Smiling woman in her kitchen drinks herbal tea that could help speed up or make her period come faster

How to Get Your Period On: 10 Natural Ways to Trigger It

Parsley tea, vitamin C therapy, cinnamon infusion, hot bath... Natural remedies for making your period come faster have been passed down from generation to generation. But here's the truth that no one tells you: None of these methods have solid scientific evidenceThese are traditions, beliefs, and sometimes the placebo effect. This article still gives you all the detailed recipes and methods, because that's what you came looking for. But we also clearly tell you what's proven, what isn't, and what can be downright dangerous.

To Not Waste Your Time

What really works: Only prescription hormone treatments (progestins)
What doesn't work: 99% of "natural remedies"
What can help marginally: Rreduce stress, sleep well, stop intensive sport
What is dangerous: Aspirin, toxic plants, vaginal douches
If you think you are pregnant: Take a test, don't try anything to "trigger" your period.

⚠️ Important disclaimer to read BEFORE anything else

The methods presented in this article are mostly based on folk traditions and beliefs. Science does not validate their effectiveness in inducing menstruation.

  • If you think you might be pregnant, do NOT try to "trigger" your period. Take a pregnancy test.
  • If your period is more than 3 months late, consult a healthcare professional
  • Some plants are toxic in high doses
  • Never replace medical advice with these remedies

🧬 Understand WHY It Doesn't Work (Scientifically) →

Herbal Teas to Bring on Your Period

Herbal teas are probably the most popular remedies. Passed down from mother to daughter, they are part of the folk culture of many countries. Some plants are reputed to be "emmenagogues" (stimulating menstruation), but be careful, this classification comes from ancestral traditions, not modern clinical studies.

Hands holding a hot, steaming yellow mug, suggesting a soothing herbal tea that might help bring on a period faster

Parsley Herbal Tea: The Best Known

Parsley is THE number one home remedy for getting your period started. It is said to contain compounds (apiol and myristicin) that stimulate uterine contractions.

🌿 Recipe: Classic Parsley Tea

Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch of fresh parsley (about 30g) OR 2 tablespoons of dried parsley
  • 250ml of boiling water

Instructions:

  1. Wash the fresh parsley well
  2. Roughly chop the stems and leaves
  3. Pour boiling water over the parsley
  4. Let it infuse for 10 minutes, covered.
  5. Filter and warm wood

Traditional dosage: 2 to 3 cups per day, for 3-5 days

What science says: No scientific studies have shown that parsley induces menstruation. Its compounds could theoretically have a slight effect on the uterus at very high doses, but these doses would be toxic. The effect experienced is likely a placebo or coincidence (periods always come eventually).

Cinnamon Infusion: The Paradoxical Cure

Cinnamon is curious: it's recommended both to induce menstruation AND to reduce heavy bleeding. Paradoxical? Yes. Studies show that it actually reduces menstrual bleeding and pain.

🥄 Recipe: Cinnamon Infusion

Ingredients:

  • 1 cinnamon stick OR 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • 250ml of water
  • Honey (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Boil the water
  2. Add the cinnamon and simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat and let steep for 10 minutes
  4. Strain, add honey if you like, and drink hot

Traditional dosage: 2 cups a day

What science says: Studies show that cinnamon reduces menstrual bleeding and pain thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. The opposite of what we're looking for if we want to induce our periods. It has no proven effect on triggering menstruation.

Ginger Herbal Tea

Ginger is said to warm the body and stimulate blood circulation, which is believed to help bring on menstruation.

🫚 Recipe: Fresh Ginger Herbal Tea

Ingredients:

  • 2-3 cm of fresh ginger
  • 250ml of water
  • Lemon and honey (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Peel and grate the ginger
  2. Boil the water
  3. Add the ginger and simmer for 10 minutes
  4. Filter, add lemon/honey, and drink

Traditional dosage: 3 cups a day

What science says: Ginger is effective against menstrual pain and nausea. But there's no evidence that it induces menstruation. It may slightly increase blood flow, but not enough to affect the hormonal cycle.

Other Traditional Herbal Teas

Plant Traditional dosage Scientific evidence
Sage 1 tsp for 250ml, 2 times/day ❌ Not proven
Fennel 1 tsp of seeds for 250ml ❌ Reduces pain, no triggering
Turmeric 1/2 tsp in hot milk ❌ Tradition only
Yarrow 1 tbsp for 250ml, 3 times/day ❌ Not proven
Angélique 1 tsp of root for 250ml ❌ Not proven

What Drink to Bring on Your Period?

