Is your Monthly Cycle Controlling Your Life? Does Your family Move Out The Week Before You Get Your Period?

 

Many women accept premenstrual syndrome [PMS] as a normal part of life that they just have to deal with. This monthly mayhem does not have to be a part of life though! These monthly extreme changes in mood, appetite, energy  & sleep patterns are not 'normal' & are a sign that your body is out of balance. Although, it is natural for you to experience some changes in your mood & energy along with the cyclic hormonal shifts it certainly doesn't need to be to the extent that it totally disrupts your life. 


Snappy,Teary, Tender & Bloated?
In Australia, it is estimated that up to 70% of women experience PMS at some point in their life, with 18% of women suffering the most severe form of PMS; premenstrual dysphoric disorder [PMDD].

PMS encompasses a broad collection of symptoms commonly experienced in the last week or two of a women's monthly menstrual cycle. Common symptoms include - breast tenderness, food cravings [often chocolate], increased appetite, fluid retention & bloating, moodiness, irritability, rage, poor concentration, skin breakouts & headaches. This collection of physical & emotional symptoms are often bad enough to interfere with day-to-day life; not to mention the effect this has on your loved ones who may be on the receiving end of it. A former client of mine who I was treating for PMDD & whom was experiencing a significant reduction in her symptoms, commented that her husband said "I don't care how much it costs, just keep doing what you are doing!!"

Creating a balanced monthly cycle can be achieved with simple diet & lifestyle changes & by using natural medicines that can help get your cycle into balance. For instance women have used herbs for thousands of years to help maintain healthy hormone balance.

Herbs That Help
An imbalance in hormone levels causes undesirable changes in moods, behavior & physical symptoms. However, every women will have her own individual response to these hormonal imbalances. For example some women may experience PMS symptoms such as:

• Mood swings & irritability, anger , frustration
• Irregular periods [when stressed]
• Prone to premenstrual headaches or migraines
• Prone to digestive symptoms such as excessive bloating, discomfort, flatulence
• Shoulder & neck pain

For women who experience these symptoms, they may find relief from herbal remedies that contain bupleurum & paeonia

• Bupleurum: may help to relieve menstrual irregularity related to stress. It has a mild sedative action, helping with emotional instability & mood swings.
• Paeonia: is commonly used for women's disorders, regulating the menstrual cycle & reducing PMS symptoms

Other women may experience PMS symptoms such as:

• Fluid retention
• Painful periods that are relieved by warmth & pressure
• Dull abdominal pain & distension with a downward dragging sensation
• Lower back pain, worse following menstruation or when tired
• Exhaustion after their period with extremely pale complexion
• Prolonged bleeding [5-7 days]
• Premenstrual breast swelling & tenderness

For women who experience these symptoms they may find relief from herbs such as dong quai or vitex agnus-castus

• Vitex: also known as chaste tree, is one of the most important herbs for regulating female hormones. Vitex may help with many of these symptoms of PMS, such as bloating, breast tenderness & swelling, irritability & depression. The herb helps to regulate irregular periods, tending to shorten a long cycle & lengthening a short one.
• Dong Quai: has been traditionally used for regulating the menstrual cycle, and for absent or painful periods with abdominal pain.

Food & Fitness For Healthy Hormone Balance
The following dietary & lifestyle changes will assist you in achieving balanced hormones:

• Avoid caffeine, salt, alcohol, chocolate & sugar
• Drink at least 1-2 litres of filtered water daily [the chlorine & fluoride in treated water can disrupt reproductive hormones]
• A diet high in fresh vegetables, essential fatty acids & lean protein sources provides essential phytonutrients, antioxidant & magnesium
• Eliminate foods that can contribute to hormone imbalances. These include non-organic poultry & red meat, sugar, white flour & refined foods
• Include detoxifying foods such as beets, yams, garlic, dark leafy greens & lemons
• Increase fibre in the diet
• Stress management techniques, such as yoga, meditation & exercise

NB: hormonal imbalances can be quite complex & so I would like to emphasise that any herbal formula needs to be individualized to each women based on her own unique combination of symptoms.

"My Doctor had told me that I had to go on anti-depressants for the two weeks leading up to my period & I knew there must be another way. That's when I found Katherine. For about 15 years , I put up with monthly debilitating migraines, mood swings, fatigue, dizziness, irritability & just not feeling my best self.
Since seeing Katherine, I have not had one single migraine, I have more energy & have learnt so much about environmental toxins, vitamins & achievable lifestyle changes that have really affected how I feel. Katherine's background in nursing makes her 'real' & she has a perspective from both sides of medicine; how to prevent ill health & how to fix it."
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Jen Joyce [August 2011]