Home Remedies for Amenorrhea
Home remedies for amenorrhea include consumption of herbs such as angelica, blue cohosh, dill, false unicorn, fenugreek, lemon balm, chaste berry, tomato juice, fennel, cinnamon etc. These are some of the very old remedies for not only amenorrhea but also for many other menstrual related problems. The home remedies are easy and do not have any side-effects.
Amenorrhea is a medical condition in which the menstrual cycle in women of reproductive age stops all of a sudden. Amenorrhea must not be confused with menopause. Menopause among women is generally seen during their early fifties. Amenorrhea is not a disease in itself but it is an indication of potential diseases. Amenorrhea has been observed in both teenage girls and middle aged women. In teenage girls, amenorrhea is the delay or failure to attain puberty.
Types of Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea has been divided into two types namely, primary amenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea.
Primary amenorrhea is described as the delay in attaining puberty. Any delay in reaching puberty may mean hormonal imbalances in the body.
Secondary amenorrhea on the other hand, is observed in women who have gone through menstrual cycle in the past. A sudden stop in the menstrual cycle in young and middle-aged women is also of concern.
Women have menstrual cycles regularly when hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries and uterus function properly. Hypothalamus and pituitary glands are responsible for release of hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). These two hormones stimulate the ovaries and the uterus to produce estrogen and progesterone hormones. These two hormones are responsible for menstruation.
Amenorrhea can occur as a result of non-functioning of any of the four hormones which include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) estrogen and progesterone hormones.
What causes Amenorrhea?
Some of the most common causes for amenorrhea include pituitary causes, hypothalamic causes, ovarian causes, functional causes and medication related causes.
Pituitary causes: Pituitary causes are responsible for diseases such as prolactenemia, cushing syndrome, acromegaly, postpartum pituitary necrosis, autoimmune hypophysitis, pituitary radiation, and sarcoidosis.
Hypothalamic causes: Hypothalamic cause of amenorrhea is experienced in women who are on a diet, weight loss and exercise. Hypothalamic amenorrhea has been linked with energy deficiency in women who do regular and heavy work outs regularly and do not replenish their bodies with the required amount of calories. It is responsible for diseases such as craniopharyngioma (brain tumor at the pituitary gland), teratoma (a tumor with a mix of tissues), saricoidosis, kallman syndrome, nutritional deficiency, etc.
Ovarian causes: Ovarian causes which are responsible for amenorrhea include anovulation, hyperandrogenemia, polycystic ovary syndrome, pure gonadal dysgenesis, autoimmune oophoritis, delicate X premutation, galactosemia, intrauterine adhesions, premature ovarian failure, Turner syndrome, imperforate hymen, aplasia, etc.
Functional causes: Functional causes for amenorrhea include anorexia, tuberculosis, malnutrition, psychological issues such as depression, substance abuse, anti-depressant and / or behavior change drug abuse, stress, etc.
Medication induced causes: Amenorrhea has been observed in certain cases of usage of medication. Regular and long term use of medication such as regular contraceptives, hormonal contraceptives induces amenorrhea by stopping the menstruation process.
Symptoms of Amenorrhea
Some of the notable symptoms of amenorrhea include
Galactorrhea: Galactorrhea is a condition in which the process of lactation starts in women who are neither pregnant nor breastfeeding.
Hirsutism: Hirsutism is a condition seen in women who have hair growth similar to adult men. This is caused by a hormone called androgen.
Change in voice: Voice changes in amenorrhea have been observed.
Vaginal dryness: Vaginal dryness is also another symptom for amenorrhea. Vagina is supposed to be wet to prevent bacterial, yeast, fungal and viral infections from taking place in the vagina. The moisture and liquids that are produced are very much acidic in nature. This moisture acts like the second wall of defense against bacterial, fungal and viral infections.
Significant weight gain or weight loss: Women suffering from amenorrhea are known to either gain weight or lose weight. In cases of excess weight gain, insulin resistance has also been observed.
Frequent headaches: Headaches have often been observed in women with amenorrhea.
High anxiety: Anxiety in women with psychiatric issues can be one of the causes of amenorrhea.
Home Remedies for Amenorrhea
Home remedies for amenorrhea include the use of various herbs and substances that are easily available at home.
Angelica sinensis: Angelica sinensis has been traditionally used in labor problems such as delayed birth and in the removal of the placenta after birth. The root of Angelica has also been used in relieving from amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea. Recent scientific research carried out at the University Of Messina, Italy has proved that angelica has significant effect on gynecological problems in women, especially with amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea.
Blue Cohosh: Blue Cohosh is a plant that has been used in traditional medicine such as Ayurveda throughout the world. It is believed that blue cohosh is a very good uterinea and menstruation stimulant. Its phytochemical calulopsonin provides stimulation for blood flow in the pelvic region. Recent scientific study on blue cohosh indicates that it really has the potential to cure amenorrhea and other gynecological diseases.
Dill weed: Dill weed is another herbal plant which has been used traditionally both as medicine and also in cooking. Women who do not have regular periods can take dill and can have periods on a regular basis. For centuries, dill has been used by women in enhancing breast milk.
False Unicorn: False unicorn is also a traditional herb which has been used very often as a medicine for women’s gynecological health. People believed that false unicorn has infertility curing properties. Recent scientific study proved that false unicorn indeed has some infertility curing properties.
Lemon balm: Lemon balm is another herb that has been used historically in the treatment of amenorrhea and other menstrual related problems in women. It promotes menstrual cycle and eases menstrual cramps. It has also been used in amenorrhea related migraines and headaches. Research on lemon balm indicated the centuries old claims were actually true.
Sweet fennel: Sweet fennel is an herb which has a good effect in stimulating menstrual cycle. Sweet fennel has been found to be effective in premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It helps in maintaining optimum fluid balance in the body.
Fenugreek: Fenugreek is considered to be a one-stop solution for many problems faced by women related to menstrual cycle and reproduction. Fenugreek has been used with positive results in milk production, amenorrhea, relief from menstrual cramps and hot flashes, etc.
Chasteberry: Chasteberry is one herb that provides balance of hormones in the body, especially those related to estrogen and progesterone hormones. Hormonal balance is very important in correcting the menstrual cycle. The balance of hormones that chasteberry provides has a role to play in fertility in women.
Tomato Juice: Tomato is another fruit that helps in treating amenorrhea. Taking tomato juice every day is recommended for better results. Even Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of traditional medicine recommends the intake of tomatoes as a remedy for amenorrhea.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a spice originating in Asia. This spice has been traditionally used as a cure for different ailments, one of them being amenorrhea. A report submitted at Alexandria University in Egypt had found that adolescent girls were using spices and herbs and spices for treating amenorrhea and one of them was cinnamon.
Saffron: Saffron is an antioxidant believed to act as a toxin flushing agent in the body. Boiling a pinch of saffron in water, cooling it and taking the water all day is believed to clean up the body internally.
