Just like taxes and trips to the dentist, PMS is one of those unpleasant but unfortunately completely unavoidable facts of life us women have to deal with on the reg. All those in favour of putting an end to this suffering, please say ‘I’. We consulted Melinda Carbis-Reilly – author of The Natural Path – who shared some of her favourite natural remedies to help relieve those nasty symptoms of PMS…
How to cure PMS, naturally
PMS occurs in the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle. This is from day 14 until onset of your period. Your motivation goes down, you’re more susceptible to water retention (read: bloating) and cranky mood swings as your estrogen levels decrease.
Magnesium rich foods in this part of your cycle are helpful for tension and any hormonal headaches that you may get. Try adaptogenic herbal teas such as gotu kola, Korean ginseng, Siberian ginseng and withania.
Ginger tea, juice or ginger grated into your foods has shown to reduce the severity of PMS symptoms.
Apple cider vinegar can improve headaches, bloating, that irritable feeling and improve your energy levels. Try having 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (must say “with mother” on the back of the bottle) with 75mL of filtered water in the morning. With mother means it is unrefined and has friendly bacteria in the bottle that will assist with your health.
Boost your Omega 3 intake. Increase omega 3’s to reduce depressive and anxious feelings and reduce inflammation. There is a considerable amount of inflammation taking place inside your body during the premenstrual phase with blood levels showing inflammatory markers elevated particularly in women suffering from PMS. Enjoy soaked chia seeds, flaxmeal, wild caught salmon, avocados, linseed oil and walnuts to help reduce inflammation and improve your moods.
Improve your energy during this phase with low intensity long distance exercise, such as a walk or gentle bike ride for 60 minutes. This is also a great time to burn fat stores.
To find out more about Melinda visit her website or facebook or purchase The Natural Paths here.