Treating PMS Naturally- With Homeopathy, Essential Oils, Supplements, And Herbs

What is PMS

Menstruation or periods is nothing short of an ordeal for women that just have to be endured. Most of the times, a woman’s body, and mind undergo noticeable changes before the onset of periods

PMS is the name given to those unpleasant symptoms that occur in the post-ovulatory phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle. PMS symptoms start four to fourteen days before a menstrual period and settle when it begins, or not long after. The symptoms are both mental and physical. The mental symptoms include irritability, mood swings and a feeling of depression. The physical symptoms include breast tenderness or swelling, headache, abdominal bloating, constipation, diarrhea and acne (pimples). The symptoms vary from one woman to another and not every woman experiences all these symptoms. In every woman, though, any two or three of these symptoms stand out. The mental symptoms may appear in isolation or in combination with the physical symptoms.

PMS affects women of any age but usually starts during the late 20s and worsens year-by-year until menopause. Up to 80% of menstruating women experience one or more PMS symptoms each month.

What are the Causes of PMS

The real cause for PMS is simply this: Your hormones become unbalanced, your estrogen levels increase and progesterone levels decrease, either relatively or absolutely.

There are many things that promote these hormone imbalances, such as a high-sugar, refined carbohydrate diet, caffeine, stress, dairy, hormones in dairy products and meat, and estrogen-like toxins from pesticides and pollution. Alcohol also contributes to problems because it damages the liver and prevents it from excreting excess estrogen.

Constipation and imbalances in the gut bacteria can worsen the situation, because they lead to the reabsorption of estrogen from the gut back into your blood, even after your liver has tried to get rid of it.

Your body also needs exercise to help balance hormones. So if you aren’t moving your body enough, it’s likely this is part of the problem as well.

Fortunately, there are many ways to get hormones back in balance — without drugs. Below you will find various ways of preventing PMS and I suggest you give them a try and see in just one or two cycles how much better you feel.

Treating PMS With Homeopathy

Homeopathy offers an effective treatment for PMS with no side effects. Homeopathic remedies for PMS are sourced from natural substances, that help women get relief from the symptoms of PMS and that women do not have to endure a premenstrual phase which upsets their whole mental and physical makeup.

Here are top homeopathic medicines (remedies) to relieve symptoms of PMS

Sepia

The best Homeopathic remedy for PMS with extreme irritability. Sepia is the top Homeopathic treatment for premenstrual syndrome. The main aspect which is covered by Sepia is the treatment of irritability in women with PMS.

Ignatia

Homeopathic medicine for depression, mood swings in PMS. Ignatia is a natural Homeopathic medicine that is very beneficial for treatment of PMS and is the best remedy for depression and mood swings in women with PMS

Pulsatilla

Homeopathic remedy for PMS with increased sensitivity. Pulsatilla is of great help for women with increased sensitivity towards every little thing during PMS. The smallest of things tend to affect women deeply and they also start to weep over little, insignificant issues.

Lachesis

One of the Best Homeopathic Remedies for PMS with symptoms of Body Pain. Lachesis is the Homeopathic prescription for women suffering from pain in various parts of the body as part of PMS.

Conium

A top Homeopathic cure for breast tenderness in PMS. Conium is very beneficial for women who undergo swelling, enlargement, and pain in the breast before their periods. The pain gets worse by touching. Along with pain, the breast also becomes hard.

Silicea

Silicea is the Homeopathic remedy for extreme constipation before menses and is very beneficial for women who have great difficulty in passing stool. A lot of straining is required to pass stool. The stool even slips back after being partially expelled.

Bovista

Homeopathic medicine for diarrhea as part of PMS and it is considered the best remedy for diarrhea before menses. The women may also experience heavy bleeding and Inter Menstrual Bleeding episodes.

Treating PMS With Essential oils

Essential oils are water-insoluble liquid extracted from a plant and with a distinctive and pleasant odor. An essential oil can also sometimes be referred to as the “oil of” a certain plant. Therefore, clove oil is also the oil of clove. The oil is essential because it carries the essence of the plant which is the part that gives it the distinctive, pleasant and medicinal scent. Essential oils can help relieve the symptoms of PMS and unlike prescription drugs, they are mostly free of side effects. These oils can soothe and help you relax as well as relieve irritability.

