Herbal Remedies For PMS
Premenstrual syndrome, often called PMS, is a group of physical and emotional symptoms that occur during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. In order for a diagnosis of PMS to occur, physical and/ or emotional symptoms must consistently appear during the last week before the onset of menstruation and disappear shortly after menstruation begins.
Premenstrual syndrome Herbal Remedies
Traditionally, Vitex (Chaste tree, Monk?s pepper) has been used for controlling Menstrual Disorders. The part used is the vitex stem. Vitex stem acts upon the pituitary gland?specifically on the production of a hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH), which indirectly increases progesterone production and helps regulate the menstrual cycle. Vitex is taken orally in form of capsules or liquid, depending on the available product.
Tea made up of Yarrow plant is also traditionally considered very beneficial. It has anti-inflamatory properties and helps in menstrual disorders. Tea can be prepared by boiling yarrow leaves in water for 10-15 minutes. It can be taken 2-3 times in a day to get relief.
Dashamoola is an ayurvedic composition of ten roots for treatment menstrual disorders.It has an anti-inflammatory effect and is considered vey effective in bronchitis, cough, headache, weakness, drowsiness and digestive problems. It is available in different forms - tablets or liquid(wine made from these herbs).
Spleen Qi Deficiency
The Spleen meridian also traverses the reproductive area, and is partially responsible for the production of blood, and has a strong influence on reproduction and menstruation. Blood deficiency would be seen in menstrual disorders with brown blood. Spleen Qi Deficiency patterns often present with white or clear vaginal discharges that can be sticky in nature, general fatigue, eating disorders, obesity, or lack of appetite. Restore the Middle Way Formula is an effective Spleen Qi Tonic.
Blood Stagnation
PMS and PMDD with extreme menstrual cramps and pain is a sign of severe Liver Qi Stagnation combined with Blood Stagnation in the Uterus. Specific herbs are used to move blood in the uterus that are included in Stasis in the Lower Palace Formula that can be combined with Free and Easy Wanderer Formula for best results.
One popular traditional herbal remedy for pms available through health food shops is a dry extract of Agnus castus (chaste tree) fruit. Recent research in the British Medical Journal concluded that this natural treatment “is an effective and well tolerated treatment for the relief of (PMS) premenstrual syndrome symptoms”. In the double blind trial, those who received the real extract as opposed to placebos had a 50 percent or greater improvement in overall PMS symptoms.
Women and PMS
Hormonal changes do not only affect physical conditions but also the mental and emotional state of a woman. It is not uncommon for women in their reproductive years to feel the ‘blues’, days before their menstruation. Millions of women from around the world suffer from PMS related pains and cramps on a monthly basis; the severity of which would oftentimes make a woman wish that she was not born a girl.
