Many women would be able to identify that time of the month when they are emotional wrecks, feeling all bloated, cranky, edgy and depressed. The dreaded premenstrual syndrome (PMS) plays havoc in the lives of nearly seventy-five percent of menstruating females who are occasionally symptomatic whereas five percent cite symptoms so acute that it largely ruins their month.
Look no further as the resolution lies in Mother Nature’s very own medicinal cabinet. Herbs have compounds supposed to reduce PMS symptoms and have been widely used since the primeval era across Asian and European countries.
5 Best Herbal Remedies For PMS
Majority of the herbal remedies are obtainable in capsular, pill, tea or tincture form in local health food stores. Based on how intense or frequent a PMS symptom is, one should try to eliminate it individually using relevant herb/s rather than tackling several symptoms at once.
Chasteberry
The pea-sized fruits of the medicinal shrub Chasteberry have turned out to be a benchmark therapy in the European Union for treating cyclic mastalgia or breast pain which classically aggravates prior to a woman’s menstruation cycle.
The herb additionally seems to help allay common PMS symptoms like headaches and mood fluctuations. Belief is that the herb suppresses luteotropic hormone (LTH or PRL) from being released by the hypophysis.
Incongruously elevated amounts of LTH which is produced might be a reason for cyclic mastalgia among several other niggling PMS symptoms.
Doctors in duo German studies have given top grading to chasteberry for treating PMS symptoms. Over 1500 females partook in trials using the herb.
A third of them cited total relief from the signs, ninety percent reported betterment or total respite while fifty-seven percent noted considerable betterment. The extracts of vitex seemed to be especially beneficial for females with luteal phase defects (LPD) or excess of luteotropic hormone.
According to the NIH Almanac, NCCAM, vitex is not likely to trigger any grave side-effects. But, there have been reported cases of rashes resembling acne, giddiness and (GI) gastro-intestinal issues. The herb doesn’t appear to resolve bloated feeling and could interact with particular medicines like contraceptive pills, neuroleptics and supplemental estrogen.
People with conditions that are sensitive to hormones like cancers, adenomyosis etc., or are expecting a baby or breastfeeding must firstly seek medical advice before taking chasteberry.
Ginkgo
Latest studies have shown that the local Chinese plant lowers acuteness of PMS symptoms and is being widely used for the same because of comparatively lesser occurrences of side-effects.
A double-blinded trial with 165 female participants (teenagers till mid-forties) who ailed significantly from PMS symptoms like boated feeling, sore breasts and vascular congestion were given extracts of the herb (eighty milligrams two times/day) or placebo on the sixteenth day of their menses cycle.
Therapy was carried on till the fifth day of their subsequent menses cycle and then restarted yet again on the sixteenth day of that cycle. Test trials substantiated that Ginkgo users cited considerable relief from key symptoms, chiefly emotional-mental turmoil and breast soreness.
Due to the safety quotient associated with the herb usage, it might additionally benefit females that have earlier deployed drug treatment for the same but have experienced adverse side-effects.
Another single-blinded, randomized, placebo control study involved 90 Tehranian college-going females who reported a minimum of five out of the total nineteen PMS symptoms during the week before periods for at least duo menses cycles prior to the trial.
They were offered forty milligrams of standardized extract of the herb (EGb 761) thrice per day since the sixteenth day of their menses cycle till fifth day of their subsequent cycle or placebo. Ginkgo users reported high satisfaction levels as compared to the dummy group.
Home Remedies for PMS
Effective Herbal Remedies For PMS
Saint John’s Wort
Yellowish blossoms of the plant have been widely used as an antidepressant ,hence not astonishingly it is occasionally advised for females ailing from emotionally related symptoms of PMS.
It is quite effective when one consistently takes the herb all through the month. Hypericum perforatum is the active constituent in the herb that might have a positive effects on brain serotonin levels.
An early trial indicates that the herb might assist in relieving emotionally as well as physically related symptoms of PMS in females like irritable behavior, breast soreness and victual cravings.
According to National Institute of Health’s website MedlinePlus, the herb is beneficial for mild and moderate ranging depression related to PMS and its interim usage is probably safe for majority of the individuals. But, it might cause restiveness, indigestion, watery bowels, oral dryness or vivid dreaming.
Saint John’s Wort should be taken everyday for noticing results in around a month or six weeks. Women on oral birth control pills or other herbs or drugs for HIV, antiplatelet agents must firstly discuss with their doctors prior to using this herb for allaying PMS symptoms.
Black Cohosh
The Aboriginal people have conventionally deployed black cohosh for treating symptoms of PMS like cramping, muscular aches and pains. Several herb doctors claim that menstruation related cramping and pains could be assuaged by black cohosh.
The mild sedating and calming properties of the herb which is phytoestrogen–rich assists in balancing a woman’s hormones. It is available in pill form (20-40 milligrams two times/ day) or tincture (2 medicinal droppers twice/thrice everyday till 6 months).
The herb can additionally be taken in tea form. Associated likely side-effects of taking the herb are abdominal pains, skin rashes and headaches. It is contraindicated for people with liver conditions.
Top 10 Herbal Remedies For Premenstrual Syndrome
Natural Cure for PMS
Dandelion
The Mayo Clinic recommends the use of dandelion for easing general PMS symptoms, inclusive of mood changes. As per information furnished by the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), the herb tends to increase urinary flow and could lessen oedema related to PMS.
The herb is capable of allaying bloated feeling and oedema sans causing a surge in potassium levels which is a commonly identified risk related to the use of over-the-counter chemical diuretic products.
Dandelion can be safely used by majority of the individuals except those with allergy to ragweed plants. Moreover, dandelion is contraindicated for expectant mothers, those taking antibiotic medicines or glucuronidated drugs.
Caution: Please use Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.
