During the course of your monthly menstrual cycle, there may be times when you need to change the timing of your menstruation. When taking birth control pills, this can be managed by changing the order in which you take your pills, according to the Mayo Clinic, but you may also use herbal methods of bringing on menstrual bleeding. Before incorporating any herbal remedies into your diet, please consult your physician.
Parsley
When you need to stimulate your body to menstruate, consider using parsley. Herbalists consider parsley, in use as an herbal remedy since the Middle Ages, a mild emmenagogue, according to Dr. Denice Moffat at Natural Health Techniques. The Sister Zeus website defines this as a substance that provokes menstruation. Apiol, a compound found in parsley, may account for its ability to encourage menstrual bleeding. Natural Health Techniques reveals that apiol plays a role in estrogen, a hormone vital to getting your period. Sister Zeus recommends drinking parsley tea to bring on your period earlier than scheduled. This tea can be consumed two to four times daily until your period occurs. You can also apply parsley vaginally to prepare your cervix for menstruation. No scientific evidence supports tea or vaginal application for this purpose.
Chinese Angelica
Encouraging your body to menstruate can be as simple as taking angelica. This herb, also known as dong quai, has traditionally found use for a variety of gynecological issues, from stimulating contractions to terminating pregnancy. The Herbs2000 website notes that you can use angelica to bring on your menstrual period when eaten raw, in a tea or taken as a tincture. The website indicates that you can safely take angelica at a dosage of 3 to 4 grams per day. Angelica may stimulate menstrual bleeding because of its estrogen-like effects on your body, according to the Mayo Clinic, but little evidence exists to confirm its effectiveness.
Pennyroyal
Pennyroyal, an herb traditionally used to control muscle spasms and increase urine production, can be incorporated into your diet to bring on an early menstrual period. Medline Plus reveals this herbal remedy may effectively start your period as well as regulate your menstrual cycle and cause an abortion. The Sister Zeus website reports that a tea to use as an emmenagogue includes pennyroyal in combination with other herbs, and Henriette's Herbal Homepage recommends rubbing pennyroyal oil on your abdomen, focusing on the areas where your ovaries and uterus reside. No scientific studies confirm that either application will produce menstrual bleeding. Medline Plus recommends avoiding the use of pennyroyal oil as it can cause liver, kidney and central nervous system damage.
