Maybe you have heavy periods.
Maybe you notice that you get extremely irritable or anxious during certain times of the month.
Perhaps you get totally bloated and put on 2, 3 or more pounds of water weight during a certain time of the month.
Or maybe you no longer have your periods but experience the above symptoms.
A friend of mine contacted me last night and asked for some advice about her daughter’s struggles with PMS.
This can be a huge issue for so many of us and can dictate how we get through our day.
Is this just part of being a woman or can we actually make some simple changes that can help get rid of some of those symptoms?
Of course you know my answer:).
In Alternative Medicine by Burton Goldberg, Goldberg brilliantly broke down PMS symptoms into 4 major types:
PMS-A.
Anxiety is a main symptom but also may be irritable and have insomnia. This could mean that the body is producing too much estrogen and too little progesterone. It could also mean that the body has poor digestion of fat which could lead to a deficiency of good fats.
PMS-C.
Cravings is the main symptom with increased appetite, headache and fatigue. Also, there may be moodiness, feeling shaky and anxious. These are signs that the woman may not process sugar well which results in unstable blood sugar.
Unstable blood sugar is that rollercoaster ride when you feed your body sugar or starches that turn into sugar and feel that burst of energy, but then you crash (shaky, moody, irritable) maybe an hour or 2 later and need a “fix” of more sugar or starch to pick you up again…
PMS-D.
Depression is the main symptom but also feeling forgetful, confused and sluggish. This type often reflects having excess progesterone. It also may reflect lead toxicity which should be tested.
PMS-H.
Hyperhydration is the main symptom where the woman may gain 3 or more pounds, have breast tenderness and feel bloated. Believe it or not, for these women, coffee consumption plays a major role in these symptoms.
What if you have some symptoms in more than one of these types?
Some women do and we still have some good solutions that will cover most areas.
As a general rule, my brilliant mentor, Elaine Newkirk, LPN, ND, CNHP says that the following may be helpful for all types (as well as post-menopausal women with the general symptoms listed above):
1 B-Complex 2 times per day
2 Red Raspberry caps 2 times per day
Digestive enzymes with every meal
Red Raspberry is an herb which contains a high amount of magnesium. So, you can substitute that with an absorbable type of magnesium such as magnesium glycinate.
Newkirk also sites other possible solutions for each of the types:
PMS-A
Progesterone cream may be very helpful and should be applied to thinnest part of skin on body such as the forearm or chest. However, this should only be applied on Day 14 through Day 28 of a cycle. Post-menopausal women may apply every day.
There also may be poor fat digestion in which omega-3 fats should be increased such as omega fish oil or krill, flax seeds or borage oil. Lipase, which is an enzyme that helps break down fats specifically may be very helpful as well.
If you have tension or knotting in your trapezius this may indicate poor fat digestion. This muscle is located across the top of your shoulders. So, if you hug yourself, your fingers will land on top of shoulders on the trapezius muscle.
Another indicator of poor fat digestion is floating stools.
Lipase, a fat digesting enzyme could be extremely helpful.
PMS-C
Avoid processed sugar and foods. If cravings consist of chocolate, this may be an indication of magnesium deficiency.
I see cravings for chocolate disappear often when my clients take magnesium. My one client couldn’t believe how her chocolate cravings magically disappeared!
PMS-D
With excess progesterone, estrogen may be considered to balance it out. Eat foods that produce indole-3-carbinol found in vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, turnips, and rutabagas.
If lead is indicated, sea vegetables such as seaweed and kelp can assist to eliminate this toxic heavy metal
PMS-H
Avoid coffee and eat celery for good fluid retention.
As women, we certainly have our share of hormonal issues, but fear not as we also have great simple solutions.
And of course, I always emphasize that eating real food that our body is meant to eat will also help keep our hormones balanced and PMS at bay.
Please check out my personal shopping list and guide to help keep my hormones in check:)
“It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities.”
Live well and love more,
Jill Gordon
CHHC, HHC, CNHP, Digestive Health Specialist
www.JilltheHealthCoach.com
All material in this newsletter is provided for information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this publication;instead readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information provided has not been approved the Food & Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease.
