Dosage: One to two Retone capsules can help to reduce your menstruation-related disorders. Pregnant and lactating women should not take this herbal supplement without consulting the physician.

The health of the female reproductive organs determines the health of the woman to a great extent. If this system is imbalanced it affects the whole body through the hormonal system. The hormones then affect the emotions and psychology of the woman. It is very important for a woman to learn what her options are in self-care. It is not normal for a woman to have painful menstruation and strong PMS systoms. These problems can be corrected 90 percent of the time with herbs

Menstruation is a complex process that is regulated by different hormones. A woman is born with a specific number of eggs housed in the two ovaries. Usually a single egg matures in each menstrual cycle. The mature egg then detaches from the ovary and travels through the Fallopian tube, into the uterus. While the egg matures in the ovary, the endometrium or the lining of the uterus thickens to accommodate the fertilized egg. A woman conceives when the mature egg is fertilized by a sperm. The fertilized egg then attaches to the endometrium, and pregnancy ensues. If the egg is not fertilized, the endometrium sheds, and menstruation occurs. The menstrual discharge is made up of the endometrial tissues and fresh blood. In normal menstrual bleeding, the body loses less than 80ml blood.

In medical jargon, excessive menstrual bleeding is known as menorrhagia. A woman is said to suffer from menorrhagia if she loses more than 80ml of menstrual blood during each menstrual period. In some cases, the exact cause of menorrhagia is unknown. In others, hormonal imbalance could cause heavy bleeding. Menorrhagia might be a sign of absence of ovulation. Progesterone is not secreted in the absence of ovulation. The development of endometrium during the menstrual cycle is influenced by the activities of estrogen and progesterone. Absence of ovulation triggers hormonal imbalance, leading to excess bleeding. Excessive menstrual bleeding might be a symptom of uterine fibroids. These benign growths prolong menstrual bleeding. Heavy menstrual bleeding and painful periods might occur if the endometrium glands are embedded in the muscles of the uterus. Women who use intrauterine device as a birth control tool might experience heavy menstrual bleeding. Heavy menstrual bleeding could be a sign of miscarriage. Women with blood coagulation disorders might experience heavy bleeding during periods owing to deficiency of blood-clotting factors. Intake of anticoagulants might increase bleeding during periods. Anti-inflammatory medication could also prolong menstrual bleeding.

Irregular menstrual periods or absence of menstruation is known as amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea. Amenorrhea could be normal part of a women’s life. Menopause is a natural cause of amenorrhea. Menstruation ceases naturally during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Oral contraceptive pills might disrupt the normal menstrual cycle by inhibiting ovulation. After stopping the birth control pills, the normal menstrual cycle might resume after four to six months. Amenorrhea might be triggered by excessive emotional stress. Rigorous workouts might interrupt the menstrual cycle. It might even occur in women whose body weight is excessively low. Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia are common causes of amenorrhea. Irregular periods are often related to hormonal imbalance. Polycystic ovary syndrome might trigger hormonal imbalance. Menstrual irregularities are caused by underactive or overactive thyroid gland. Tumor in the pituitary gland might alter the hormonal balance in the body. Amenorrhea could also be a sign of premature menopause.

Polymenorrhea is characterized by frequent menstrual periods. In polymenorrhea more than one period occurs in each calendar period. Very small amount of menstrual bleeding is known as hypomenorrhea.

Supplement Facts

Serving Size: 1 Capsule

Saraca asoca (Ashoka): The bark of the Saraca asoca or Saraca indica tree contains estrogen like plant compounds. In Ayurvedic texts, the bark of the Ashoka tree is recommended for managing menorrhagia, leucorrhea and uterine bleeding.

Aloe vera (Kumari): Aloe helps to stimulate ovulation. Studies suggest that aloe could be beneficial for women suffering from infertility owing to anovulation. By regulating ovulation, aloe might provide relief from irregular menstruation. (Nandanwar YS, Shinde AA, Mayadeo NM. “Induction of ovulation.” J Postgrad Med. 1999 Jul-Sep;45(3):79-80).

