Many of my patients suffer from fatigue, depression, anxiety, and irritability, which gets worse just before their monthly period. Conventional medicine typically treats premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in one of two ways: Birth control pills or antidepressants. But many women do not want to be on pills or medication. What’s the alternative?
Here’s my perspective on PMS: It’s important to alleviate suffering as much as possible, without losing the wisdom that it can provide.
Let’s start with wisdom by way of biology. In the earlier half of your cycle, your hormonal activity is designed to maximize your chances of being pregnant. Hormones flow abundantly, and testosterone is at a relative high. As a result, many women feel more energized, attractive, and aroused during this time.
I like to think of this as a “hormonal buffer”, which allows you to tolerate things that bother you, in favor of the deeply ingrained biological imperative to make babies.
In other words, if the paelolithic equivalent of dirty socks on the floor caused your cavewoman ancestor to have a meltdown while she was ovulating, you may not be here reading this today.
Makes sense so far?
Now let’s look at the second half of the cycle, where there is a possibility that a sperm and egg have now combined. It becomes biologically important for the female to become protective and wary of unwanted circumstances.
The hormonal buffer is no longer running high. Things that you don’t like become painfully obvious, and you react – sometimes in a way that you regret.
Here’s the important part: The things that bother you just before your period are probably the same things that you barely tolerate during the rest of your cycle. You need to address them, so that you don’t reach that monthly breaking point. That’s the the first step in solving PMS naturally.
Remember, feelings are feedback.
Ok, now we’re clear that you should not dismiss your PMS emotions.
Now what can you do to support your biochemistry, so that you can enjoy (yes, enjoy!) your natural cycle without the uncomfortable extremes?
#1 Exercise has been shown to improve mood in general, and PMS in particular. Types of exercise that have been studied include aerobic exercise (like using a treadmill), and yoga.
And as the old joke goes: What’s the best exercise? The one you do.
# 2 Vitex agnus-castus (aka Vitex or Chaste Tree) is an herb with a long history of use for female hormone problems. Research shows that it helps reduce PMS irritability, anger, bloating, headache and breast tenderness. It does this by interacting gently with opioid receptors – the part of our nervous system that reduces pain, and also regulates the menstrual cycle.
Don’t worry, it’s nowhere near as potent as the opium plant, so there’s no risk of addiction or getting high when using Vitex.
# 3 Magnesium and B6 are also helpful. Placebo controlled studies have shown that each of these nutrients reduced cravings, depression, anxiety and physical discomfort in PMS. They can be used separately or together.
One of the ways that both magnesium and B6 work is that they break down hormones that cause PMS symptoms.
#4 Anti-inflammatory, mood-supportive diet: In general, this is a diet high in vegetables and fruit, with enough hormone-free protein (animal or vegetable) and good fats. Remember to hydrate too!
Remember, symptoms are signals. What do you think your PMS is telling you?
Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/
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