>Symptoms A heavy period is a period that includes heavy bleeding, or an excessively long duration of bleeding. This conditional is differentiated from uterine bleeding that happens outside the normal menstrual cycle. A heavy period is called menor rhagia (menor = menses, rhagia = excessive flow).

Here are some signs of heavier than normal bleeding:

• Soaking through 1+ tampon/pad every hour for several consecutive hours
• Needing double protection (eg: pad and tampon) to control flow
• Needing to change protection during night
• Bleeding for more than 7days, with clotting larger than a quarter
• Restricting daily activities due to bleeding

Prevalence

Menorrhagia is the most common condition presented to doctors from female patients, affecting 1 in 5 women. Prevalence increases with age, peaking between 30-49 years.

Pathogenesis

There are numerous causes of a heavy period, for example hormonal imbalance (Estrogen dominance). Unopposed estrogen can lead to excess growth / thickening of the uterus. Once the period comes, there will be more material to shed. The cause of estrogen dominance can be excess estrogen, or deficient progesterone.

Alternatively, when capillary beds of the uterus are dilated due to inflammation or other causes, it can lead to heavier bleeding (Pitta type).

Tearing of uterine tissue due to clots, fibroids, polyps, or endometriosis can lead to excessive bleeding. Fibroids are typically due to estrogen dominance in Kapha constitutions. Endometriosis is typically due to estrogen dominance in Vata-Pitta constitutions.

Bleeding may occur during menses, or at irregular times, in the case of polyps or fibroids. When the menstrual cycle is short (<28 days) it may indicate progesterone deficiency in Vata/Pitta. When the menstrual cycle is long (> 28 days), it many indicate estrogen excess in Kapha constitutions.

Causes by Dosha

• Kapha (most common) - Estrogen excess / Clots / Blood stasis (due to estrogen).
• Pitta - Heat, pungency, & prostaglandins lead to poor clotting. A weak liver may be unable to clear estrogen.
• Vata - Progesterone deficiency, Excess ama

Note in the statistics below how Kapha and dense, gooey fluids correlate more highly with menorrhagia. This shows the association of heavy period with blood stasis, which is counterintuitive as most cases of bleeding are excessive blood flow, the opposite of blood stasis.

The paradox is resolved by considering that most cases of heavy bleeding are caused by estrogen dominance. It is the excess estrogen that both aggravates Kapha and heavy bleeding.

Lifestyle Tips

Rest, avoid heavy exercise during your period to prevent excess blood loss.

Herb Tips

Bitters will reduce blood stasis, aid the liver in clearing estrogen, and reduce inflammation (yarrow, dandelion). In the case of a weak liver, alteratives, cholagogues, hepatoprotectives, and liver tonics (bhringaraj) may be selected accordind to the individual. Progesteronic and anti-estrogen herbs will reduce estrogen dominance (Chastetree, ashoka).

Cooling astringents have a hemostatic effect and can help reduce blood flow (shepherd's purse, yarrow).

Avoid vasodilators, diaphoretics, and blood movers while bleeding. However, once bleeding stops, these may be encouraged to reduce blood stasis if present.

Menorrhagia can lead to loss of vitality and tiredness due to anemia. Blood tonics (sesame, nettles, seaweed, ashwagandha, etc) can help rebuild blood.

Disclaimer: Conditions such as 'Heavy Period' that cause tissue changes could be serious and should be checked by a medical doctor.

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COMPUTE MY DIET FOR HEAVY PERIOD
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Augment your diet with these specially chosen ingredients below which may be useful for 'Heavy Period'. Individual results vary depending the cause of your imbalance and by constitution. Please research the ingredients below to find which are most helpful for you, and check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine. Please check with your medical doctor before making any changes to your health & wellness routine, and for the proper use of these products.

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH TIPS

DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.

Everything you eat has an effect on your body, which Ayurveda categorizes in a simple and easy way, using biocharacteristics (gunas). Biocharacteristics are qualities (like cold and hot) that describe the effect a food or herb has on your body. Cooling foods like cucumber, decrease metabolism. Heating foods like chili pepper, stimulate your body and increase metabolism. For 'Heavy Period', you should select foods with the following biocharacteristics. Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance.

Heart & Circulation:

Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Hemostatic

HEMOSTATIC

An herb that stops bleeding.

SEE ALL 'HEMOSTATIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Styptic

STYPTIC

A herb that contracts tissue or blood vessels. Generally styptics are astringent. They are often used topically as a hemostatic to stop bleeding, or to reduce secretions.

SEE ALL 'STYPTIC' FOODS / HERBS

Liver & Gallbladder:

Livotonic

LIVOTONIC

An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.

SEE ALL 'LIVOTONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:

Anti Estrogenic

ANTI-ESTROGENIC

Reduces estrogen, which reduces thickness of the uterus endometrium, pelvic congestive disorders like fibroids, and frequently dysmenorrhea as well.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-ESTROGENIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Progesteronic

PROGESTERONIC

Progeserone is the pregnancy hormone. It raises body temperature (Pitta), and suppresses menstruation. It is generally more extroverted.

SEE ALL 'PROGESTERONIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Uterine Tonic

UTERINE-TONIC

An herb that tonifies and strengthens the uterus. Helpful for menstrual difficulties and fertility. Often herbs that increase ojas, but also circulation to reproductive system.

SEE ALL 'UTERINE-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Other:

Reproductive Health

Constituents:

Aromatase Inhibitor

AROMATASE-INHIBITOR

Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen.

SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS

Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

HOW TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE #3

HEAVY PERIOD IS IN STAGE OF DISEASE #3 - ATTACKING TISSUE

If you have symptoms in this category it means that your imbalances are becoming stronger and weakening your body's resistance. Most people have a weakness in one or more organs. These areas of weakness are the 'weak link in the chain.' They are first to succumb when an imbalance reaches a tipping point. Repairing imbalances in this category often represent your last opportunity to prevent disease. At any moment, these imbalances could overwhelm weakened tissue and develop into a disease. You may feel pain or discomfort in the weakened area. At this stage you will need to support the weakened tissue with specialized foods and herbs for the weakened tissue. (See all disease stages on JB)

GET MY FREE AYURVEDA BODY MAP According to Ayurveda, one or more of the following doshas and biocharacteristics may aggravate 'Heavy Period'. If you have an excess of one of these doshas or biocharacteristics below, Ayurveda recommends reducing foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate them. Click on the biocharacteristic to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be reduced.

Are you prone to a problem with 'Heavy Period'? Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Reproductive System by taking the free reproductive health quiz:

TAKE THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH QUIZ

The following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Heavy Period'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them. On average the biocharacteristics of people reporting Heavy Period were less aggravated than 62% of other symptoms. From the 11,000 people who reported Heavy Period in this research study of 74,671 individuals, average deviation in biocharacteristic levels were the following:

Risk Factors of Heavy Period

Complications of Those Reporting Heavy Period

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