Premenstrual syndrome ( PMS )

Until recently PMS was regarded by the medical community primarily as an imaginary disease. Symptoms of PMS are varied but generally include water retention, nervousness, depression, tension, swollen, tender breasts, cramps, menstrual pain, joint pain, acne, intense craving for sweets, and a range of other symptoms that all stem from an over sensitization to the sex hormones produced by our bodies.

PMS creates a recurring monthly anxiety for many women and certainly inhibits some women from enjoying this cycle of womanhood. Instead of their moon time being a special moment to enjoy their unique "womanness," it marks a period of stress, pain, and discomfort. Though there are certainly physical causes for PMS, the root of the problem can often be traced to how we view our woman self and the negative images of our menstrual cycle that have been imprinted in our subconscious. Often this recurrence of monthly pain around our menstruation is a result of childhood abuse (not always remembered) or pain suffered in our reproductive organs.

The physical manifestations of PMS indicate an imbalance of estrogen, prolactin, adrenal, and thyroid hormones. The potentially detrimental estrogen components known as estradiol and estrone are normally converted by the liver into estriol. Estriol's function is to decrease the activity of the detrimental effects of estradiol and estrone. This process is dependent on the health of the liver and the endocrine glands (primarily the adrenals and thyroid). The liver is responsible for breaking down hormones and for cleansing the system of metabolic and environmental toxins. If the liver is not in good working order, it becomes overburdened and inefficient and is not able to handle the peak levels of sex hormones released during menstruation and ovulation. The system, in effect, becomes self-poisoned, congested with too many of its own hormones. These hormones, most notably estrogen components, can wreak havoc within the system, causing the symptoms of PMS and other potential reproductive problems.

Supplements and herbs

TO PREVENT PMS

PMS is helped greatly by diet, exercise, and healthy living. Many women have decided to use their PMS symptoms to help them get in touch with their inner selves and, in the process of doing so, have corrected the problems associated with their menstrual cycles.

Follow these dietary suggestions to encourage the health of the liver and support its role in reducing sources of exogenous estrogen:

• Increase your intake of complex carbohydrates, which are found in vegetables, whole grains, beans, and fruit.
• Increase your intake of eggs, garlic, onions, and beans, all of which are rich in sulfur containing amino acids.
• Increase your intake of antioxidants (foods rich in vitamins C and E and selenium) to increase the detoxification of estrogen.
• Decrease your intake of fats, especially saturated animal fats, and use unsaturated fatty acids, such as those in cold-pressed vegetable oils, instead.
• Decrease your intake of milk and dairy products, which are sources of exogenous estrogens. (Yogurt is acceptable.)
• Decrease your intake of members of the cabbage family (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli). (Though considered excellent for our general health, these vegetables are found to be thyroid antagonists and may contribute to exogenous estrogen.)
• Eliminate sugar, white flour, and refined foods.
• Eliminate all methyl-xanthines, such as caffeine, theophylline, theobromine (coffee, tea, chocolate, and cola).
• Eliminate red meat and fowl, which are sources of exogenous estrogens. (Organic fowl is acceptable.)
• Once a day, drink a "smoothy" made of the following ingredients.

NUTRITIONAL SMOOTHY

• 1 teaspoon kelp,
• 1 tablespoon spirulina,
• 2 tablespoons granulated lecithin,
• 1 raw egg,
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast.

Blend these ingredients in a blender with fruit juice and yogurt to taste. Bananas, frozen strawberries, and other frozen or fresh fruit help to disguise the taste of the kelp, yeast, and egg. You may have to experiment with the flavors before you are satisfied that this is a drink you not only should, but want to drink each day.

WHEN YOU HAVE PMS

The primary systems of the body to focus on when working with PMS are the liver, endocrine system, and nervous system. The following teas support these three major systems of the body. Drink one or more of them daily for two to three months. You may alternate the teas to suit your taste and moods.

ENDO - LIVER TEA

• 1 part yellow dock root,
• 1 part ginger,
• 3 parts dandelion root,
• 2 parts pau d'arco,
• 2 parts burdock root,
• 1 part fo-ti,
• 1 part wild yam root,
• 1/2 part vitex,
• 1 part astragalus,
• 1/2 part dong quai,
• 3 parts licorice root.
• Optional: cinnamon, orange peel, stevia, more licorice root, roasted dandelion root, to taste.

Use four to six tablespoons of herb mixture per quart of water. Add herbs to cold water and bring to a slow simmer over low heat. Keep pot covered. Simmer gently for twenty minutes. Strain.

NERVOUS SYSTEM TEA

• 1 part oat straw leaf, stem,
• 3 parts melissa leaf,
• 3 parts chamomile flowers,
• 3 parts peppermint leaf,
• 3 parts raspberry leaf,
• 2 parts nettle leaf,
• 1 part squaw vine leaf,
• 2 parts red clover flowers,
• 1 part motherwort leaf,
• 1 part horsetail leaf.

