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20 Remedies to Kick PMS Naturally

Young beautiful woman is having stomach ache. Isolated on white.

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Everyone, both men and women, know the common symptoms we call PMS (premenstrual syndrome). PMS is the feeling and behavior that begin just after ovulation (sometimes during ovulation) and end when the menstrual cycle begins. These symptoms vary from woman to woman and they can include cramps, headaches, lower back aches, depression, anger, insomnia, anxiety, acne, bloating, and mood swings.

Although many jokes have been made about PMS, especially the mood swings, it’s really no joke. Most people just accept these symptoms as a part of life, part of being a woman of child bearing age, and they mistakenly believe that there is no alternative.

The truth is, however, that there are many things you CAN do about PMS. Many symptoms can be relieved by simply becoming proactive about their diet and lifestyle (read more 8 little trick to make your life heathier).

Western societies, due to their lifestyle, excessive stress levels, and diet, find that PMS is much more common than in less developed countries. PMS is a sign of an imbalance within the body. This imbalance might be nutritional, hormonal, or psychological but regardless, PMS is a wakeup call, so to speak, that there is something out of balance and we should take care to fix them before they become a more serious condition.

Menstruation is a normal bodily function and it does not cause pain nor discomfort when a woman’s body is in a healthy, balanced state. Our lives, however, are filled with hundreds of synthetic chemicals, which can imitate estrogen and cause a serious hormonal imbalance. Eating a healthy diet is of vital importance for long term health as well as improvement of PMS symptoms. Eating organic fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, can go a long way towards reducing inflammation and combating PMS symptoms.

The University of Massachusetts released a study that was done over a 10 year period that showed that women who eat a diet rich in iron ( approximately 20 mg per day) had as much as a 36 percent reduction in their PMS symptoms.

There is also some scientific evidence that shows that some herbs, such as chamomile, saffron, chaste berry, and St. John’s Wort also have a positive effect on PMS symptoms. However, when the symptoms are severe, diet by itself may not be sufficient. See our list of the following 20 natural remedies that can help you beat the PMS blues.

1. B6 and Magnesium

B6 is a great muscle relaxer and can help ease painful cramps. It’s also a good diuretic and will help reduce swelling, fluid retention, and breast tenderness. The average woman should take between 200-400mg daily. B6 should be taken approximately one week before menstruation. Your first two weeks of your cycle, take 100mg. The more of this vitamin that you take, the more magnesium you need. Magnesium is excellent at relieving depression and irritability, insomnia, and nervousness. It also has antispasmodic properties, so it will also relive back pain and cramps. Magnesium has a reputation for reducing your craving for sweets, also. 1,000mg of magnesium is recommended for most women.

2. GLA and EPA

GLA is gamma-linolenic acid and EPA is eicosapentaenoic acid. GLA is a precursor of a hormone like substance that helps the body regulate hormonal as well as neurological functions. EPA can alleviate breast tenderness. GLA can also help with cramping, irritability, sugar cravings and mood swings. GLA is available in capsule of borage oil. 1,000 mg per day should be taken while EPA is found in flaxseed oil. While you can’t use flaxseed oil for frying it can be used in salad dressings, or taken in a pill form.

3. Vitamin E

Just 400-800IU of vitamin E can reduce breast tenderness, cramps, and fibrocystic breasts, which can swell up before a woman’s cycle.

4. Homeopathy

There have been several scientific studies which show that homeopathy is very effective in treating the symptoms of PMS. When choosing a homeopathic remedy, it should correspond to the symptom you are trying to relive. Only use one for the best results. However, you might find that it’s a bit of a trial and error. If one remedy doesn’t work, then try another one. Every woman’s body is different and what works for one does not always work for another.

5. Lachesis

This covers most of the emotional as well as physical problems that come with PMS such as ovarian pain, headaches, and breast tenderness. Use lachesis if you find your symptoms get worse with heat or tight clothing around your abdomen.

6. Lacaninum

This works well if your only symptoms are irritability and painfully swollen breasts.

7. Bovista

Bovista works well when you have intestinal problems, such as diarrhea, before you get your period, or if you have break-through bleeding. Also, this is a good remedy if you feel bloated, especially if you have swelling in your hands.

8. Pulsatilla

This is good for those who have feelings of sadness or crying jags. It’s also good at helping control your craving for sweets.

9. Natmur

This works well when you are feeling blue or sad but only seem to feel worse when someone tries to console you. If you experience headaches before, during, or after your period or if you crave salty foods, then natmur is a good choice.

10. Sepia

If you feel something like colic pain or a feeling as if your insides are falling down, or falling out of your body, try sepia. This is also good for those feelings of depression, or indifference.

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11. Folliculnum

This is a new remedy that comes from France. Most women take between 30c to 200c on the 7^th day of their cycle. Health World Online suggests some other remedies in addition to this and you can read their suggestions online.

12. Belladonna

When you have cramps that come and go quickly or you feel as if you have a type of “bearing down” kind of pain, belladonna is a very good remedy. It also works for those who have cramps that seem to get worse by motion or being jarred and are often accompanied by a headache.

13. Magnesia Phos

This works well when your cramps are relieved by heat or by bending over or if your cramps become worse by cold or by being uncovered.

14. Colocynthis

If you have cramps that make you feel restless and irritable, then try colocynthis.

15. Ignatia

Ignatia works for those with bloating and those feelings of grief or conflicting feelings.

16. Cimicifuga

This is for bloating also, but also for those very sharp, almost labor like pains across the abdomen. It’s also good for lower back pain, hysteria, and those who feel as if they just can’t cope.

17. Nuxvomica

Nuxvomica is used for women with personalities we would classify as Type A: those who are often stressed out and have bloating, nausea, along with an irritability that makes them overly critical and quarrelsome.

18. Progesterone

Natural progesterone rubbed into the skin can restore hormonal balance. Look for a cream made from wild yams. Progesterone, when taken orally, doesn’t get fully utilized by the body. Only 10 percent of those hormones will actually reach your bloodstream. Progesterone cream is best used between the day you ovulate and the day before your period starts.

Progesterone is helpful in many ways and is super beneficial against fibrocystic breast disease and cancer. It also promotes youthfulness to your complexion.

19. Detoxification of the Liver

Simply detoxing the liver will relieve many PMS problems. To begin with, reduce the amount of fat you eat. Second, use an herbal detox formula that will remove most toxins from the liver. If you decide to do a liver detox, you will only need to do it every other month, for most women.

20. Reflexology

If you have never heard of reflexology, you are not alone. Reflexology is a science, as well as an art, that uses the belief that we have “reflex areas” in our feet that correspond to every major part of the body, and that massaging these areas improves the appropriate function. Using reflexology helps most PMS sufferers when used three or four days before, as well as during, your period.

Sources: Greenmedinfo.com

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