What to do if Your Period is Late

You realize your period is late. *Instant panic*. Unless you really haven't been careful with birth control lately, it's actually most likely due to a variety of reasons.

Number one is stress. Work stress, family stress, too much physical exercise, changes in routine, something that might have made you angry or upset. It all adds up. And of course, the more you stress about your period being late, the later it gets. Awful.

Health is another factor. Think - have you been ill lately? Has there been a significant change in your weight or diet? Being over or under your regular weight can cause issues, as well as a change in your usual medication.

It could also be that it's just genetic and you have an irregular cycle by default.

Bottom line is you're not alone. Far from it. A combination of all of these factors frequently affect tons of women.

Before getting to my actual home remedy, the first thing I would suggest is that you relax and stop stressing. It makes a huge difference in your body's chemical balance. Secondly, if you've been very inactive recently, go for a run or do something to get your muscles going. If you're not feeling like exercise, (at the risk of sounding naughty), try sex. Orgasms help your uterine muscles to start the contractions, and often you'll find that your period will start by the next day.

Parsley is known as a "helper herb" - it helps to gently stimulate the uterus in starting the contractions necessary for a period. I find parsley wonderful because it is so easy on the body, without any negative side effects. Apart from that, when brewed in a tea (see recipe below), it has a very mild flavour and is easy to drink.

INGREDIENTS

• Half a bunch of parsley **Use fresh parsley, not dried leaves**
  
• Water
• Honey or sugar to sweeten

RECIPE

1. Wash the parsley well and remove all leaves from the stems
2. Chop the parsley roughly (not too fine)
3. Add the parsley to a saucepan of water and boil until the water turns an intense green colour. At this point you should also be able to smell it quite clearly.
4. Pour some of the tea into a mug through a sieve and add honey or sugar to sweeten it.

Although parsley tea tastes mild, the taste can take some getting used to. If you don't like the taste, add a little bit more sweetener.

Drink several cups of the tea. In most cases, you'll find that your period will start from within a few hours to the next day.