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Herbal Relief for PMS

© Artsy Grampa

Recently I've received several emails asking about how to deal with the chronic pain and discomfort of premenstrual syndrome, also known as PMS. Being a guy, I sought out the expert female opinion of Lauri Jean Crowe of LivingHerbal.com. Here's her thoughts on premenstrual syndrome and which herbs can be effective in treating this particular chornic pain for some women. - Artsy Grampa

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is also often referred to as premenstrual tension (PMT) and the terms keep getting more advanced as modern medical biotechnologies seek out new prescription medications that they can sell to women suffering from the symptoms of this disorder which affects many women monthly - regardless of what you call it. I'll stick with the old standard of PMS.

PMS has many symptoms which can range from emotional to actual physical discomfort and for many women begin up to fourteen days before their cycle. Essentially, the women who suffer the pain of PMS can do so about 45% of each month if they have the longest form of this disorder - and that's a big pain! Some of the symptoms of PMS are:

• Water retention and bloat which can result in weight gain.
• Breasts which are swollen and/or tender.
• Headaches, often resulting in migraines.
• Backache as well as all over body aches.
• Constipation and/or diarrhea.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Fatigue, dizziness or generalized weakness.
• Crying, depression and the blues.
• Cramping and pelivic or abdominal pains.

And many more. The important thing to remember with PMS is that for those who suffer from it, the symptoms can vary each month or remain a constant. However, no two women will have exactly the same pains and discomforts. Ultimately, PMS is created by hormonal changes in the female body prior to menstruation so the primarily controls for PMS should focus on hormonal regulations.
Herbal treatment of PMS should be done in cooperation with your health care practitioner. As such, I don't offer any doseages in this article, just names of herbs which can be of use. For proper ingestion of these herbs please seek the advice of a licensed professional. Some herbs that assist hormonal regulation of PMS are:

• Chaste tree, which acts on the pituitary gland to balance sex hormone production and thyroid imbalances.
• False unicorn root, which balances progesterone and estrogen levels and acts as an ovarian tonic.
• Black cohosh, motherwort, hops, and sage, all of which have estrogenic properties.

However, PMS also has emotional consequences for many women. Some excellent herbs for relieving the tension and anxiety that can accompany PMS try vervain, skullcap, chamomile, wild oats or wood betony. In cases of extreme tension and irritability, valerian and passionflower may be useful. Additionally, to lift your spirits if you are a woman who experiences mild depression during your premenstrual symptoms, rosemary, cinnamon, ginger, and lemon balm have been noted as effective.