After herbal teas, many are looking for other beverages that can speed up the arrival of their period. Let's review what's most popular.

 

☕ Fruit juices rich in vitamin C

Orange juice, grapefruit juice, lemon juice... The idea behind these drinks is the same as for vitamin C tablets.

❌ Vitamin C Myth

🥤 Pomegranate juice

Renowned in Ayurvedic medicine for "warming" the body and stimulating the uterus.

❌ Tradition without proof

🍹 Papaya-pineapple smoothie

A blend of two fruits that are supposed to be emmenagogues. Some women swear it works.

❌ No scientific proof

💧 Water in large quantities

Some say that drinking plenty of water helps with cervical mucus and circulation. It's healthy, but it doesn't trigger your period.

✓ Good for general health

Which Pill to Bring on Your Period?

Many people are looking for a magic over-the-counter pill that will trigger their period. Let's be clear right away: there is NOTHING available in pharmacies without a prescription that actually triggers your period.

❌ Pills that DON'T work

Doliprane (Paracetamol)
No effect on the cycle. It's just a pain reliever.
Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic acid)
Dangerous! Thins the blood, risk of hemorrhage.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Nurofen)
Anti-inflammatory, not a period trigger.
Vitamin C tablets
Total myth, no proof of effectiveness.

The Only Effective Tablets (Prescription Only)

If you're really looking for a medication to make your period come, here's what actually exists, but only with a prescription.

Medicine Type Availability
duphaston Progestin Prescription only
Utrogestan Natural progesterone Prescription only
Progestan Progestin Prescription only
Contraceptive pill Combined hormones On prescription (if already on the pill)

Vitamin C: The Persistent Myth

The internet is rife with claims that high-dose vitamin C can trigger periods by increasing estrogen and causing uterine contractions. This is one of the most persistent myths, and also one of the most scientifically false.

The Vitamin C Method (Internet Version)

💊 Vitamin C "protocol" circulating on the web

Please note, this protocol is NOT medically recommended:

  • Take 500mg of vitamin C every hour for 6 hours
  • OR 3000mg spread over the day
  • For 3-5 days
  • Via supplements or foods rich in vitamin C (oranges, kiwis, peppers)

⚠️ What science says (and it's not pretty)

  • Studies show that vitamin C improves fertility and increases progesterone, not that it triggers periods
  • No evidence that it causes uterine contractions
  • At high doses (>2000mg/day), it causes digestive problems: diarrhea, nausea, cramps
  • If you have kidney stones or iron problems, it is not recommended.

Foods That "Make" Your Period Come

Certain foods are known to promote the onset of menstruation, mainly those rich in vitamin C or considered "warming" in traditional medicine.

Close-up of a woman eating a bowl of granola and kiwi, suggesting foods that might help speed up or induce a period naturally

🍊 Foods rich in vitamin C

  • Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruits)
  • kiwis
  • Red peppers
  • Broccoli
  • Strawberries
❌ Not scientifically proven

🌶️ "Warming" foods

  • Papaya (especially green)
  • Pineapple
  • Sesame seeds
  • Dates
  • Grenade
❌ Ayurvedic Beliefs

Green Papaya Juice: Asian Remedy

In Southeast Asia, green (unripe) papaya is traditionally used to induce menstruation. It is said to contain papain, an enzyme that stimulates contractions.

🥤 Traditional method

  • Extract the juice from a green papaya
  • Drink 200ml per day for 3-5 days
  • OR eat green papaya in salad
❌ Tradition without proof

Spices That Come Back Often

Certain spices are cited in almost every tradition for their supposed effect on the menstrual cycle. Here are the most common ones, along with traditional instructions for use.

Cloves, cinnamon, and orange juice, often cited as a natural remedy to help bring on periods faster

The Clove

Clove is said to stimulate the uterus and regulate hormones in traditional medicines.

🌰 Clove Infusion

Ingredients:

  • 5-7 cloves
  • 250ml of boiling water

Instructions:

  1. Lightly crush the cloves
  2. Pour boiling water over it
  3. Let it steep for 10-15 minutes
  4. Filter and wood

Traditional dosage: 1-2 cups per day

❌ Not scientifically proven

Fenugreek (Trigonella)

Used in Ayurvedic medicine, fenugreek is believed to balance hormones.

