Lady’s Mantle: Herbal Help for Heavy Periods
Lady’s Mantle
Botanical Name: Alchemilla Vulgaris
Keynote: For Bleeding
Lady’s Mantle is a small cottage garden plant with large scalloped leaves that’s native to central and western Europe, and sometimes also known as Lion's Foot. Historically, the scalloped leaves were thought to look like the pretty scalloped edging of the veil of the Virgin Mary - hence, the origin of the name.
If you had some Lady’s Mantle growing in your herb garden, the first thing you might notice is that the morning dew gathers in sprays of glistening tiny droplets on its surface. The plant’s soft furry leaves grab and hold onto the droplets of moisture - giving us an indication of how it also works in the body.
Lady’s Mantle is very astringent - which means it grabs and dries up moisture. Lady’s Mantle is indeed a very drying herb. It’s also styptic - meaning that it helps bleeding to stop.
This is thought to be because of the high “tannin” content of the herb which you’ll notice if you make a cup of Lady’s Mantle tea.
Lady’s Mantle = Ladies’ Ally
Lady’s Mantle is a premier herb to alleviate “dysmenorrhoea” or heavy periods. It’s wonderfully reliable to lighten up a woman or teenage girl’s monthly flow.
Heavy menstrual bleeding can be very distressing and exhausting for a woman plagued with this ongoing monthly problem.
Along with the loss of an excess of blood comes fatigue, paleness, lethargy and even depression.
Lady’s Mantle as a Herbal Help for Menstrual Periods and Bleeding
In the clinic, a woman suffering from excessive menstrual bleeding will usually have a pale tongue, and pale skin indicating that there is a “blood deficiency” in the body or as modern medicine says “low iron” caused by this ongoing monthly problem.
When our blood supplies are even just a little depleted, the blood flow around the body can show signs of being impinged - especially to the extremities. The hands and feet may be a little tingly. The legs may be cramping during exercise or in the mornings. Plus, during a woman’s monthly period, she may unfortunately experience more uterine cramping and pain.
Any “blood deficiency” in the body may also slightly reduce blood flow up to the head - meaning, that a woman experiencing heavy periods may also notice more frequent headaches, depression, and even hair thinning.
Lady’s Mantle also works as a general uterine tonic promoting more peaceful, less crampy periods. De Bairacil Levy writes that “Lady’s Mantle is used to cure barrenness (infertility) and restore normal menstruation, as well as treat heart ailments and diabetes.” (de Bairacli Levy, 1973).
Other Uses of This Herbal Help
Lady’s Mantle is also helpful for other internal bleeding like colitis and "gastric and duodenal ulcers". It was also commonly used in Sweden for children’s convulsions. (Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, pg.262).
Historically, Lady’s Mantle was also used topically to help stop the blood flow from heavy wounds. The large round leaves of Lady’s Mantle would be directly applied to the skin as a way to stem the blood flow.
Safety with Lady’s Mantle
Lady’s Mantle is astringent to the uterus and shouldn’t be taken during pregnancy or when breastfeeding. In combination with other herbs:
Lady’s Mantle pairs wonderfully with Raspberry Leaf as a general uterine tonic and with Shepherd's Purse for heavy menstrual bleeding.
How to Make “Peaceful Periods Tea”
Having trouble with your monthly flow?
Make this tea and drink one strong cup daily for 7-10 days before your period for a noticeable difference:
“Peaceful Periods Tea”
Ingredients:
1 teaspoons of dried Lady’s Mantle herb
1 teaspoon of dried Raspberry Leaf
1 teaspoon of dried Lemon Balm
Directions:
Place herbs in a small teapot or use a tea ball.
Pour over boiling water.
Let the mixture steep for 10 minutes until strong.
Sweeten with honey to taste.
Enjoy :)
Every woman’s cycle is different—and so is the support she needs.
If heavy periods have been affecting your energy, mood, or daily comfort, herbal medicine may offer the gentle balance your body’s been asking for.