Menorrhagia - Supplements

A heavier than normal period can be difficult to deal with and may signal other health issues. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.

Add some A
To help normalize menstrual blood loss, take 50,000 IU of vitamin A each day, for no more than 15 days
Keep an eye on iron
Take a blood test to find out if you need iron supplements to replace lost iron and help prevent further bleeding
Make time for a checkup
Visit your healthcare provider to find out if your menorrhagia is caused by a treatable medical condition

Also indexed as:

heavy bleeding,
heavy menstrual periods,
heavy periods,
menorrhagia

About this treatment

What Are "Star" Ratings?

a7_3star Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

a7_2star Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

a7_1star For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Iron (Iron-Deficiency Anemia)	100 to 200 mg daily under medical supervision if deficient	Supplementing with iron decreases excess menstrual blood loss in iron-deficient women who have no other underlying cause for their condition.
Iron 100 to 200 mg daily under medical supervision if deficient Since blood is rich in iron, excessive blood loss can lead to iron depletion. Iron deficiency can be identified with simple blood tests. If an iron deficiency is diagnosed, many doctors recommend 100–200 mg of iron per day, although recommendations vary widely. The relationship between iron deficiency and menorrhagia is complicated. Not only can the condition lead to iron deficiency, but iron deficiency can lead to or aggravate menorrhagia by reducing the capacity of the uterus to stop the bleeding. Supplementing with iron decreases excess menstrual blood loss in iron-deficient women who have no other underlying cause for their condition.¹ ^{, 2} However, iron supplements should be taken only by people who have, or are at risk of developing, iron deficiency. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin A	50,000 IU of vitamin A each day taken under the supervision of a doctor	In one study, women with menorrhagia who took vitamin A showed significant improvement or complete normalization of menstrual blood loss.
Vitamin A 50,000 IU of vitamin A each day taken under the supervision of a doctor In a study of women with menorrhagia who took 25,000 IU of vitamin A twice per day for 15 days, 93% showed significant improvement and 58% had a complete normalization of menstrual blood loss.³ However, women who are or could become pregnant should not supplement with more than 10,000 IU (3,000 mcg) per day of vitamin A. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Black Horehound	Refer to label instructions	Black horehound has been used traditionally for heavy periods.
Black Horehound Cinnamon has been used historically for the treatment of various menstrual disorders, including heavy menstruation.⁴ This is also the case with shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris).⁵ Other herbs known as astringents (tannin-containing plants that tend to decrease discharges), such as cranesbill, periwinkle, witch hazel, and oak, were traditionally used for heavy menstruation. Human trials are lacking, so the usefulness of these herbs is unknown. Black horehound was sometimes used traditionally for heavy periods, though this approach has not been investigated by modern research. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Cinnamon	Refer to label instructions	Cinnamon has been used historically for the treatment of various menstrual disorders, including heavy menstruation.
Cinnamon Cinnamon has been used historically for the treatment of various menstrual disorders, including heavy menstruation.⁶ This is also the case with shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris).⁷ Other herbs known as astringents (tannin-containing plants that tend to decrease discharges), such as cranesbill, periwinkle, witch hazel, and oak, were traditionally used for heavy menstruation. Human trials are lacking, so the usefulness of these herbs is unknown. Black horehound was sometimes used traditionally for heavy periods, though this approach has not been investigated by modern research. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Cranesbill	Refer to label instructions	Astringent herbs such as cranesbill have been traditionally used for heavy menstruation.
Cranesbill Cinnamon has been used historically for the treatment of various menstrual disorders, including heavy menstruation.⁸ This is also the case with shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris).⁹ Other herbs known as astringents (tannin-containing plants that tend to decrease discharges), such as cranesbill, periwinkle, witch hazel, and oak, were traditionally used for heavy menstruation. Human trials are lacking, so the usefulness of these herbs is unknown. Black horehound was sometimes used traditionally for heavy periods, though this approach has not been investigated by modern research. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Flavonoids	Refer to label instructions	Flavonoids protect capillaries (small blood vessels) from damage. In so doing, they might protect against the blood loss of menorrhagia.
Flavonoids Both vitamin C and flavonoids protect capillaries (small blood vessels) from damage. In so doing, they might protect against the blood loss of menorrhagia. In one small study, 88% of women with menorrhagia improved when given 200 mg vitamin C and 200 mg flavonoids three times per day.¹⁰ In another study, 70% of women with excessive menstrual bleeding experienced at least a 50% reduction in bleeding after taking a flavonoid product.¹¹ The preparation used in this study contained 90% diosmin and 10% hesperidin and was given in the amount of 1,000 mg per day, beginning five days prior to the expected start of menstruation and continuing until the end of bleeding for three cycles. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Oak	Refer to label instructions	Astringent herbs such as oak have been traditionally used for heavy menstruation.
