reducing the pain of menstrual cramps. Adele Dawson, Herbs: Partners in Life (2000)

Chamomile For: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Profile	Traditional herbal medicine in England used chamomile as one of the five "opening" herbs for the treatment of irregular menstruation. Chamomile contains spiroether, a very strong antispasmodic agent that relaxes aching, tense muscles and alleviates premenstrual pain. Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Herbal Healing (2002)

Clary Sage oil For: Cramping , Pain
Profile	Clary Sage oil's constituent, sclareol, has an estrogen-like structure, contributing to clary's effectiveness in treating amenorrhea, cramps, and pain with menstruation. A sponge bath with a few drops of clary sage oil in cool water has a calming , hormone balancing effect helping relieve hot flashes. Marlene Ericksen, Healing with Aromatherapy (2000)

Corydalis For: Headaches, abdominal pain
Profile	In TCM, corydalis is a major pain reliever used particularly for menstrual cramping, gastric and abdominal pain, and headaches. Richard Mabey, The New Age Herbalist (1988)

Ginger root For: Menstrual cramps
Profile	Ginger directs blood to the pelvic area and helps relieve pelvic blockages. Its antispasmodic properties relax the smooth muscles and thus help alleviate menstrual cramps. Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Healing for Women (1993)

Jasmine oil For: Menstrual pain
Profile	Jasmine relieves uterine spasm and menstrual pain Robert B Tisserand, The Art of Aromatherapy (1977)

Kava-Kava For: Stress, menstrual cramps
Profile	Phytochemicals called kavaloactones provide kava's gentle stress-beating, muscle-relaxing influence. Kava also possesses a curious affinity for the genitourinary tract, especially in women, it relaxes the uterus, making it notably helpful against menstrual cramps. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Lemon balm - Melissa For: Period pain
Profile	An important medicinal use of lemon balm is to promote menstrual periods and ease period pain. Richard Mabey, The New Age Herbalist (1988)

Motherwort For: Menstrual cramps
Profile	Excellent remedy for menstrual cramps especially those accompanied by scanty menses. Not generally recommended for cramps in heavy bleeding. Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Healing for Women (1993)

Myrrh resin For: Gums, teeth, amenorrhoea
Profile	It (myrrh) is used in chronic catarrh, phthisis pulmonalis, chlorosis, and in amenorrhoea is often combined with aloes and iron. As a wash it is good for spongy gums, ulcerated throat and aphthous stomatitis, and the tincture is also applied to foul and indolent ulcers. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Volume 2 (1931)

Partridgeberry For: Childbirth, Uterine Tonic
	Partridge berry is a North American evergreen used in Native Amercian medicine and Western traditional herbalism as a tonic for women. The leaves and stems are used in teas, often in combination with raspberry and crampbark to tone the uterus, prepare for childbirth. This herb is also used to help relieve painful menstruation, and PMS water bloating. Pregnant women should use with caution, under the advice of a qualified herbalist. . Partridgeberry Herb Profile. (), Mountain Rose Herbs

Rosemary oil For: Uterine spasms,menstrual cramps
Profile	Antioxidant compounds in rosemary prevent uterine spasms and menstrual cramps - use either rosemary infused oil, or the essential oil in massages and baths

Wild Yam For: endometriosis
Profile	It is also known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties and will decrease menstrual pain as well as inflammation associated with endometriosis that leads to scar tissue.

Wild yam For: Cramps, pain and nausea
Profile	Antispasmodic. Perhaps the best relief and promptest cure for bilious colic, especially helpful in the nausea of pregnant women. Valuable also in painful cholera morbus with cramps, neuralgic affections, spasmodic hiccough and spasmodic asthma. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Volume 2 (1931)

Willow bark (Salix) For: Cramps
Profile	Willow bark (Salix) tincture is as effective as aspirin in relieving cramps, but less likely to cause flooding. Best in vinegar. (tincture). Susun Weed, New Menopausal Years, The Wise Woman Way (2002)

Yarrow For: menstrual cramps, Bleeding
Profile	Yarrow helps to stop bleeding and counters inflammation and tissue swelling. Some of yarrow's phytochemicals ease muscle spasms, making it useful in menstrual cramps. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000)

Dysmenorrhea Information

• Menopause :
  Herbs containing or acting like estrogen may provide some of the benefits of estrogen in relieving menopausal symptoms.
• Pregnancy :
  The herbs used for pregnancy are the same herbs that have been used by midwives for centuries.
• PMS :
  The effects of PMS range from mild to devastating an include edema,depression, tension, cramps, cravings, and more.
• Women's Tonics :
  A healthy, functioning liver is an important part of hormone production and hormonal balance is an important factor in PMS, menopause, regulating menses, and maintaining a healthy libido.
• Menorrhagia :
  Heavy menstrual bleeding, clotting or irregular bleeding are come under the heading of menorrhagia.
• Osteoporosis :
  Although osteoporosis can affect both men and women, it is more prevalent in women, especially women who have gone through menopause and have lower levels of bone protecting estrogen in their bodies.
• Amenorrhea :
  Herbs that bring on menstrual flow when there is delayed menstruation --for whatever reason--are known as emmenagogues.
• Candida/Yeast Infection :
  Women may be more susceptible to vaginal yeast infections if they are pregnant or have diabetes. Candidiasis is an infection caused by species of Candida fungi, especially Candida albicans.
• Childbirth :
  These herbs can be used in the last few days of pregnancy to help open the womb and ensure an easier childbirth.