Mesua ferrea (Nagkeshar): The estrogen and progestin like compounds in Mesua ferrea might help to correct hormonal imbalance, which is an important cause of menstrual disorders. (Meherji PK, Shetye TA, Munshi SR, Vaidya RA, Antarkar DS, Koppikar S, Devi PK. “Screening of Mesua ferrea (Nagkesar) for estrogenic & progestational activity in human & experimental models.” Indian J Exp Biol. 1978 Aug;16(8):932-3).

Ferula narthex (Asafetida): Asafetida could help to reduce primary dysmenorrhea or pain that occurs during menstrual bleeding. (Ostad SN, Soodi M, Shariffzadeh M, Khorshidi N, Marzban H. “The effect of fennel essential oil on uterine contraction as a model for dysmenorrheal, pharmacology and toxicology study.” J Ethnopharmacol. 2001 Aug;76(3):299-305).

Carum copticum (Ajwain): The analgesic effect of Carum copticum might help reduce lower abdominal pain during menstrual periods. (Dashti-Rahmatabadi MH, Hejazian SH, Morshedi A, Rafati A. “The analgesic effect of Carum copticum extract and morphine on phasic pain in mice.” J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Jan 19;109(2):226-8).

Symplocos racemosa (Lodhra): In the traditional Indian system of medicine, Symplocos racemosa is recommended for managing gynecological disorders. Intake of the herb boosts secretion of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Elevated levels of FSH and LG help to improve fertility by stimulating folliculogenesis. (Bhutani KK, Jadhav AN, Kalia V. “Effect of Symplocos racemosa Roxb. on gonadotropin release in immature female rats and ovarian histology.” J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Sep;94(1):197-200).

Myristica fragrans (nutmeg): Myristica fragrans is recommended in traditional medicine for reducing painful periods.

Asparagus racemosus (Satavari): The antioxytocic effect of Asparagus racemosus might help to reduce dysmenorrhea. (Gaitonde BB, Jetmalani MH. “Antioxytocic action of sapopin isolated from Asparagus racemosus Willd (Shatavari) on uterine muscle.” Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1969 May;179(1):121-9).

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha): Development of new blood vessels or angiogenesis plays an important role in menstrual cycle. Abnormalities in angiogenesis might cause heavy menstrual flow or menorrhagia. Angiogenesis inhibitors present in Withania somnifera might help to overcome menstrual disorders. (Mohan R, Hammers HJ, Bargagna-Mohan P, Zhan XH, Herbstritt CJ, Ruiz A, Zhang L, Hanson AD, Conner BP, Rougas J, Pribluda VS. “Withaferin A is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis.” Angiogenesis. 2004;7(2):115-22).

Menstruation is associated with unpleasant symptoms. It some women, menstrual periods are accompanied by abdominal pain, vaginal pain, stomach cramps, sweating, nausea, fatigue and diarrhea. Pain or primary dysmenorrhea experienced during periods occurs due to contraction of the uterus or the dilation of the cervix. Painful periods usually occur in the teenage up to early adulthood. It decreases with age, and usually stops after a woman gives birth. It might be hereditary.

Painful periods could be reduced through regular exercises. Moderate workouts help to strengthen the abdominal muscles, which would ease contraction of the uterus and cervix while eliminating the endometrial tissues during periods. Workouts could also help to reduce stress. Excess stress is frequently blamed for menstruation disorders. Yoga and Tai Chi that help to balance the mind and the body could alleviate discomfort during menstrual periods.

To reduce pain, you can place a warm water bottle or a warm damp towel against the lower abdomen. By keeping the abdomen warm, you can get rid of the bothersome pain naturally. Castor oil packs could be used for reducing painful periods. Lightly massage the abdomen with castor oil and cover the abdomen with a soft cloth or towel. Now place a heat pad over the towel for about 30 to 60 minutes. A warm shower can also reduce the physical discomfort.

