Having a late menstrual cycle can be frustrating. Whether you believe you might be pregnant or you dislike experiencing irregular periods, bringing on your menstrual cycle can consume your daily life. There are a variety of things you can do, including turning to herbal remedies, that can encourage menstrual bleeding and regulate your period. Herbalists swear by emmenagogues, or herbs that can help you induce menstrual bleeding.
Yarrow
Ingesting yarrow can help you with a range of menstrual maladies, including encouraging your menstrual cycle. The University of Maryland Medical Center website says that this herb, popular in European folk medicine, relaxes smooth muscles in your uterus, which can cause miscarriage and bring on the menstrual cycle. Additionally, yarrow can help you relieve menstrual cramps and, in the right dosage, can help ease heavy menstrual bleeding. The University of Maryland Medical Center website indicates that yarrow tea can be taken three times per day by combining 1 to 2 tsp. of dried yarrow with 1 cup boiling water or 1 to 4 mL of yarrow extract three times daily. The website also reports that yarrow can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and cites animal research that indicates taking yarrow can result in abnormal sperm and reduced fetal weight. Pregnant women should not take yarrow. Scientific studies have not been undertaken to prove yarrow's effectiveness for bringing on your menstrual period.
Feverfew
Taking feverfew may help bring on your menstrual cycle. Drugs.com says that this herb has traditionally found use to induce menstruation, regulate menstrual disorders and cause miscarriages. The website recommends that you eat two to three fresh or dried leaves on a daily basis to experience the effects of feverfew. Feverfew can also be taken as a tea by mixing boiling water with 1 tsp. of dried feverfew. Do not take feverfew if you are pregnant due to its ability to encourage menstruation and induce miscarriage or abortion. Drugs.com says that some people report adverse side effects -- stop taking feverfew if you develop sores in your mouth, loss of taste or swollen lips. No scientific data exists to prove feverfew's effectiveness for inducing menstrual bleeding.
Rosemary
Rosemary, a common garden herb, can help you encourage your menstrual flow. This small shrub is one of the oldest known medicinal herbs, according to Drugs.com, and one of its traditional uses includes bringing on menstrual bleeding and inducing abortion. You can safely take rosemary for other medicinal uses at a dose of 4 to 6g per day, and rosemary oil extracts should be limited to 0.1 to 1mL per day. If you typically experience heavy periods, avoid using rosemary, according to the Herbal Musings website. Pregnant women and those with heavy periods can use small amounts of rosemary in cooking as small doses of rosemary will not encourage bleeding or miscarriage. There is no scientific evidence to prove that rosemary effectively brings on menstrual bleeding.
