Home Remedies and Herbs for Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is a collection of behavioral and physical symptoms that affect menstruating women in the days leading up to their period.¹ PMS usually starts during the second half of your menstrual cycle and lasts through the first or second day of your period.² Most women experience menstrual cycles lasting 28 days, with ovulation occurring on the 14th day. It is typically following ovulation that PMS occurs.¹ Each woman may experience PMS differently, and some may not experience it at all, but most women are able to predict the pattern of their PMS symptoms.³


What Causes Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)?

The exact premenstrual syndrome causes are unknown, but there’s a strong link between PMS and hormonal changes in the body.² Estrogen and progesterone levels rise during the second half of a woman’s menstrual cycle to prepare the uterine lining for implant should an egg be fertilized. If this does not happen, these hormone levels drop, putting the spike right around the time women report PMS symptoms.¹

It’s also suggested that PMS causes may include social, cultural, psychological, and biological factors.² Other premenstrual syndrome causes include low levels of vitamin B6, low levels of serotonin--a chemical in the brain--and abnormal metabolism of substances called prostaglandins.⁴ Individuals at higher risk of PMS include:

• Women in their late 20s to late 40s
• Women who have had at least one child
• Women with a family history of major depression
• Women with a history of a mood disorder or postpartum depression

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Symptoms

Approximately 75 percent of women report experiencing PMS symptoms, with 50 percent saying these symptoms affect their daily activities.⁴ About 150 symptoms have been linked to PMS, including:

• Swollen, tender breasts
• Bloating
• Skin problems, such as acne
• Mood swings
• Anxiety and depression
• Changes in appetite and food cravings
• Headaches
• Backaches and cramps
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Changes in libido
• Inability to concentrate

Symptoms tend to get worse as women enter their 30s and 40s and their bodies prepare for menopause.²

Natural Remedies and Herbs for Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

PMS herbal remedies may help in controlling physical and emotional symptoms. Consider the following premenstrual syndrome herbs:

• Chasteberry Extract - Chasteberry extract helps in regulating hormones and reducing prolactin, which is associated with PMS.
• Evening Primrose - Evening primrose is a supplement believed to help with anxiety, depression, breast tenderness, irritability, and other PMS symptoms. It helps restore hormone balance and acts as a natural pain-reliever.5 Take this PMS natural remedy daily.
• Saint John’s Wort - Saint John’s Wort is particularly helpful in treating the psychological symptoms of PMS, such as depression and mood swings. It’s available in capsule form.
• Magnesium - Magnesium is a mineral your body uses for muscle and heart health. Taking supplements may help ease PMS symptoms like muscle cramping, headaches, and bloating.
• Dong Quai - This Chinese herbal remedy helps ease cramps, mood swings, and headaches when taken daily. It helps by acting as estrogen in the body and improves uterine tone.

References

1. http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/premenstrual-syndrome
2. http://umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/premenstrual-syndrome
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/premenstrual-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20020003
4. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/premenstrual-syndrome
5. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/02/08/premenstrual-syndrome-herbal-remedies.aspx