Top 8 Ways to Treat PMS
1. Eat more EFAs. Studies have found that certain essential fatty acids (EFAs) have reduced the symptoms that go hand-in-hand with PMS and dysmenorrhea. Eat more foods high is essential fatty acids such as cold-water fish like salmon, nuts such as almonds and walnuts, and seeds such as sesame and cassia.
2. Foods for your cycle's start. One week before your cycle begins, eat more spinach, raspberries, and walnuts. Use more chives, scallions, fennel, cinnamon, black pepper, tarragon, bay leaf, orange peel, and saffron in your cooking.
3. Health to a tea. There are a number of teas that you can make for yourself that will help reduce symptoms. Enjoy chamomile tea, valerian tea, red raspberry tea, and hawthorn berry tea. These teas will help you relax and reduce the pain of your symptoms. Also, "Ancient Treasures Tea" is a wonderful blend of herbs for balancing health and emotions. For more information, please click here.
4. Take magnesium supplements. It has been found that some women have reduced levels of magnesium in their blood when they're experiencing PMS. During the week before the onset of your cycle, take a daily dose of 500 milligrams of magnesium combined with 50 milligrams of vitamin B6 to reduce cramps and pain.
5. Keep a food log. It is very possible that you are experiencing severe menstrual-related symptoms because your body is reacting to a certain food in your diet. To find out what these trigger foods might be, keep a log of everything you eat for the week before the onset of your cycle. Experiment with removing certain foods from your diet and see if the severity of your symptoms is reduced.
6. Try a mind/body exercise routine. Try a moving meditation practice such as tai chi or Qi Gong to help calm and balance your emotions.
7. Avoid salt, alcohol, caffeine, and, yes... chocolate. Given how much you probably crave these four items, it may seem like a grave injustice on your body to abstain from having them! Consuming these things during the premenstrual phase of your cycle, however, may exacerbate symptoms associated with PMS. If you feel you must absolutely have something on this list, consume it in moderation-particularly the chocolate.
8. Breathe. Remember that no matter how difficult these symptoms may be to face each month, they will be over soon. If things get particularly tense for you, take five, long, deep breaths in and out through your nose. This will bring you balance and calmness immediately.
I hope you find success in using these tips for lessening your PMS. As always, I welcome you to share any thoughts or tips of your own that you find to be helpful during this time of the month.
May you live long, live happy, and be free of pain!