Painful and heavy periods, as well as irregular bleeding and pre menstrual syndrome (PMS) are among the most common complaints for which I see women for homeopathic treatment. Each woman’s experience is different, but most find that homeopathy provides relief – reducing pain and emotional extremes, and restoring their natural cycle.
Because your menstrual cycle is deeply connected to your overall health and sense of well being, constitutional treatment with an experienced homeopath is recommended, and especially so if your period is attended by intense pain and cramps, excessively heavy bleeding, fainting, headaches and mood swings (including depression), among other symptoms. You are welcome to get in touch with me here to talk about how I can help you.
Below are seven remedies which are commonly used to treat period pains, and attendant menstrual symptoms. Self treatment is a good option if you are otherwise healthy and do not have significant or debilitating menstrual symptoms, and the problem is mostly physical and occasional or mild. If one of these remedies matches your symptoms well, you should in most cases experience some relief.
Mag phos – this is my number one remedy for painful periods. If the pain is better for heat (eg a hot water bottle or hot bath), and also for firm abdominal pressure and doubling up, then Mag phos will very likely help. The pain and cramping may start before the period, and ease a little when the flow starts.
Chamomilla – if the period pain is extremely intense and distressing, with great irritability, then Chamomilla will usually provide relief. In addition, Chamomilla is one of the main remedies for vomiting, diarrhoea and fainting during the period. The pain may extend down the thighs. One of the main indications for this remedy in menstrual problems is the excessive pain with irritability – the intensity of it makes them bad tempered and snappish.
Nux vomica – this remedy will provide relief in cases where the emphasis is on painful cramps. The cramps may be intense and spread to the rest of the body. Symptoms are typically better after a bowel movement, and worse for pressure (in contrast to Mag phos), and better for loosening clothing across the abdomen. They are also worse for drinking coffee and alcohol. They are prone to mood swings before and during the period, and may be angry and impatient.
Belladonna – this remedy is useful where the period pains are throbbing in character, and come on suddenly and violently. There is often a marked feeling of fullness and pulsation in the region of the uterus, and the symptoms may be worse on the right side. They feel better for bed rest.
Pulsatilla – this remedy will provide relief in cases where the emphasis is on changeability. Pulsatilla is very helpful in mood swings before and during the period, with weepiness or irritability. Period pains may cause weeping or fainting. There is a tendency to flushing, and they feel better for cool fresh air. There may also be headaches before or during the period, which are also better for cool air or cold applications.
Colocynthis – in this remedy there is intense cramping pain which is ameliorated by bending double (or drawing knees up to chest), or by very firm pressure (eg leaning over a hard chair). The pressure of lying flat on the abdomen also provides some relief. The pain is sudden and violent, and may cause screaming or vomiting from the intensity of it.
Viburnum – this remedy has a marked affinity for the female pelvic organs, and is known by herbalists as cramp bark. Where this remedy is indicated, the cramping pain is typically felt in the small of the back and in the thighs, as well as the abdomen. It is worse before and at the beginning of the period, and eases as the flow increases. Pains are felt intensely, and are worse from lying on the left side, and are accompanied by restlessness and irritability.
There are a great many different homeopathic remedies for menstrual problems, and the effectiveness of the treatment is dependent on the accuracy of the remedy match to your symptoms. If you don’t recognise your symptoms in one of the above remedies, or if your menstrual symptoms are severe or long standing, constitutional treatment is advisable. Get in touch with me here if you would like to discuss working with me.
Thank you, for these excelent post!
Best regards,
Ramona-Carmen Ciurdariu
România
I am so pleased to hear you enjoyed the post. Best wishes, Karen
Thank you Karen, they are very helpful!!!!!
Hi Ruth, I am glad to hear this! Best wishes, Karen
Hi
I am 45 with severe period pain and extremely heavy bleeding with large clots at times. I can’t go to work and have no energy, I have been diagnosed with fibroids too but feel chronic stress caused both .. what can I take to help ?
Hi there, homeopathy can often help with this type of symptom picture. It treats the whole person, addressing the specific symptoms from the inside out. Treatment is individualised, and for chronic hormonal issues like this you would need to work with a homeopath. You are welcome to book a free discovery call with me to discuss further: https://karenleadbeater.co.uk/work-with-me/. Best wishes, Karen
Hi
Could you advise on a homeopathic medicine I can try for excessive period pain in abdomen bloating and draining in legs.
Hi Annie, thanks for reaching out regarding your symptoms. Homeopathy works by individually matching a remedy to each person’s whole symptom profile. The symptoms you describe may fit quite a large number of remedies, depending on how you experience them. In the case of chronic hormonal problems such as menstrual difficulties, it is best to work with a homeopath to find the remedies that will help you. Best wishes, Karen
Thank you so much. I’m now 52 and just having a really painful period…surely not many more!? These remedies make complete sense; excellent detailed descriptions.
Many thanks Karen
very helpful. I took belladonna and chamomilla and worked straight instantly.
That’s great to hear, Prema! Best wishes, Karen
What potency please ?
Hi Nishat, 30c is a suitable potency for home use. Take one dose only, repeat if you feel better but then symptoms return. Try no more than three doses if there is no improvement. Good luck and do consider professional treatment if self treatment does not help quickly. Best wishes, Karen
Hello, I have very debilitating periods , I can be in bed for over a day sometimes. They are heavy and have been known to leak through. There are clots at times but not always , I get very irritable and my thighs ache, cramping in the abdomen and back extremely aches, it has been known I get migraines to which I’m bed bound for days . Not always that I have migraines but it’s majority of the time. Migraines can come on before and after period and my breaststroke become enlarged lumpy and very sore. All of these symptoms makes me very exhausted and can be off work around my period to which I have to change alot.of my schedules before my period incase I have a bad one.
My periods are very regular and last upto 7 days , my cycle is around 29 days.
Hope this is the information you need and any help would be great.
Hi Melissa, homeopathy very often helps with menstrual problems, including when they are heavy, painful and accompanied by migraines. You would need to work with a homeopath for a series of appointments to address these issues. The choice of remedies for you rests on your exact experience of the symptoms, and your whole health history. If you would like to consider working with me you can book a free discovery call or an appointment via this link: https://karenleadbeater.co.uk/work-with-me/
Best wishes, Karen
Hi Karen, thanks for this post! What strength do you recommend starting with, specifically with the mag phos for cramping as described? Is 200 or 30 c sufficient or do you recommend going stronger?
Hi Hannah, thanks for your question. I tend to start low and increase potency if needed. Mag phos 6X (cell salt/tissue salt potency) in hot water, sipped regularly, can often really help. Alternatively start with 30c – can also be taken in a glass of water – each sip is a dose. Dose every 30 minutes or so for a few doses. If there is some improvement but it doesn’t hold, it is fine to go up to 200c. Best wishes, Karen