The Health Benefits of Essential Oils

Essential oils are soothing and calming. They can help reduce stress, depression and migraine headaches experienced by women with PMS. Therefore, essential oils are widely used by many women to reduce discomfort, pain, and other symptoms associated with PMS

Medicinal Use of Essential Oils

Antispasmodic (to reduce muscle spasm in the gut and relax the sphincters)
Carminative (to ease the passage of gas in the gastrointestinal tract)
Antiseptic (to help disinfect contaminated surfaces and clean open wounds)
Antibacterial
Antitussive (to relieve a cough by removing irritants from the upper respiratory tract)
Diuretic (to promote the removal of water from the body)
Soothing and numbness

Essential Oils Used to Treat PMS

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil is the most popular essential oil that can help reduce the symptoms of PMS. Therefore, eucalyptus oil can relieve pain and aches while boosting the immune system.

Rose Oil

Rose essential oil helps to stimulate proper hormone levels and can help regulate menstrual cycles. This can help reduce cramping pain, and the calming nature of the oil helps to improve PMS symptoms

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is commonly used in aromatherapy because its pleasant scent produces calming and relaxing effects on the body. Therefore, it can be used to relieve stress and anxiety and its medicinal properties are useful in managing PMS and to relieve a tension headache.

Clary Sage Oil

Clary sage oil is used to relieve anxiety, treat insomnia and reduce the symptoms of PMS. Ylang-ylang has sedative properties that can calm down the mind and reduce cramps due to its antispasmodic qualities

Ylang-Ylang Oil

Ylang-ylang essential oil is used to reduce high blood pressure and excessive sebum production. Therefore, it can help calm women suffering from PMS as well as relieve PMS-related skin diseases especially acne.

Chamomile oil

Chamomile essential oil helps to calm the mind and the body and it can relieve stress, anxiety, and irritability. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile essential oil can help reduce PMS related pains and relax the muscles.

Below you will find some specific essential oils that I recommend for symptoms of PMS

For Depression – Oils of clary sage, jasmine, neroli, and ylang-ylang
For Mood Swings – Oils of lavender, clary sage, and ylang-ylang
For Anxiety – Oils of lavender, bergamot, and ylang-ylang
For Cramps – Oils of lavender, geranium, and marjoram
For Aches – Oils of geranium and marjoram
For Food Cravings – Oils of fennel and patchouli
For Water Retention – Oils of grapefruit, juniper berry, cypress and carrot seed
For Digestive Complaints – Oils of ginger, peppermint, and chamomile
For Fatigue – Oils of rosemary, basil, and grapefruit

Treating PMS With Supplements

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is involved in the syntheses of some of the neurotransmitters that affect mood. Vitamin B6 acts as a cofactor in the production of dopamine and serotonin. These are also the most important “feel good” neurotransmitters.

Low Serotonin level is common with PMS. Since serotonin is involved in mood, memory, and sleep, vitamin B6 deficiency can cause symptoms such as irritability, forgetfulness, insomnia, anxiety, and moodiness. These are also the PMS symptoms that studies showed vitamin B6 reduced.

Recommendation: Take 50 mg a day of Vitamin B6, preferably P5P (active form of B6 for better absorption)

Calcium

Calcium is one of the essential minerals in humans. Although it is most commonly known as the mineral required for healthy bones, calcium has a lot more roles in the body.

Calcium is a cofactor for a number of enzymes especially those involves in blood clot formation. It is also important for proper muscle contraction, for signal transduction between cells and for the release of neurotransmitters in the neurons of the central nervous system.

Calcium is one of the very few natural supplements that have been conclusively proven to help women with PMS. Therefore, calcium is not only useful in the treatment of PMS but also in preventing the condition. This means that women can increase their calcium and vitamin D intakes in order to avoid and reduce the severity of PMS.

Recommendation: Take 600 mg a day of Calcium citrate

Magnesium and Vitamin D

Calcium supplementation may not produce significant improvements in PMS symptoms unless it is combined with magnesium and vitamin D supplements.

Both magnesium and vitamin D are closely involved in the absorption, metabolism, and utilization of calcium in the body.

Magnesium and vitamin D deficiencies are both linked to PMS. Magnesium boosts the release of the neurotransmitter, serotonin, in the brain for better mood and to relieve PMS pain, vitamin D (as vitamin D3) blocks the generation of prostaglandins in the body.

Recommendation: Take 400 to 600 mg a day in divided dose of magnesium citrate or glycinate and take 2000 to 4000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily in divided dose

Evening primrose oil

Evening Primrose Oil contains the essential fatty acid, GLA, which may be beneficial in the treatment of some symptoms of PMS

Recommendation: Take 500mg capsules twice a day.

