Natural Home Remedies for Premenstrual Syndrome
Premenstrual Syndrome is defined as a collection of symptoms which may occur in the days before a woman menstruates.

The symptoms are caused by hormonal and chemical changes. Your estrogen levels may increase while progesterone decreases. You may experience none or any of the symptoms.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
- Acne
- Alcohol intolerance
- Anxiety
- Appetite changes
- Breast tenderness
- Constipation
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Fluid retention
- Food cravings
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Joint pain
- Libido changes
- Lower back pain
- Mood swings
- Muscle pain
- Poor concentration
- Social withdrawal
- Tension
PREVALENCE
It is estimated that up to 75% of women experience some of the symptoms of PMS. About 20% of those women require medical intervention.
ALLOPATHIC TREATMENT
A doctor may prescribe medications if your symptoms are severe and cannot be altered by lifestyle changes. The good news is that diet, exercise, stress management and other healthy changes might alleviate your discomfort.
SELF TREATMENT
DIET
A healthy immune system is always the first line of defense against disease and disorder. To promote a healthy immune system, it is important to eat a balanced diet, with as much variety as you can manage, with lots of whole, fresh vegetables and fruits, quality protein and healthy sources of monounsaturated fat. The Zone is an excellent nutrition plan.
Doctors advise certain changes in your eating habits that may help more than others.
- Eat small, frequent meals
- Cut back on salt to keep fluid retention minimal
FOODS THAT MAY PROMOTE HEALING
- Bone broth
- Flax seeds
- Foods rich in calcium
- High-fiber foods
- Pumpkin seeds
- Soy, for the isoflavones
- Whole, living foods that have not been processed
FOODS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Excessive salt
- High-sugar foods
TEAS AND OTHER LIQUIDS
- Chamomile tea
- Cramp bark
- Fennel
- Ginger
- Green tea
- Lemon Balm
- Peppermint
- Raspberry leaf
HERBS AND SPICES
- Chasteberry
- Dandelion (roots and leaves)
- Dang Gui
- Evening Primrose oil
- Ginger
- Ginkgo
- Kudzu root
- Lemon Balm
- Mimosa
- Red clover
- Saffron
- Valerian root
- White Peony
- Wild yam
ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils can be administered via a diffuser for inhalation, administered topically in a carrier oil (coconut, almond, olive, etc.), or undiluted drops can be added to a hot bath or compress. Find recipes for blends on the web or create your own.
- Chamomile
- Clary Sage
- Geranium
- Lavender
- Neroli
- Rose
OTHER SUBSTANCES AND SUPPLEMENTS
The cost of having a blood test to determine if you have nutritional deficiencies is likely to be negligible compared to over-consuming expensive supplements that you do not need.
- Ashwaghanda
- Black Cohosh
- Calcium
- De lune PMS pills
- L-tyrosine
- Magnesium
- Omega-3’s
- Probiotics
- Serenol (flower pollen extract, royal jelly, chromium pisolinate) – http://www.aoafamily.com/blog/safe-effective-and-non-hormonal-options-for-dealing-with-pms-menopause-dr-melanie-bone/
- John’s Wort
- Taurine
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin E
- Xiao Yao San
HYDRATION
Water is essential and a main nutrient for the human body. Without it, you cannot survive for many days. Good hydration will help flush extra salt and help to stop bloating. Staying hydrated is fundamental for a healthy body, so how much is enough? There are so many differences in people (i.e., how much we sweat), as well as the diets we consume (a lot of water comes from healthy, whole foods), but a general rule is to consume enough water that your urine is clear, but not so much that you dilute your nutrients. If you are taking certain supplements that make your urine yellow, then you can start out with the formula of drinking ½ to one ounce of water for each pound you weigh. If you weigh 130 pounds, drink 65 to 130 ounces of water a day. Definitely drink when you are thirsty.
EXERCISE
That exercise is beneficial for overall health is undisputed. Getting half an hour of aerobic exercise daily (all the time) may lower the level of free-circulating estrogen and decrease fluid retention. If you are ill, you will want to take it easy, of course, but there is always something you can do to support your body. Do what you can without making yourself feel worse. Exercise in fresh air whenever possible.
SLEEP
Studies show that lack of quality sleep affects the production of disease-fighting antibodies. If you wake in the morning after 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep feeling unrested, you aren’t getting enough sleep or you have an underlying health condition.
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Stay calm. Anxiety undermines health. Practice relaxation exercises, talk to a friend, meditate. Do what works for you to stay mellow. Some of the following relaxation methods may be helpful for you:
- Art therapy
- Bach flower remedies
- Biofeedback
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- EFT
- Massage
- Meditation
- Music Therapy
- Qi Gong
- Tai Chi
- Yoga
ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
- Acupressure https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/acupressure-for-cramps-bloating-pms
- Acupuncture – https://www.bustle.com/p/what-happened-when-i-tried-acupuncture-for-my-pms-9292726
- Ayurveda – Shatavari is an herb that may be helpful.
- Chinese Medicine – Xiao Yao Wan herbal formula
- Chiropractic – https://allstar-chiropractic.com/how-chiropractic-care-can-treat-the-symptoms-of-pms-and-menopause/
- Earthing – https://www.earthinginstitute.net/pms/
- Homeopathy – https://www.britishhomeopathic.org/charity/how-we-can-help/articles/womens-health/pre-menstrual-syndrome-2/
PREVENTION
- A wholesome, balanced diet
- Adequate hydration
- Regular exercise
- Low stress levels
- Quality sleep