☕ Fenugreek herbal tea

  • 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds
  • Soak in 250ml of water overnight
  • In the morning, boil for 5 minutes
  • Filter and wood on an empty stomach
❌ Tradition without proof

Physical Activity & Exercise

The idea that a certain type of exercise can trigger periods is widely circulated. Often, we talk about exercises that "move the pelvis" or increase blood circulation.

Recommended Exercises (Traditionally)

Exercises supposed to stimulate the uterus

Squats
3 sets of 15, activate pelvic circulation
Abdominals
Abdominal contractions supposed to stimulate the uterus
Yoga (certain postures)
Bhujangasana (cobra), Dhanurasana (bow)
Fast walk
30 min a day, improves circulation
Jump rope
10 min, increases pelvic movements

What science says: Moderate exercise helps maintain regular cycles over the long term by reducing stress and balancing hormones. But it doesn't "trigger" your period immediately. Paradoxically, too much intense exercise can even delay or block ovulation.

Sexual Intercourse & Orgasm

It is often said that orgasm can trigger menstruation because of the uterine contractions it causes.

💕 The Myth of the Trigger Orgasm

The idea: orgasm causes uterine contractions that "bring down" menstruation.

Reality : Contractions during orgasm are mild and temporary. They cannot alter your hormonal cycle. If your period arrives after intercourse, it's purely a coincidence of timing. Once your cycle is in the luteal phase, only the drop in progesterone triggers your period.

Hot Bath & Heat

A hot bath is probably one of the most pleasant (and least harmful) of all these remedies. The idea: the heat would dilate the blood vessels and promote the arrival of menstruation.

🛁 Hot bath method

  • Fill the bathtub with very hot (but bearable) water
  • Stay submerged for 20-30 minutes
  • Optional: Add Epsom salt, lavender
  • To be repeated daily

Bonus: Even if it doesn't trigger your period, it relaxes and reduces stress, which can indirectly help regulate your cycle.

What science says: Heat improves local blood circulation and can relieve cramps. But it doesn't affect the hormones that control your cycle. It has a placebo effect and relaxation, yes. It doesn't trigger your period.

Hot water bottle on the stomach

A more practical variation of the hot bath: apply heat directly to the lower abdomen.

Place a hot water bottle or heating pad on your lower abdomen for 20 minutes, several times a day. Same verdict: comfort and relaxation guaranteed, period induction not proven.

Food Supplements & Homeopathy

In the pharmacy and drugstore aisles, you will find a whole range of products that are supposed to "regulate" or "trigger" the cycle.

Herbal Supplements

Complement Marketing promise Scientific reality
Chaste tree (Vitex) Regulates the cycle, promotes ovulation ✓ Helps regulate over several months, not an immediate trigger
Dong Quai (Chinese Angelica) Uterine tonic, regulates menstruation ❌ Traditional Chinese usage, insufficient studies
Evening primrose (oil) Equilibre hormonal ❌ No proven effect on triggering
Red clover Contains phytoestrogens ❌ Mild hormonal effects, no triggers

Homeopathy

Certain homeopathic granules are sometimes recommended to "regulate" the cycle. The most commonly cited are: Pulsatilla, Folliculinum, Sepia.

Scientific position: Homeopathy has no scientific evidence of effectiveness beyond placebo. Rigorous studies have never demonstrated an effect on the onset of menstruation.

Dangerous Methods to Absolutely Avoid

Now that we've covered the "soft" (even if ineffective) methods, let's talk about the really bad ideas that are still circulating.

❌ Aspirin: Dangerous

Aspirin does NOT induce menstruation. However, it thins the blood and can cause severe menstrual bleeding if your period arrives while you're taking it. There's also the risk of gastric ulcers.

❌ Doliprane: Totally Useless

Paracetamol (Doliprane) has absolutely NO effect on the menstrual cycle. It's a painkiller, period. Taking Doliprane to induce your period is like eating an apple to make your hair grow.

❌ Poisonous Plants

Some emmenagogue plants are dangerous or even fatal in high doses:

  • Pennyroyal: severe liver damage, possible death
  • Rue: toxic, dangerous bleeding
  • Mugwort in high doses: neurotoxic
  • Tansy: convulsions, organ failure

❌ Vaginal Douching

Squirting liquid into the vagina (water, vinegar, decoction) doesn't trigger ANYTHING. It just destroys your vaginal flora and increases the risk of infections. The vagina is self-cleaning, leave it alone.