Omega 3 Fatty Acid

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to play important roles in managing mood and sleep by improving brain cell function and helping the brain produce more serotonin, which is lower in your premenstrual week due to plunging estrogen.

Recommendation: Take 500 mg of EPA/DHA (omega 3 fatty acid) two times a day

Taurine

If bloating is an issue for you during PMS, consider taurine, an amino acid which is a natural diuretic and the best way to reduce bloating. ...

Recommendation: Take 500 mg a day to relieve bloating and help liver detoxification

Probiotics

Replacing healthy bacteria in the gut also helps normalize estrogen and hormone metabolism. Having good bacteria in our intestines has wide-ranging benefits for our health. Healthy bacteria can decrease symptoms of PMS by increasing beta-glucuronidase enzyme activity and promote estrogen excretion. The best way to establish a healthy bacterial flora in your intestinal tract is to take a probiotic

Recommendation: Take one capsule of Dr. Formulated Ultra Probiotic daily.

Treating PMS With Herbs

Menstrual and PMS problems have been treated for centuries with herbal remedies quite effectively. Let’s discover top 10 most effective herbs that help with PMS symptoms.

Chasteberry

Chasteberry is a flowering plant that is native to the Mediterranean region and its bioactive compounds have been shown to improve hormonal balance and especially act on the pituitary gland. Chasteberry binds to dopamine receptors in the brain and then blocks the release of prolactin. Overall, Chasteberry can help relieve the PMS symptoms such as bloating, breast tenderness, mood swing, and cramps.

Word of caution: Chasteberry is generally considered as safe. However, it may cause mild side effects such as headaches and gastrointestinal discomforts.

Dong Quai

Dong Quai is sometimes referred to as female ginseng although it does not belong in the ginseng family. In the management of PMS, Dong Quai can provide relief for a headache, insomnia, cramps, fatigue, irritability and mood swings. It is commonly combined with black cohosh when given as a PMS remedy.

Word of caution: Dong Quai should not be combined with anticoagulants such as warfarin because it is also a blood thinner. Such combination will only increase the risk of severe bleeding.

Black Cohosh

Historically, the Native Indians used this herb to treat menstrual and menopause problems as well as depression, sore throat, and kidney problems. It is now widely used in traditional medicine because of its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and sedative properties.

Word of caution: Side effects of black cohosh include a headache, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation and low blood pressure.

Maca

Maca contains bioactive compounds that are active in the central nervous system. Maca is rich in proteins, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, selenium, magnesium, iodine, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, amino acids and fatty acids. With such constituents, maca can improve stress, energy, mood, anxiety and sex drive.

St. John’s Wort

St. John’s wort or Hypericum perforatum is a popular herb known for its antidepressant property. St. John’s wort exerts a number of significant effects on the central nervous system and the result of these effects produces improvements in PMS symptoms such as depression, moodiness, and irritability.

Word of caution: Common side effects of St. John’s wort are dizziness, sedation, and gastrointestinal discomforts. Care should be taken not to combine St. John’s wort with certain medications. Drugs that may interact negatively with the herb include birth control pills, statins, immunosuppressants, benzodiazepines and drugs used to treat heart problems. To avoid the worsening of symptoms, women with PMS should not take St. John’s wort when placed on antidepressants, opioids, psychedelic drugs, stimulants and precursors of serotonin.

Dandelion Leaf

Dandelion is the herb derived from plants in the Taraxacum species. The leaf extract is used as an herbal remedy to treat infections as well as liver problems.

Dandelion is rich in essential nutrients and some of these can even help relieve the symptoms of PMS. However, the chief reason to use dandelion leaf in the management of your PMS is its diuretic effect.

As a diuretic, Dandelion leaf can help eliminate excess water and reduce bloating, a common complaint in PMS. Because dandelion is also rich in potassium, its diuretic effect does not reduce the potassium level in the body.

Word of Caution: Dandelion is a safe herb for most people. However, it may trigger allergic reactions in people with ragweed allergy. In addition, dandelion should not be combined with certain antibiotics and lithium.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm or Melissa officinalis is herb in the mint family. As an herbal tea, lemon balm has a calming effect and it is used as an anxiolytic and a sedative. The essential oil is also used in aromatherapy to relieve stress.