Use four to six tablespoons of herb mixture per quart of water. Add herbs to cold water and over low heat slowly bring to a simmer. Keep pot covered. Immediately remove from heat and let infuse twenty minutes. Strain.

For the water retention often associated with PMS, drink Natural Diuretic Tea for seven to ten days before your menstrual cycle begins.

NATURAL DIURETIC TEA

• 2 parts dandelion leaf,
• 3 parts nettle leaf,
• 1 part pipsissewa leaf,
• 1 part chickweed leaf.

Use four to six tablespoons of herb mixture per quart of water. Add herbs to cold water and over low heat slowly bring to a simmer. Keep pot covered. Immediately remove from heat and let steep twenty minutes. Drink three to four cups of tea daily. For convenience and ease of administering, this formula may also be made in tincture form.

• Take one to two teaspoons spirulina daily. (Or take capsules of this rich green algae if its taste is unappealing to you.)
• Take evening primrose oil, borage, or black current seed oil (500 milligrams twice a day or follow dosage recommended on the container). These three oils are high in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which has a marked positive effect on PMS symptoms. It is especially beneficial for breast tenderness.
• Take two capsules of dong quai three times a day. Discontinue the capsules a couple of days before your menstrual cycle begins and start up again only after you have completely stopped menstruating.
• Take ginseng during the month. It is especially valuable for those women who lack vitality and energy or who are excessively "yin" in nature.
• Take a liquid vitamin mineral tonic such as liquid Floradix Iron with Herbs or Nature Works Herbal Iron each day.
• Take at least two sitz baths a week.
• There are many herbs that are exceptionally high in calcium, such as nettle, comfrey, boneset, borage, oat straw, horsetail, watercress, seaweed, lamb's quarter, amaranth. These, along with calcium-rich foods, should be incorporated into your daily diet. Also, a good natural biochelated calcium supplement is recommended. But do not depend on a supplement to supply your calcium needs. Incorporate plenty of calcium-rich herbs and foods in your diet as well.

Homeopathy

Take the appropriate remedy once daily at the first onset of symptoms. A daily dose can be taken until improvement stabilizes. This regimen can be repeated as needed, though symptoms should diminish each cycle.

• Calc carb
  Chilly, sweats easily, clammy feet. Flabby with lack of muscular tone.
  Uterine pain, burning in vagina, milky vaginal discharge. Sore breasts.
  Fearful, worried and timid, keeps very busy. Irritable. Increased sex desire.
  Menstrual low back pain, migraines, palpitations or disturbing dreams.
• Kali carb
  Swollen breasts with stitching pains. Increased sex drive. Weakness.
  Sour stomach, acid belching, with shooting pain, cramps. Constipation.
  Sore, itching genitals. Frequent urination. Backache. Hives. Insomnia.
  Swelling of gums and cheeks. Irritable, mood swings. Worse: touch.
• Lachesis
  Nosebleeds, throbbing headache, vertigo. Exhaustion, faintness, flashes of heat, diarrhea. Nervous, irritable, weeping. Desire to run in the open air.
  Animated, talkative. Undercurrent of jealousy or rage. High sex drive.
  Worse: after sleep, heat, left side, pressure. Better: when blood flow begins.
• Lycopodium
  Sad, weeping, sighing, anxious. Irritable and easily angered. Memory loss.
  Stomach bloating with pains, belching. Worse on waking, 4 p.m., heat.
  Fatigue, faintness, chilliness. Cold and heavy legs, headache, backache.
  Lack of confidence and passivity alternates with arrogance. Dictatorial.
• Nat mur
  Sad, anxious and irritable; tears won't come. Dislikes consolation, fuss.
  Migraine with flashes of light. Palpitations, nausea, vomiting, faintness.
  Weariness, trembling; twitching and heaviness of eyelids. Hypoglycemia.
  Worse: 10 a.m., warm room, sun. Better: open air. Craves salt, water.
• Pulsatilla
  Depressed, weepy, sensitive, desires sympathy. Snappish, demanding.
  Chilliness, yawning and stretching; Vertigo, dim vision. Burning-discharge.
  Stomach pain with acid reflux. Heaviness, like a stone in the abdomen.
  Worse: heat, evening, fats. Better: open air, gentle motion, after crying.
• Sepia
  Sadness and weeping, want to run away, to be alone. Loss of affection.
  Nervous, trembling, restless. Insomnia, shouts in sleep. Exhausted.
  Acrid leucorrhea. Colic, pressing down pain. Swollen feeling in genitals.
  Chilliness and shuddering, faintness. Intense headaches. Thirsty. Acne.

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