Protect Yourself Comfortably While Waiting for Your Period

Unpredictable periods? Spotting? Our Period Panties protect you gently and stress-free.

What Really Works (Medical Solutions)

After all this roundup of ineffective natural methods, let's talk about the solutions that actually work. Spoiler: they're all medical and require a prescription.

Progestins (Only Effective Solution)

Progestins (Duphaston, Utrogestan, Progestan) are medications that contain synthetic progesterone. This is the ONLY scientifically proven method for triggering menstrual bleeding.

✅ How it works

The doctor prescribes a 5-10 day course of progestins. While taking this medication, your endometrium is maintained. When you stop taking this medication, the sudden drop in progesterone triggers bleeding 2-7 days later.

Important: This bleeding is not a "real" natural period, but rather an artificial withdrawal bleed. And it requires a medical prescription after consultation.

The Contraceptive Pill (If You Are Already Taking It)

If you're already taking the pill, you can control the timing of your "period" (really withdrawal bleeding) by switching between packs or stopping them. But be careful: never change your pill intake without medical advice, especially if you're relying on the pill as a contraceptive.

💡 Do you want to understand the scientific WHY?

This article gives you the "how to" to understand why these natural methods are ineffective from a hormonal and physiological point of view. (I.e.

🔬 The Scientific Explanation of Late Periods →

Managing Stress: The Approach That Really Helps

If all these methods don't work to "trigger" your period immediately, there is still something you can do to help your cycle regulate itself in the long term: reduce your stress.

Chronic stress disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, which controls your hormones. The result: delayed or absent ovulation, and therefore delayed periods.

Effective anti-stress strategies

😌 Meditation or cardiac coherence · 10 min/day
😴 Sufficient sleep · 7-9 hours per night
🚶♀️ Moderate physical activity · walking, yoga, swimming
(I.e. Therapy or coaching · if stress becomes unmanageable
📱 Digital disconnection · especially in the evening

Late Period: The Real Questions to Ask Yourself

Before you start using any method to "bring on" your period, ask yourself these important questions.

🤔 Checklist before acting

Are you pregnant?
Do a test BEFORE any trigger attempt
How much is this late?
A few days? Normal. More than 3 months? Consult
Have you changed anything recently?
Stress, weight, intensive exercise, medication?
Why do you want to trigger them?
Vacation OK, pregnancy suspicion NOT OK

Why It's So Hard to Induce Your Period

To understand why all these natural methods are ineffective, you need to understand how your menstrual cycle really works. In reality, it's an ultra-precise hormonal mechanism that can't be influenced with herbal tea.

Healthcare professional with a stethoscope, emphasizing the importance of seeing a doctor in case of a late or missed period

Your Period = A Hormonal Cascade

Your period isn't a one-off event that can be "triggered" on command. It's the culmination of a complex, month-long hormonal process that involves your brain (hypothalamus and pituitary gland) and your ovaries.

📊 The cycle in simplified mode

1. Follicular phase: Estrogen rises, the endometrium thickens, a mature egg
2. Ovulation: The ovary releases the mature egg (key day of the cycle)
3. Luteal phase: Progesterone keeps the endometrium in place for 12-14 days
4. The rules: If no pregnancy → progesterone drops sharply → the endometrium disintegrates → bleeding

The key to the problem? It's the progesteroneOnce you've ovulated, your body produces this hormone that keeps your endometrium in place at all costs. As long as it remains elevated, your period physically cannot occur.

What Plants Can't Do

For your period to arrive, progesterone levels must drop sharply. No herb, spice, vitamin, or herbal tea can force this hormonal drop. Why?

  • Plant compounds (even at high doses) are not powerful enough to significantly alter your hormone levels.
  • Your cycle is regulated by an ultra-precise brain-ovary axis that is not influenced by food substances.
  • Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum (in the ovary) which follows its own 12-14 day schedule
  • The mild uterine contractions that some plants could theoretically induce are not enough to expel the endometrium while progesterone is high.