To reduce anxiety and promote sleep, some of the bioactive compounds in lemon balm act on the central nervous system. The anti-stress property also extends to the cellular level. Studies confirm that lemon balm has a high antioxidant property and can, therefore, reduce oxidative stress.

Lastly, lemon balm is known to enhance cognitive performance and improve mood. Although lemon balm is used to reduce anxiety and promote sleep in the treatment of PMS, it can also improve mood, reduce stress and promote general well-being.

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba is a widely known herbal remedy. Traditionally, ginkgo is used to improve memory and cognitive performance as well as treat dementia.

However, in the management of PMS, ginkgo is useful for reducing fluid retention and breast tenderness. It can also improve mood and treat insomnia; therefore, ginkgo can help balance the flurry of emotions associated with PMS.

Word of caution: Common side effects of ginkgo include gastrointestinal discomfort, dizziness, heart palpitation, headaches and increased risk of bleeding. Ginkgo should not be combined with anticoagulants (such as warfarin) and antidepressants.

Valerian

Valerian or Valeriana officinalis is known for its sedative and anxiolytic properties.

In addition, valerian is used in the treatment of convulsion and migraine as a pain reliever. It produces a calming effect on women with PMS as well as reduce migraine headaches and the muscle spasms that cause cramps. In the management of PMS, low dose of valerian should be combined with another herb (Cramp bark) to reduce cramps.

Word of caution: Valerian produces very few side effects. However, in high doses, it may cause stomach ache, mental dullness and even mild depression.

Cramp Bark

Cramp bark or Viburnum opulus is known for its muscle relaxant properties. Specifically, cramp bark reduces uterine contractions and can, therefore, reduce cramps associated with PMS and menstruation.

This herb is best combined with valerian because they are both muscle relaxants. In addition, while valerian reduces muscle spasms all over the body, cramp bark does the same thing but only in the uterus. Therefore, the combination of both herbs can relieve aches and cramps of PMS.

Wild Yam

Wild yam (Dioscorea Villosa) can help regulate cycles and relieve menstrual cramps. Wild yam is packed with a plant version of a hormone similar to progesterone. Symptoms such as irritability and mood swings are a result of an imbalance in the body between estrogen and progesterone.

Wild yam has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to relax tired muscles in the abdomen and pelvis thus alleviating cramps.

Simple Steps to Eliminate PMS

Clean up your diet by following the recommendation listed below

Stop eating refined flour, sugar, and processed foods.
Cut out caffeine.
Stop drinking alcohol.
Balance your blood sugar by eating protein, such as a protein shake, eggs, and nut butter, for breakfast.
Eat evenly throughout the day and don’t skip meals.
Don’t eat within three hours of bedtime.
Cut out all dairy and consider eliminating other common allergensfor a few months, especially gluten.
Increase fiber in your diet from vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, beans, and whole grains. Two tablespoons of ground flax seedsa day are especially helpful in correcting constipation and balancing hormones. Put them in a shake or sprinkle them on salads or food.
Increase omega-3 fats by eating more wild fish like sardines, herring, and wild salmon, as well as omega-3 eggs and walnuts.
Eat organic food, especially animal products, to avoid environmental estrogens from pesticides.

Take supplements

A number of supplements have been discussed above to help ease PMS symptoms by improving metabolic function and hormone metabolism.

You can also consider phytonutrients which can be extremely helpful. Here are the best studied and most effective:

Isoflavones from red clover or kudzu root improve estrogen detoxification by boosting the activity of specific detox enzymes. They can be taken as supplements or consumed in the diet.
Flax seeds contain lignans that help balance hormone metabolism and block the negative effects of excess estrogens.

Get moving

Exercise is very important for balancing hormones. Aim for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, 4 to 5 times a week.

Address stress

Dealing with stress is also critical. Take a hot bath at night, get a massage, try yoga, learn deep breathing or meditation. These techniques and others can help balance hormones.

Try alternative therapies

Therapies such as homeopathy and acupuncture can greatly help.

Conclusion: a plan such as this can have impressive effects on premenstrual symptoms. You can thrive and be healthy by paying attention to a few natural laws of biology. You sure don’t need drugs to survive

WE ARE HERE TO EDUCATE, NOT MEDICATE! Give us a call at (800) 669-0358 and let one of our healthcare practitioners help you kick PMS to the curb.

References

1.http://naturalnews.com/031112_essential_oils_PMS.html

9. http://www.pmswarrior.com/calcium-helps-reduce