Natural Cures For PMS and Menstrual Cramps


What is PMS?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a group of physical and emotional symptoms that some women experience in the week or two before their menstrual period. Symptoms subside when the menstrual period starts and within a couple of days of menstrual flow.

Symptoms of PMS

PMS symptoms can range from mild to severe. Symptoms may include:

Breast Swelling and Tenderness
Dizziness
Headache
Cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Food cravings
Abdominal bloating
Weight gain from water retention
Stomach upset
Swelling of the face, hands, ankles
Depressed mood
Crying spells
Anxiety, irritability, anger
Trouble falling asleep (insomnia)
Appetite changes or food cravings
Fatigue
Natural Remedies for PMS

These are some of the natural remedies that are used for PMS:

Calcium
Studies suggest that calcium levels are lower in women with PMS and that calcium supplementation may reduce the severity of symptoms. A large study looked at 1057 women with PMS and 1968 women without PMS. Women with the greatest intake of calcium from food sources had the least PMS symptoms.

Another study found that 300 mg of calcium carbonate four times a day significantly reduced bloating, depression, pain, mood swings, and food cravings.

Chaste Tree Berry
Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) berry is one of the most popular herbs for premenstrual syndrome in Europe.

A study published in the British Medical Journal involving 178 women with PMS found that chaste tree berry significantly reduced PMS symptoms over three menstrual cycles. Women taking chaste tree had significant improvements in irritability, depression, headaches, and breast tenderness.

The most common side effects of chaste tree berry are nausea, headache, digestive disturbances, menstrual disorders, acne, itching, and skin rashes. Chaste tree berry should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women. The safety of chaste tree berry in children or people with kidney or liver disease has not been established.

Theoretically, chaste tree berry may interact with hormones or drugs that affect the pituitary gland. For more information on chaste tree berry, read the Chaste Tree Berry / Vitex Fact Sheet

Magnesium
The mineral magnesium, found naturally in food and available in supplements, has showing good preliminary results for PMS. One study examined the use of magnesium supplements or placebo in 32 women with PMS. The amount of magnesium used was 360 mg three times a day, starting from day 15 to the start of the menstrual period. Magnesium supplements were found to significantly improve PMS mood changes.

Another study used 200 mg of magnesium or placebo for two menstrual cycles. By the end of the second month, magnesium was found to significantly reduce weight gain, swelling of the hands and legs, breast tenderness, and abdominal bloating.

People with heart or kidney disease should not take magnesium supplements without consulting their doctor. Side effects of excess magnesium can include upset stomach and diarrhea. It can also cause nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, slowed heart rate, deficiencies of other minerals, confusion, coma, and even death.

Magnesium may interact with antibiotics, blood pressure medications, diabetic medications, digoxin, levothyroxine, and tiludronate (an osteoporosis medication) and should only be taken together under medical supervision.

Evening Primrose Oil
Evening Primrose oil is a plant oil that contains gamma-linolenic acid, an omega-6 essential fatty acid. Gamma-linolenic acid is involved in the metabolism of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins that regulate pain and inflammation in the body.

A review of seven studies on evening primrose for PMS found that the two most well-designed studies failed to show any beneficial effects for evening primrose.

Acupuncture
In traditional Chinese medicine, the liver is the organ most affected by stress, anger, and frustration. Stagnation of liver energy, or "qi", by emotions, alcohol, and spicy and fatty foods can lead to PMS symptoms such as breast tenderness and abdominal bloating and cramping.

Although there is no scientific evidence behind this assessment, acupuncture, exercise, expressing emotions, and breathing exercises are recommended by practitioners to relieve liver stagnation.

Emotions in Traditional Chinese Medicine
What is Acupuncture?
Dietary Suggestions
Reduce sugar and salt intake. This is especially useful for bloating and swelling of the hands and feet, breast tenderness, and dizziness. Increase foods rich in potassium, such as fish, beans, and broccoli.

Eat small, frequent meals to help stabilize blood sugar.

Eliminate caffeine, which can aggravate anxiety, depression, and breast tenderness.

Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and fish.

Avoid alcohol.