To conclude: To actually induce menstruation, you would either have to block progesterone production or introduce artificial progesterone and then abruptly stop it. This is exactly what prescription drugs (progestins) do. But no plant can do this reliably and in a controlled manner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does parsley tea really work or is it a placebo? +
It's most likely a placebo or a coincidence. No scientific study has shown that parsley triggers periods. If your period arrives after drinking parsley tea, it's either because it was going to happen anyway, or it's a placebo effect (your brain, convinced it's working, reduces your stress, which can unlock a cycle delayed by anxiety).
How long before these methods "work"? +
Traditions generally say 3-5 days. But again, there's no guarantee that this is the method that works rather than the natural timing of your cycle. If your period is several weeks late, no herbal tea will make it come.
Can I combine several methods for greater effectiveness? +
If 0 + 0 + 0 = 0, combining ineffective methods won't create a magical effect. On the other hand, you can accumulate the risks of side effects (digestive problems with too much vitamin C, interactions between plants). It's better to stay reasonable.
Are there any risks in trying these natural methods? +
Mild herbal teas (parsley, cinnamon, ginger) are generally safe in normal doses. But be careful with excess: too much vitamin C causes diarrhea, some plants are toxic in high doses, and aspirin is downright dangerous. If you have any health problems (coagulation disorders, allergies, potential pregnancy), consult a doctor before trying anything.
My period is 2 weeks late, what should I do? +
Step one: Take a pregnancy test (reliable starting 14 days after ovulation). If the test is negative and the delay persists, consult a healthcare professional. A delay can have many causes: stress, weight change, PCOS, thyroid problems, etc. A check-up will help identify the cause and offer proper treatment if necessary.
Why are these methods passed on if they don't work? +
Because periods always come eventually. If you drink parsley tea and your period arrives 3 days later, you naturally make the cause-effect connection, even if it was just the normal timing of your cycle. This is confirmation bias, we remember the times when "it worked," not all the times when it didn't change anything. Plus the placebo effect and cultural transmission from generation to generation.

Let's Recap (Without False Promises)

You came looking for recipes and methods to make your period come faster. We gave them to you, with all the practical details. But we also told you the truth, None of these natural methods have solid scientific proof of effectiveness.

Parsley teas, vitamin C, cinnamon, exercise... these are all traditions, beliefs, sometimes placebo effects, or pure coincidence. The only medically proven way to trigger bleeding is with prescription progestins.

If you still want to try these gentle methods (hot bath, herbal tea), at least you're doing it knowingly. But if you're late, if you think you might be pregnant, or if something worries you, consult a doctor. It's the only real solution.

And remember, a few days late is perfectly normal, even with normally regular cycles. Patience is often the best strategy.

Sources & References

This article draws on scientific studies to validate or invalidate popular beliefs about the onset of menstruation.

Studies on emmenagogue plants

  1. Moini Jazani A, et al. (2018). Herbal Medicine for Oligomenorrhea and Amenorrhea: A Systematic Review of Ancient and Conventional Medicine. BioMed Research International. DOI: 10.1155/2018/3052768
  2. Xu Y, et al. (2020). Efficacy of herbal medicine (cinnamon/fennel/ginger) for primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. DOI: 10.1089/jicm.2020.0041
  3. Hu Z, et al. (2022). Comparison of Herbal Medicines Used for Women's Menstruation Diseases in Different Areas of the World. Frontiers in Pharmacology. PMC

Studies on vitamin C and the menstrual cycle

  1. Henmi H, et al. (2003). Effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on serum progesterone levels in patients with a luteal phase defect. Fertility and Sterility. DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(03)00657-5
  2. Mumford SL, et al. (2016). Serum Antioxidants Are Associated with Serum Reproductive Hormones and Ovulation among Healthy Women. Journal of Nutrition. DOI: 10.3945/jn.115.217620

Studies on aspirin and NSAIDs

  1. Pedrón N, et al. (1987). The effect of acetylsalicylic acid on menstrual blood loss in women with IUDs. Contraception. DOI: 10.1016/0010-7824(87)90099-0
  2. Kempers EK, et al. (2024). Effects of antiplatelet therapy on menstrual blood loss in reproductive-aged women: a systematic review. Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis. DOI: 10.1016/j.rpth.2023.102295

Effective treatments (progestins)

  1. Lethaby A, et al. (2020). Progestogens with or without estrogen for irregular uterine bleeding associated with anovulation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001895.pub4

Note: DOI links provide access to full scientific articles or their abstracts.

Medical Warning: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have any concerns about your menstrual cycle or health, consult a doctor, gynecologist, or midwife.

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The articles on the site contain general information which may contain errors. These articles should in no way be considered as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions or doubts, always make an appointment with your doctor or gynecologist.

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