Natural PMS Remedies
Natural PMS Cures
Excerpted from The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth by Jonny Bowden.
Natural PMS Cures
Women have long searched for a way to alleviate the symptoms of PMS -- bloating, cramps and mood swings -- just to name a few. Jonny Bowden, author of The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth, has found the cure -- a natural PMS cocktail. Learn more about the herbs and supplements that will bring you relief.
Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil (like borage oil and black currant oil) is a natural source of a fatty acid called GLA-gamma-linolenic acid. The research on evening primrose and PMS had been mixed. It may be true that GLA works best in combination with B6 and magnesium and is not quite as effective on its own. Because GLA is a natural anti-inflammatory, and because many people find it helpful for PMS, you should include it in your PMS cocktail.
Magnesium
Taking magnesium seems to relieve symptoms of PMS for many people. Supplementation with magnesium can improve mood and also help with fluid retention. Women with PMS have reduced magnesium levels. In one of many studies, supplementation with 360 mg of magnesium three times a day produced significantly improved scores on the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, leading the researchers to conclude that magnesium supplementation could represent an effective treatment of premenstrual symptoms related to mood changes.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 has long been observed to be part of a comprehensive nutritional support package for PMS. One reason for this is that the body needs B6 to make serotonin out of the amino acid tryptophan, and many people may be low in B6 because of the high level of B-eating stress. Research shows that supplementing with B6 up to 100mg a day is very likely to be of benefit in treating premenstrual symptoms and premenstrual depression.
Calcium
Taking 1 to 1.2g of calcium daily seems to really reduce depressed mood, water retention, and pain. If you want to increase your calcium intake, dairy is hardly the way to do it, though the dairy industry would have you believe it is the best way. Green leafy vegetables, sardines, and seeds (such as sesame and pumpkin) are full of calcium, and there are always supplements (be sure to take magnesium at the same time).
Vitamin D
A recent study, in the Archives of Internal Medicine, saw a 40 percent lower risk of PMS developing in women with high intakes of vitamin D and calcium. Considering all the other great things vitamin D does- such as its role in cancer prevention and bone health-and considering that most of us get far too little of it, vitamin D supplements are a good idea.
Chasteberry
The herb chasteberry (vitex) has been used for more than 2,500 years in Egypt, Greece, and Rome for a variety of conditions, not the least of which was decreasing libido. It's widely prescribed in Germany, where the esteemed German Commission E approves it for irregularities of the menstrual cycle and PMS.
Taurine
Taurine, an amino acid, is a natural diuretic and the best way I know to reduce bloat. One product, Water Ease, is almost pure taurine (with a little B6 thrown in for good measure). For water retention I recommend 900 to 1,000 mg of taurine when needed.
Diet Culprits
A great deal of research supports the idea that diet can profoundly affect PMS symptoms. Coffee and alcohol may make things worse. Sugar almost certainly does. Tory Hudson, N.D., a highly respected expert in the field of women's health, wisely recommends a diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and fish, and the avoidance of refined sugar, dairy, salt, tobacco and caffeine.
Recent Comments
Sabrina19585 05:26:43 AM May 07 2008
There was a report on Discover a few years ago where they were studying the brain scans of serial killers to see how they were different and what made them tick. The ironic part is that someone decided to compare those scans to those of women PMS-ing, and guess what -- they were identical!!!! So ladies, pass along that little fact to your significant other . . . and tell them not to forget to bring home the chocolate ice cream EVER again ;-)
But seriously, haven't you heard enough about natural remedies, herbs, amino acids, vitamins and supplements that one can find only in the depths of the rain forest of some foreign countries? These articles basically tell us to stock our kitchens and medicine cabinets full of this crap and then, while we're PMS-ing and only want relief -- find the time to make these miracle cocktails with just the right ingredients (God forbid we add too little or to much of something -- we may start growing hair in unwanted places or something). Who wants to be
GraAlv10 02:08:49 AM May 07 2008
one way to help lessen the PMS symptoms is elevating your feet at night and using either a heating pad or something warm to elevate the pain .
Cabinwanda 12:57:15 AM May 07 2008
Women American and otherwise,when it comes to the subject of bodily functions,you must use eat right and avoid certain things on a menu on a scheduled basis.when you feel the pinch of ovulation thats the sign to supplement down and eat right .You must replace what is lost in this process.Many women go to hospitals on stat basis to recieve treatment because the body iis constantly changing.Also to the brave women with the S on your chest,more power to you because you have conditioned yourselves,hense adapted to noone feeling sorry or having any feelings about your plight.So hells yeah buck up and take 2-3 naproxen or best pain reliever marketed you know what works for you.I like to have a good bowl of my favorite soup,tea and a PM pill if I don't have to go anywhere.WE ROCK!!!!!!!
Hpyw2 12:46:21 AM May 07 2008
reevesmclee,
I read your remidy for PMS and you are so right. I could not stop laughing you are absolutely hysterical! It was so funny I will definately pass this arouund. Thanks so much for the laugh and great advise!!
Hpyw2 12:45:04 AM May 07 2008
muddled2
I read your remidy for PMS and you are so right. I could not stop laughing you are absolutely hysterical! It was so funny I will definately pass this arouund. Thanks so much for the laugh and great advise!!
Hpyw2 12:44:18 AM May 07 2008
Muddled2
I read your remidy for PMS and you are so right. I could not stop laughing you are absolutely hysterical! It was so funny I will definately pass this arouund. Thanks so much for the laugh and great advise!!
reavesmclee 12:22:06 AM May 07 2008
Muddled2 09:57:13 PM May 06 2008
Report This! Best way to deal with PMS is go buy lots of chocolate, frito's, soda pop of your choice and green peppers. Then crawl in bed with a heating pad, the remote and a real good chick flick. If any man dares to disturb you, kick him in the balls real hard and tell him to get you some chocolate or you are gonna call the cops and tell them he threatened to kill you. He'll sleep in jail and you'll have the whole bed to yourself! Now that's what I call awoman's paradise!
Hear this guys? This is how they think. We should have never allowed them to vote..
Susanincarp 11:56:54 PM May 06 2008
i loved Menapause...why? because it gave me a valid excuse to scream and holler at my Hubby !!!! LOL
Muddled2 11:29:03 PM May 06 2008
Sounds like Smallbloc 36 has a small penis, Red Smirk has a serious case of the I hate men always, and Trcelement is just the person do kick in the balls during my monthly.
