In some cases, yes. Some food and herbs are know as emmenagogues.

What is an emmenagogue?

It a substance that stimulates blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus and can stimulate or induce menstruation. Women use emmenagogues to stimulate menstrual flow when menstruation is absent for reasons such as hormonal disorders or conditions like oligomenorrhea (a woman who regularly goes more than 35 days without menstruating). When menstruation is delayed for reasons other than pregnancy, often mild emmenagogues are enough to get the flow going again.

I have selected a list of foods that one can have more of from day 22 to help stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus, prepping the body for menstruation. Refer to my previous post, Luteal Phase, for list. Here are some of the main ones:

Unripe papaya stimulates contractions in the uterus and can help in inducing a period. Unripe papaya contains substances with latex, which causes uterine contractions. The latex of fruits contains vegetable pepsin or ‘papain’ which acts like prostaglandins and oxytocin (a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland of the brain), which induces contractions.

Turmeric, parsley (I will be posting a recipe on how to make parsley tea) and ginger are other examples of emmenagogues.

Ripe pineapple can also cause strong uterine contractions. This is thought to be due to an enzyme called bromelain found in pineapples.

Important to Note: Although there is no evidence to support that emmenagogues are strong enough to cause a pregnancy to abort, it is best to avoid them in pregnancy to prevent unwanted complications.

Article written by Dr Tharushka Naidoo