4 Best Herbs for Women & How to Take Each

Bothered by mood swings? Did your last business presentation include a demo of hot flashes? Do you long to fall asleep? If any of these statements speak to you, then it’s time to get familiar with a few female-friendly florae that can help these and other symptoms fade.

Despite your best efforts to carry on a healthy lifestyle, you may need to give your body a little something extra to manage the effects of your menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopause. Keep reading our list of the best herbs for women’s health and wellness.

ADVERSE MENSTRUAL AND MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS

Grey hairs and wrinkles are inevitable, but aging presents a variety of signs beyond our appearance as we grow older. Men and women experience various changes and varying symptoms when passing into middle age. Mood swings, hot flashes and disruption of normal sleeping patterns are just a few indications of the changes you are experiencing.

Black cohosh has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy for menstrual pain and symptoms related to menopause, including mood swings, hot flashes and insomnia. In Europe, the herb is approved for medical use by the German E Commission and has been widely prescribed for women for decades.

Black cohosh contains several compounds responsible for its pharmacological effects, including isoferulic acids, glycosides and phytoestrogens. In addition to easing symptoms associated with menstruation and menopause, black cohosh may also combat inflammation in osteoarthritis and help to prevent bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis.

HOW TO TAKE BLACK COHOSH

If you’re wondering, “how much black cohosh should I take,” here are some quick options to consider:

• Tincture: 2–4 ml, up to 3 times per day, taken in water or tea
• Decoction: 1 teaspoon of Black Cohosh, let it simmer for 10–15 minutes; drink 3–4 cups daily. Make a large batch ahead of time and refrigerate for 48 hours. Add peppermint, licorice or stevia for flavor.

If you are looking where to buy black cohosh, Herb Co. offers a variety of bulk purchase options available for those looking to add black cohosh to their daily regimen.

PMS, MENSTRUAL PAIN

Premenstrual syndrome leading to menstrual pain can be frustrating to deal with. From headaches to breast tenderness to abdominal pain, physical symptoms of your period can keep you from feeling like yourself. One study found over 90% of women have experienced some form of PMS. Just because these symptoms are common doesn’t mean that you can’t manage them with herbs.

So, what is Chaste berry used for? Chaste berry, more commonly known as vitex, is traditionally used to reduce unpleasant feelings related to menstruation, such as cramps, irritability, mood swings and headache.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, several studies show that this herb may enhance mood and deter headache and breast tenderness. One study published in the April 2010 issue of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reported that a double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in China showed that 64 out of 67 participating women experienced significant relief from 17 PMS-related symptoms, especially insomnia.

HOW TO TAKE CHASTE TREE

If you’re wondering, “how much black cohosh should I take,” here are some quick options to consider:

• Tincture: 3–4 ml before breakfast. How to make a tincture: Place Chaste Berry in a large mason jar or lidded glass jar. Pour 2 cups of vodka over the dried herbs and secure the lid. Place the jar in a dark place for 4–6 weeks, gently shaking the jar once or twice each day. Strain and discard the herb, leaving you with the medical liquid.
• Encapsulate Chaste Berry Powder: 20–40 mg daily

CAUTIONS TO TAKING CHASTE TREE

Due to potential estrogenic effects, do not take this herb during pregnancy, while nursing or if you have a history of endometriosis or hormone-driven cancer. This herb may also interfere with birth control medications and dopamine agonists used to treat Parkinson’s disease.

MIGRAINES

Headaches and migraines can stop you dead in your tracks. One study found that roughly 1 out of every 6 Americans self-reported experiencing a migraine or severe headache within three months of data collection. Women were nearly twice as likely as men to experience a severe headache or migraine. This may be due to hormonal activity during the menstrual cycle. When preparing for your period, your body’s estrogen level drops, which can lead to migraines in the days before and during your period.

What is feverfew used for? Feverfew is used for naturally managing headaches. Feverfew contains several sesquiterpene lactones, most notably parthenolide. These agents produce helpful anti-inflammatory effects by blocking anti-IgE-induced histamine release from mast cells, as histamines can induce migraines.

The compounds in feverfew also inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, block platelet granule secretion and reduce spasm and constriction in vascular smooth muscle, which makes up the walls of most blood vessels. Spasming and constricting blood vessels can cause throbbing pain.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the American Botanical Council and the Physicians’ Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines, feverfew may reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches.

HOW TO TAKE FEVERFEW

If you’re wondering how to make feverfew tea, here’s a quick recipe to consider:

• Capsules: 200-250 mg daily of the dried leaf or powder can be encapsulated
• Infusion: Up to 3 cups per day, prepared as tea—add peppermint or licorice for flavor

If you are looking where to buy feverfew, Herb Co. offers a variety of bulk purchase options available for those looking to add feverfew into their daily regimen.

CAUTIONS FOR TAKING FEVERFEW

What medications interact with feverfew? People who take blood-thinning medications should not use feverfew due to an increased risk of bleeding. You should also not use feverfew if you take Retin-A because compounds in the herb increase photosensitivity. If you have a known allergy to other plants in the daisy family, you may experience an allergic reaction to feverfew. Do not take it during pregnancy.

NAUSEA, HEARTBURN, DIARRHEA

While you can experience nausea, heartburn and diarrhea for a variety of reasons, pregnancy can lead to all three of these symptoms. According to the Cleveland Clinic, morning sickness can affect up to 70% of pregnant women in the first trimester of their pregnancy. These symptoms can be linked to hormonal changes associated with pregnancy.

Does ginger help with nausea? Is ginger good for acid reflux? Yes, ginger is a great counter to nausea, vomiting and acid reflux/indigestion associated with pregnancy. The antiemetic properties of this plant are due to the presence of Gingerols and shogaols, two major compounds in ginger, found in the root.

Unlike other anti-nausea medications, ginger compounds act locally rather than on the central nervous system. While ginger may not address the hormonal changes related to pregnancy, it can address digestive issues caused by these hormone changes. Specifically, these chemicals increase the flow of saliva, gastric secretions and bile while reducing gastric contractions. One ginger compound, galanolactone, appears to block the activity of serotonin at receptor sites, which reduces smooth muscle contraction.

HOW TO TAKE GINGER

If you’re wondering how to make ginger tea, here is a recipe to consider:

• Use freely in cooking (fresh or dried)
• Tea: 1 teaspoon of herb per cup of water, simmer gently for 10 minutes, strain and enjoy, prepared as tea
• Capsules: 100-500 mg, powdered root

If you are looking where to buy ginger root, Herb Co. offers a variety of bulk purchase options available for those looking to add ginger to their daily regimen.

CAUTIONS FOR CONSUMING GINGER

Do not take ginger if you have a history of gallstones or take anti-platelet or anti-coagulant medications. This herb is generally considered safe in therapeutic dosages during pregnancy but check with your doctor first.

SUMMARY & QUICK REFERENCE TO BEST 4 HERBS FOR WOMEN

Don’t let the side effects of your menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopause keep you from feeling your best. Consider the following top four excellent herbs to give your body a well-deserved healthy boost:

1. Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa, formerly Cimicifuga racemosa)
2. Chaste Berry (V. agnus castus)
3. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
4. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

If you want to learn more, we’ve put together a collection of over 30 female-friendly herbs that specifically support women’s wellness.

Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, prevent or treat any disease. If you have a chronic condition, are taking prescription or over-the-counter medications or are pregnant or nursing, do not add herbal medicines to your treatment regimen without consulting a qualified health care practitioner. The University of Maryland Medical Center and the Physicians’ Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines (Thomas Brendler, et al., 2007) provide the dosage information for this article.