Women prone to painful periods should consume enough calcium rich foods. By improving muscle movement, calcium helps to reduce menstrual pain. A menstruating woman needs about 500 to 1000mg of calcium daily. Milk, dairy, green leafy vegetables, almonds and beans are rich sources of calcium. Vitamin D deficiency inhibits calcium absorption. A vitamin D supplement containing 400IU of the vitamin might help to meet your daily minimum vitamin D requirement. Menstrual cramps and pain might be reduced by consuming magnesium rich spinach, pumpkin seeds, soybeans, sesame seeds and beans. By meeting your daily minimum vitamin E requirement, you can prevent menstrual pain. Seeds, nuts, whole grains, olive, papaya, green leafy vegetables and blueberries are the best sources of this powerful antioxidant vitamin. Omega-3 fatty acids could also ease menstrual bleeding. Fatty fish is the richest source of these essential fats that reduce pain and discomfort primarily by reducing the underlying inflammation.

Stay away from caffeine and alcohol during the menstrual periods. Drink enough water. Limit consumption of red meats, added sugar and refines carbohydrates. Saturated fats are also harmful for your health.

Heavy menstrual bleeding increases the risk of iron-deficit anemia. Packing your meals with iron rich food would protect you from iron deficiency. Liver, red meat, seafood, beans, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, nuts and egg yolk are rich sources of iron.

FOR a woman, regular menstruation occurring without any noticeable pain, tension or emotional disturbance is a sign of good health. However, many women suffer some difficulties with menstruation at one time or another. Medically called dysmenorrhoea, painful menses or menstrual cramps have been described in ayurveda as “kashtartava”. This condition is classified into two groups - primary and secondary. The primary dysmenorrhoea may be existing from the onset of the menstruation and the secondary one due to some physical cause of later origin.

Modern health scientists think that primary menstrual cramps are caused by a physiological substance called prostaglandin, resulting in painful contractions and vasoconstriction of the uterine muscles. This phenomenon is stimulated by another hormone known as progesterone, which is produced by the ovaries after ovulation has occurred. The secondary dysmenorrhoea, apart from including the effects of these hormones, may result due to uterine infections, intra-uterine contraceptive devices, swellings and some other underlying diseases.

According to ayurvedic perceptions, “apan vayu” is said to be the governing force of the menstrual flow and any vitiation of it due to a wrong diet and improper activities can lead to problems related to the periods. Menstrual cramps are more common among young and adolescent girls and women reaching menopause, and these may range to be mild, moderate or severe. In many girls they are incapacitating enough to make it to be the single most cause of absenteeism from school or the working place.

The symptoms of dysmenorrhoea may begin two or three days before the menses and peak on the first day and then gradually recede. The pain is typically described as dull, aching or cramping involving areas of the lower back, lower abdomen and the groins. The other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation, abdominal bloating, headache, restlessness and fainting. In secondary menstrual cramps, the pain may have its onset a week or more before the starting of the periods and continues after a few days of the cessation of the flow.

The ayurvedic approach to treat dysmenorrhoea revolves around taking measures to alleviate the vitiated “vata”. Adequate rest and hot bottle fomentation help reducing the muscular spasms and stiffness. Turmeric, ginger, ajwain, hing, nutmeg and jatamansi are some of the antispasmodic and muscle relaxing herbs which are given by grannies to the young girls in Indian homes to treat the menstrual cramps. To prevent indigestion, bloating, nausea and vomiting the patient should be given a light diet, and proper care and reassurance additionally support to control the psychological symptoms like palpitation, anxiety and restlessness.

Kaishore Guggul and Pushyanug Churna are the best classic ayurvedic remedies where there is an intra-uterine pathology. Rajaprivartini Vati, Kumaryasva and Dashmool Qwath, if started from the mid-cycle, enhance the flow and are prescribed where scanty periods are associated with the cramps. The famous Chandraprabha Vati and Ashokarishta more or less act as tonics for the uterus and can be given to all the patients of dysmenorrhoea whether it is of primary or secondary origin.

Adopting a regular walk and mild exercise regime after the cessation of menstruation is also good for relaxing the muscles of the pelvis and the lower back. Certain yoga postures like suryanamaskar, dhanurasna, pavanmuktasna and paschimottanasna are especially beneficial for the female genital tract. The women who exercise regularly find that continued participation in their usual activities helps relieve the cramps in a natural way.