The countdown is on for the holiday season – hooray! This year I’ll be flying back to Toronto, Canada from London and the 8-hour flight with both babies should be an interesting adventure. Here is a picture of them from last week. They’re growing fast!
This month my mission is to open your mind to the idea that there IS a possibility that you NEVER have to deal with PMS again. YES!
I suffered from PMS for so many years and always assumed it was something I just had to deal with as a woman. It was only after getting naturopathic support for my digestion that I inadvertently ended up clearing up my PMS symptoms and heavy periods. This personal experience helped me realize how much PMS is connected to our body’s bigger health picture.
What is PMS?
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a condition that comes on anytime during the last two weeks or so of your cycle after you’ve ovulated. PMS is linked to hormonal changes that are happening in your body through this time.
There are tons of symptoms associated with the condition (over 100!) and each person has their unique experience of it. This is why it’s especially important for you to get individualized support when it comes to addressing it.
First Step: Find Out Your Personal PMS “Type”
This is the ultimate clue to open your doorway to healing. Here is a quick summary. Without thinking too much, pick the one that you think is the best fit. If more than one description resonates for you, that’s ok too. It’s common to have a mix.
- PMS –A (Anxiety): This is the most common type. If it’s yours, you might feel anxious, angry, a little overwhelmed, have mood swings or a harder time falling asleep, or may just feel really emotionally sensitive before your period.
- PMS – C (Cravings): if you’re reaching for chocolate, sugar or are overdosing on carbohydrates right before your period, this is your type. You may also experience headaches, dizziness or feel especially tired.
- PMS – D (Depression): This is one of the toughest types to have and can make your life feel like an emotional roller coaster (not the fun kind). If this is you, you may feel especially down before you get your period. You may also be more forgetful than usual, feel tired and be less interested in things you normally love.
- PMS – H (Hyperhydration… aka “bloated”): This is the most physical of the four PMS types. If you have this type of PMS, it tends to be a lot harder to fit into your jeans during the premenstrual time. You may notice puffiness in your face, hands or belly, or sock marks around your ankles. Usually the scales add an extra couple of pounds all thanks to your body holding onto more water.
Second Step: Explore The Cause
The cause of PMS has to do with what type(s) you have, along with your personal health history. Here is a quick overview of the most important root causes for you to address:
- PMS – A (Anxiety): excess estrogen in your body, thyroid issues, adrenal fatigue (burnout), and/or extra testosterone.
- PMS – C (Cravings): blood sugar imbalances, adrenal fatigue (burnout) and/or low serotonin.
- PMS – D (Depression): low serotonin and/or a potential thyroid issue.
- PMS – H (Hyperhydration): excess estrogen, elevated stress hormones (adrenals), eating too much sugar and/or high levels of a hormone called prolactin.
Top PMS Clearing Strategies For You
PMS isn’t a quick fix but by taking consistent care of yourself will create big health shifts and in the end help you resolve it completely.
Here are some of my favorite approaches. I chose them because they can be used with ALL of the PMS types:
- Vitamin B6 – I think of this vitamin as the “hormone” B vitamin. It’s great for clearing up PMS and also addresses menstrual cramps, progesterone deficiency, and infertility, among many other hormonal imbalances. And, since B vitamins feed directly into your body’s energy producing system, B6 will help give you a lift in this department. The best way to get your B6 is together with the other B vitamins. Look for a B vitamin combination that has extra B6 in it.
- Detoxification cleanse – here is this concept again. If you jumped on the fall cleanse I shared in the last two newsletters; you’ve already taken a HUGE step towards resolving your PMS. Moving out environmental toxins and giving your body a break literally catapults it towards overall hormonal balance.
- Switch to organic dairy products – this is an easy way to cut down on your body’s exposure to a host of PMS triggers.
- Calcium & Magnesium – these two minerals are key for clearing up PMS. Always take these together at a ratio of 1:1 or 2:1 (Calcium to magnesium) and avoid taking more than 1000 mg of calcium in a supplement in a day. Recent research has found that taking too much calcium may build up in arteries and contribute to cardiovascular issues for women.
- 5-HTP – this supplement is amazing for creating healthy serotonin levels, the feel-good neurotransmitter. 5-HTP is also great for sleep, which can be affected by PMS. This supplement is always best taken under the guidance of a naturopathic doctor or other licensed healthcare provider because it interacts with some medications, including many anti-depressants.
- Address thyroid and adrenal issues – Adrenal fatigue (burnout) and thyroid imbalances are both incredibly common issues for women today. It’s always a good idea to be screened for issues in both of these departments early on in your journey to heal PMS.
As you can see, PMS can be a bit of a complicated matter, but with careful investigation your personal PMS type and root cause can be identified. Once this is sorted out, you can move ahead on getting relief through herbal, nutritional and lifestyle support.
If you’d like to find out more about how I can support you, please reach out to Brenda, my fantastic and lovely client care coordinator. She will be happy to send you a Vitality Health Program guide with all the details and benefits, and schedule a call with you to answer any questions you may have about them.
Have a wonderful and cozy rest of the month.
All the best,
Vivian