Herbal Remedies and Treatments for PMS Relief

Women have been treating their PMS and other menstrual discomforts
with herbal remedies for centuries. Now in the western world we are
now opening up to the idea that there may be herbal remedies that are
more effective and safer than synthetic drugs. There is a lot of
information available on herbal remedies, so stay informed about these
remedies since new studies are being published on them regularly.

There is a large variety of herbal remedies available in the
marketplace for PMS. Among them is viburnum (also known as "cramp
bark") which can be taken in a mixture of 30 to 60 drops of tincture
in warm water. It can help relieve cramps, relaxes muscle tension,
reduces spasms, improves digestion, and can reduce anxiety. However,
you should not take viburnum if you are currently taking medications
for cardiovascular diseases.

Dandelion is an herb which is rich in vitamin A, potassium, and iron.
Taken two cups a day, dandelion can reduce the effects of
menstruation, including reduction or elimination of water retention,
swollen breasts, spasms, anemia, acne, and inflammation, as well as
other health issues. The American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (ACOG) has recommended that some herbal treatments can
be beneficial to PMS sufferers.

Herbal sedatives such as valerian, passionflower, wild yam, motherwort
and chamomile are great for treating anxiety, mood swings and
depression related to PMS. A common garden weed called purslane
contains omega-3 oils, which also help to relieve PMS symptoms. You
can eat purslane raw or cooked, or in the supplement form if you don't
have this garden weed at home. Both ginseng and Siberian ginseng can
help to stabilize blood sugar and alleviate depression and fatigue, if
these are some of the effects of your PMS.

ShareGuide.com recommends three concoctions that can alleviate
symptoms of PMS. These include (1) "High Tide Tea" which is made
using dandelion, oatstraw, chamomile, raspberry leave, rose hips, and
ginger root; (2) a menstrual bath which consists of lavender flowers,
rose petals, chamomile, and hops; and (3) "Moontime Footbath" using
rosemary, lavender, and mugwort.

Evening primrose oil, which contains a gamma-Linolenic acid (GLA), may
also assist in reducing PMS symptoms, although a study published in
the Medical Journal of Australia could not definitively determine its
effectiveness where 466 PMS sufferers were given either evening
primrose oil or a placebo. Other herbs that can help are chaste tree
berry (also referred to as vitex) and dong quai.

Note: Statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA, and
should not be considered as professional medical advice.

© 2007, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Would you like to know more about
<A HREF="http://www.amoh.org/">natural and alternative remedies</A>
for common Women's Health problems such as <A
HREF="http://www.amoh.org/Endometriosis/">Endometriosis</A> and <A
HREF="http://www.amoh.org/Vaginal-Yeast-Infections/">Vaginal Yeast
Infections</A>? Visit AMOH.org for tons of free, in-depth information,
help, and specific recommendations you can use right now!