Photo by S.o.L.e is engaged!

Our bodies are beautiful temples, and in a biological sense, are pretty much designed for baby-making. So what’s the balancing factor of the glorious experience of giving birth? Premenstrual Sydrome (PMS). Around 80% of women are affected by PMS; that’s almost half of the world’s population going through a tough time every month! So I think it’s vital we all know as much about it as possible. So what is it? And how can it be treated?

Have you ever noticed the physical, emotional and behavioural changes a couple weeks prior to menstruation? Sometimes even during your menstrual cycle? It’s completely normal to become teary, pimply, moody and generally feel crap. PMS can be so debilitating for some women that it interferes with their schooling, work or relationships, which in turn can affect their quality of life. That kind of PMS is a whole other story called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) which affects 3-8% of women. For now, we’ll talk about the common form of PMS.

There are about 150 symptoms relating to PMS, but some of the common ones are; anxiety, mood swings, irritability, wanting to be alone, depression, nervous tension, poor coping skills, aggression, difficulty concentrating, reduced interest in work or social life - and they’re just the emotional symptoms! Some of the physical symptoms can be; bloating, headaches, tiredness, insomnia, fluid retention, swollen and/or tender breasts, increase in weight, constipation, food cravings, skin problems, aches and pains – no wonder why we feel so irritable!

There are many factors which contribute towards the severity of PMS. Basically it occurs because of hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances, but psychological and social factors also have an influence. Studies have shown that women who lead stressful and demanding lives are prone to frequent and severe symptoms of PMS, whereas women who lead less stressful and satisfied lives would experience infrequent and less severe PMS symptoms.

So how can we treat the symptoms? It’s best to look at this in individual cases – everybody is different so not every method will help. We know there’s a correlation between PMS and hormone imbalances, most commonly the sex hormones; estrogen, progesterone and cortisol. The basic nutrients that make up these three hormones are saturated fat and cholesterol. Avoiding foods with good quality saturated fat and cholesterol too much, may be the answer to why you suffer from PMS. Yup! Good old saturated fat and cholesterol! Who would’ve thought they could be our dearest friends? A diet high in salt and sugar should be replaced with more fruit and vegetables – that’s a tip we’re all well aware of, which will help treat and prevent a lot of other problems too. One of the safest ways to balance your estrogen levels is to go to bed early and get plenty of sleep. You see, estrogen dominance over progesterone is frequently linked to PMS, and melatonin – the ‘sleep chemical’ - controls estrogen levels. So not only will proper sleep habits balance your estrogen levels, we also know it helps reduce stress, which in turn will help ease PMS symptoms! Doing some aerobic exercise for at least half an hour a day, will also help. Exercise releases ‘feel good’ chemicals, promotes blood circulation, and relaxes muscles, so it’s going to make you feel good about yourself and reduce stress.

You might also want to look into aromatherapy and essential oils. Taking a warm bath with a few drops of sage, geranium, jasmine, fennel, marjoram or clary sage, will help you relax. Although you might have sensitive skin which can react to the oils, so be careful! Burning some essential oils might be safer for you.

So basically it’s all about eating the rights foods, getting plenty of sleep, exercising and reducing stress. Not much to ask, is it? If you can work your way up to doing this, your body will LOVE you for it, and then you can tackle with ease what life throws your way!

Big love,