Oak Cinnamon has been used historically for the treatment of various menstrual disorders, including heavy menstruation.¹² This is also the case with shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris).¹³ Other herbs known as astringents (tannin-containing plants that tend to decrease discharges), such as cranesbill, periwinkle, witch hazel, and oak, were traditionally used for heavy menstruation. Human trials are lacking, so the usefulness of these herbs is unknown. Black horehound was sometimes used traditionally for heavy periods, though this approach has not been investigated by modern research. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Periwinkle	Refer to label instructions	Astringent herbs such as periwinkle have been traditionally used for heavy menstruation.
Periwinkle Cinnamon has been used historically for the treatment of various menstrual disorders, including heavy menstruation.¹⁴ This is also the case with shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris).¹⁵ Other herbs known as astringents (tannin-containing plants that tend to decrease discharges), such as cranesbill, periwinkle, witch hazel, and oak, were traditionally used for heavy menstruation. Human trials are lacking, so the usefulness of these herbs is unknown. Black horehound was sometimes used traditionally for heavy periods, though this approach has not been investigated by modern research. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Shepherd's Purse	Refer to label instructions	Shepherd’s purse has been used historically for the treatment of various menstrual disorders, including heavy menstruation.
Shepherd's Purse Cinnamon has been used historically for the treatment of various menstrual disorders, including heavy menstruation.¹⁶ This is also the case with shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris).¹⁷ Other herbs known as astringents (tannin-containing plants that tend to decrease discharges), such as cranesbill, periwinkle, witch hazel, and oak, were traditionally used for heavy menstruation. Human trials are lacking, so the usefulness of these herbs is unknown. Black horehound was sometimes used traditionally for heavy periods, though this approach has not been investigated by modern research.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin C	Refer to label instructions	Vitamin C protects capillaries (small blood vessels) from damage. In so doing, it might protect against the blood loss of menorrhagia.
Vitamin C Both vitamin C and flavonoids protect capillaries (small blood vessels) from damage. In so doing, they might protect against the blood loss of menorrhagia. In one small study, 88% of women with menorrhagia improved when given 200 mg vitamin C and 200 mg flavonoids three times per day.¹⁸ In another study, 70% of women with excessive menstrual bleeding experienced at least a 50% reduction in bleeding after taking a flavonoid product.¹⁹ The preparation used in this study contained 90% diosmin and 10% hesperidin and was given in the amount of 1,000 mg per day, beginning five days prior to the expected start of menstruation and continuing until the end of bleeding for three cycles. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin E	Refer to label instructions	In a study of women with menorrhagia associated with the use of an intrauterine device (IUD), supplementing with vitamin E corrected the problem in all cases within ten weeks.
Vitamin E In a study of women with menorrhagia associated with the use of an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control, supplementing with 100 IU of vitamin E every other day corrected the problem in all cases within ten weeks (63% responded within four weeks).²⁰ The cause of IUD-induced menstrual blood loss is different from that of other types of menorrhagia; therefore, it’s possible that vitamin E supplements might not help with menorrhagia not associated with IUD use. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitex	Refer to label instructions	Among women taking vitex, menorrhagia has reportedly improved after taking the herb for several months.
Vitex Among women taking vitex, menorrhagia has reportedly improved after taking the herb for several months.²¹ With its emphasis on long-term balancing of a woman’s hormonal system, vitex is not a fast-acting herb. For frequent or heavy periods, vitex can be used continuously for six to nine months. Forty drops of the concentrated liquid herbal extract of vitex can be added to a glass of water and drunk in the morning. Vitex is also available in powdered form in tablets and capsules. Thirty-five to forty milligrams may be taken in the morning. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Witch Hazel	Refer to label instructions	Astringent herbs such as witch hazel have been traditionally used for heavy menstruation.
Witch Hazel Cinnamon has been used historically for the treatment of various menstrual disorders, including heavy menstruation.²² This is also the case with shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris).²³ Other herbs known as astringents (tannin-containing plants that tend to decrease discharges), such as cranesbill, periwinkle, witch hazel, and oak, were traditionally used for heavy menstruation. Human trials are lacking, so the usefulness of these herbs is unknown. Black horehound was sometimes used traditionally for heavy periods, though this approach has not been investigated by modern research. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

References

Last Review: 05-11-2011

Learn more about Aisle7, the company.

The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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