Beat that dreaded PMS (premenstrual syndrome) with a lil soothing therapy. Go ahead and treat yourself to a lil extra TLC, your body will thank you for it!

Traditional treatment

If PMS is making you way too sick (especially if you are unable to cope with the pain) for school, college or work, you should visit your doctor. They may advise you to go on a contraceptive pill to ensure that your cycle is more consistent and to exercise in the second half of your cycle to stimulate blood flow. It would be good if you could cut back on caffeine and taking vitamin B6 supplements as well as evening primrose oil will prevent irritability, headaches, tender breasts, fluid retention and depression.

Massage Magic

Aromatherapy massage is an ideal way to treat PMS.  A few drops of essential oils can work wonders for you and your whole being. Give yourself some kneading therapy, a few gentle strokes daily is good enough. You could also lounge in an aromatic bath if you prefer. Throw in fresh flowers and light-up scented candles and soak up the relaxation; inhaling all that aromatherapeutic properties. Yes, this is the perfect excuse and perfect time to pamper yourself! To ease depression, go for clary sage, bergamot or rose. For fluid retention, try sweet fennel, juniper, rosemary or geranium (professional lymphatic drainage massage works best).

Herbal Helpers

The easiest way to incorporate herbs to your system is in a heart-warming cup of hot tea. Instead of coffee, switch to lemon or chamomile tea to soothe and calm you. There are various flavours of tea can help to reduce the severity of PMS. For pain and cramping, try wild yam, black cohosh or cramp bark.  Go for passionflower, oats or skullcap when you are feeling irritable and St John’s wort to ease depression. Gentian, goat’s rue, sweet sumach and licorice can keep cravings, headaches and dizziness at bay. You can treat tender breasts and bloating with clevers, dandelion, corn silk or buchu. Seek the consultation of a professional herbalist to ease specific symptoms.

Exercise Effort

With all the irritability, pain, craving and uneasiness, you may feel like curling up and staying in bed till it all goes away. However, gentle exercise, such as walking can instantly boost your mood by releasing feel good hormones. Exercise also stimulates blood flow, which in turn help to ease pain and eliminate energy-draining stress. Yoga, meditation and Tai Chi can help stress while keeping you fit and emotionally balanced. Ayurvedic (a traditional philosophy from India) therapists advise drinking warm and hot water, meditating and sleeping when the earth’s energy enhances human energy (between 10pm-6am).

Sweet Seduction

If all else fails, you can never go wrong with chocolate. It’s delicious depression therapy! It may be chock-full of saturated fat and caffeine- which can worsen PMS- but studies have shown that small amounts of chocolate can actually make you HAPPIER! Yipee…..great to hear isn’t it? Eat five or six small meals (instead of three big ones) and stick to B6 and magnesium-rich foods such as unsalted nuts, fish, beans, bananas and dried fruit. Avoid sugary snacks (which will just send your blood sugar soaring) and eat calcium-rich yogurt or milk products, which is said to cut period pain by half.

Picture credits to: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, tyfn, kilgorebrian13, Ed Yourdon, eszter,   Salah Alhumaid - صلاح الحميد

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