Painful periods: when herbal teas relieve

When we suffer from dysmenorrhea - or more simply from painful periods - we are interested in everything that can relieve us. But the anti-inflammatories cause damage in the long term and may even prove to be ineffective. What if we switched to plants to do good? Here are 3 herbal tea recipes to relieve pain during this period of the cycle.

Period pain: ginger during the day

Ginger is well known for its toning virtues or for its action against sore throats or nausea. It is even credited with aphrodisiac properties. But little is known that this root native to Southeast Asia has anti-inflammatory properties. It is also anti-spasmodic and fights against abdominal cramps. This makes ginger a powerful ally against pain that precedes or accompanies menstruation.
To take advantage of its benefits, you will find ginger infusions already ready on the market, but the ideal is to buy a fresh rhizome (in the vegetable section of the supermarket or at the greengrocer) and make your own herbal tea.

Homemade ginger tea recipe

Peel a piece of fresh ginger and grate it in a bowl to obtain the equivalent of 3 good tablespoons. Then pour them into half a liter of boiling water, turn off the heat and leave to infuse for 15 to 45 minutes depending on whether or not you like the spiciness of the ginger. Filter, and drink your herbal tea hot or cold throughout the day, preferably outside the evenings because ginger is stimulating.

Valerian in the evening

Valerian, also known as catnip or cure-all, is also an anti-spasmodic and calms uterine contractions during menstruation. As well as migraines. And the Greeks used it already in Antiquity to calm nervous agitation and sleep disorders. Valerian will also help you sleep well during your period . Concoct yourself a good herbal tea from this magical plant and put on your menstrual panties to have a sweet night!

Homemade valerian infusion recipe

At the herbalist, get some dried valerian root. Pour 3 grams, the equivalent of a teaspoon, into 250 ml of boiling water. Leave to infuse for at least ten minutes to take advantage of its active substances, and filter. The taste of valerian is not really pleasant, that is its only fault. To mask it, add verbena, honey or why not a drop of milk, all three of which promote calm.

The lady's mantle in case of heavy periods

The lady's mantle is a pretty medicinal plant from Europe that was used in the past for rather special reasons. It was thought that its astringent properties had the power to strengthen the female genitalia. Some women then used it to pass themselves off as virgins before a wedding, hence its other name of Ladies' Coat. Today we use lady's mantle to reduce the flow of heavy periods because it stimulates the production of progesterone. And yes. If we lack this hormone - produced during the second part of our menstrual cycle - we generally have heavier bleeding and more tense breasts.
You can grow lady's mantle on a balcony or in a garden, as it is hardy and undemanding. But you will easily find ready-made herbal teas in organic stores, or in bulk to make a homemade infusion!

Homemade lady's mantle herbal tea recipe

To prepare a decoction of lady's mantle against gynecological disorders, simply infuse 7 grams of dried leaves in 250 ml of boiling water, then strain.
Be careful, at high doses any plant can cause undesirable effects (eg ginger side, irritate the stomach). Do not exceed 4 cups per day. If in doubt, talk to your doctor.

By Elise