Causes of Amenorrhea and Natural Remedies for Amenorrhea

Natural Therapies and Healing
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Causes

Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. Primary amenorrhea is when menstruation does not occur by the age of 16 or 17. Secondary amenorrhea is when menstruation has begun but later stops (for at least 3 months).

Amenorrhea during menopause, pregnancy, and lactation are normal. Natural remedies for amenorrhea are not necessary for these causes. In fact, some can cause serious complications in women who are pregnant. If pregnant or breastfeeding, you should always consult with your health care provider before taking natural remedies.

Causes of amenorrhea include:

Weight

Women who are greatly underweight or overweight are at risk of not having their periods. Maintaining a healthy weight should correct this problem.

Diet

Women of normal or close to normal weight can also experience amenorrhea if proper intake of protein, fat, and other vital nutrients are not consumed. Eating a healthy diet (including good fats) normally brings on menstruation when the diet is poor.

Stress

Excessive stress increases cortisol (adrenal hormone) which has been linked to low levels of reproductive hormones and can be a cause of amenorrhea. Reducing stress and trying one of the natural remedies for amenorrhea recommended below can be very helpful in correcting this problem.

Other causes include:

  • extreme exercises (like bodybuilding)
  • health problems (such as anemia, diabetes, and disorders of the ovaries, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland)
  • certain birth control methods (like Depo-Provera)
  • discontinuing birth control (may take a while for a normal menstrual cycle to return)

Natural Remedies

• Drink 3-4 cups of ginger tea throughout the day. This will help stimulate the onset of menstruation and can also help relieve menstrual cramps.

• Fresh beets and beet juice are excellent natural remedies for amenorrhea. They can help bring on and regulate menstruation. Have about 3 cups of beets and/or juice each day until your period starts.

• Blue cohosh is a popular emmenagogue (an agent that promotes menstrual discharge) that was used by the Native Americans to treat amenorrhea. It stimulates contractions and promotes blood flow to the pelvis.

• Mother wort is also an emmenagogue and can calm the central nervous system and stimulate pelvic contractions.

Other natural remedies for amenorrhea include:

  • angelica
  • parsley
  • alfalfa seed
  • lemon balm
  • yarrow
  • asafetida
  • marigold
  • rue

Prolonged amenorrhea can lead to osteoporosis. This is not a threat when the causes of amenorrhea are associated with pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Disclaimer

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