Decrease intake of fatty foods and red meat.
Exercise
Regular aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling may help relieve PMS symptoms. In one study, the frequency but not the intensity of exercise was associated with a decreased PMS symptoms.

Relaxation
Breathing exercises, meditation, aromatherapy, and yoga are some natural ways to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Many women feel more assertive and attuned to their needs in the weeks before menses. This can be used constructively by allowing for personal time to relax, expressing emotions, and giving priority to your needs and what nourishes you.

Other Remedies
There are other natural remedies commonly used for PMS, including:

Ginkgo
Vitamin E
Royal jelly
OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins)
Uva ursi
St. Johns wort
Wild yam
Dandelion
Reflexology
Chiropractic
Progesterone cream

Categories Alternative Medicine , Fruit Diet
Menstrual cramps are the cramping in the lower abdomen, back, or thighs. You may also have headaches, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, dizziness, or fainting. This happens usually in the first or second day of the menstrual cycle. These are caused contractions of the uterus as it expels its unneeded contents, and also by the passage of clotted blood through the cervix.

Menstrual Cramps are also known as Dysmenorrhea, Menorrhagia, Amenorrhea, or Heavy menstrual bleeding. This disorder is traceable to a debilitated and toxic condition of the system in general and of the sex organs in particular due to a wrong diet, wrong style of living and nervous exhaustion.

How To Reduce The Menstrual Pain Naturally?

The diet factor is of the utmost importance. Fruits and salads , nature’s body-cleansing and health-restoring foods, must be taken to restore the balance.

The sufferer from menstrual disorders should begin with an all-fruit diet for about 2-5 days depending on her condition. In this regimen, the patient should have three meals a day of fresh, juicy fruits and vegetables such as :

Apples, pears, grapes, papaya, oranges, pineapple, peaches and melon, prunes, cherry, spinach, lettuce turnips and beet.

Suggested Vegetables.....

Carrot , cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, tomatoes, radish, red beets and onion and mung bean sprouts.

Fruit Juices.....

Lukewarm water mixed with the freshly squeezed juice of half a lime and a spoon of honey, carrot juice, sugarcane juice, apple juice and fresh milk (this is not fruit juice).

What kind of food to be avoided during Menstrual Cramps?

The foods which should be avoided/ lessen are white-flour products, sugar, confectionery, rich cakes, pastries, sweets, refined cereals, flesh foods, rich, heavy, or greasy foods, tinned or preserved foods, strong tea, coffee, caffeine, pickles, condiments and sauces. Smoking and Drinking Alcohol, if habitual, should be given up completely as it aggravates menstrual disorders.

Vitamins for Menstrual Cramps.

Zinc, calcium, and B vitamins obtained in food and supplements have been found to reduce cramps, bloating and other symptoms.

Herbal Remedies for Menstrual Cramps.

Herbal remedies such as Viburnum prunifolium, Scutellaria spp., and Cimicifuga raemosa have an antispasmodic effect that may reduce some menstrual cramps.

Hydrotherapy for Menstrual Cramps.

A warm bath filled with aromatherapy or a heating pad on your lower abdomen and back is often helpful for relieving menstrual cramping.

Other Remedies for Menstrual Cramps.
Certain remedies have been found useful in menstrual disorders. Cooked banana flower eaten with curd is one of the more important of such remedies. The banana flower appears to increase progesterone hormone and reduce the bleeding.
Beet juice has been found very effective for menstrual disorders.
Coriander seeds are highly beneficial in the treatment of excessive menstruation.
Ginger has been useful in menstrual disorders.
Sesame seeds are also useful in menstrual disorders.
Safflower seeds have also been found to be beneficial in the treatment of painful menstruation. Dried flowers mixed with confection of rose can also be
given as a medicine for this purpose.
Simple menstrual cramps exercises.
Lie down and elevate your legs by putting a pillow under your knees.
Lie on your side and bring your knees up to your chest. This will help relieve back pressure.
Try using sanitary napkins instead of tampons.
Get regular exercise like walking. This improves blood flow and may decrease pain.
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Prince Malachi is the founder of The Oracle Network and the Streetwear brand Y.A.H. Apparel

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