PMDD! Does anything help?

Question

Willa · Answer

Magnesium, zinc and kelp (iodine): Incorporating these throughout the month almost entirely solved mood regulation for me; went from high on the misery scale to almost negligible. Helps a ton with cramps and fatigue too.

Jules · Answer

Prozac!

Meg · Answer

MCAS diagnoses: Hey so finding out if you have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome can be helpful. It causes a histamine intolerance and your body acts like it’s having a huge allergic reaction to hormonal changes monthly (inflammation, pain, brain fog, emotional upset). There is some emerging science around using an antihistamine during your symptoms. I’d research that and talk to an ND/MD who is familiar with MCAS!! It’s no joke and often goes unnoticed! Good luck. PMDD is awful 🩵

Frances · Answer

Honestly, finally seeing a psych and getting on SSRIs. I also recommend going to a gynecologist too. Having painful periods and other symptoms isn't normal! I found out that I have fibroids and funny enough that's also when my PMDD symptoms got worse/unmanageable with more natural remedies. I know we tend to look down on psych meds but for me that's the only thing that worked for my mental health symptoms.

sofie · Answer

A naturopath who takes your symptoms seriously.: Nothing like a doctor who takes the time to listen and is confident and curious enough to find solutions! For me, it was a handful of supplements, but Vitanica Women’s Phase I does some heavy lifting.

Rita Zwiefel-Macdonald · Answer

SSRIs and an Oura ring: I recently began taking Celexa for my PMDD and it is truly a game changer. I still fight with my brain, but it quiets the noise significantly and allows me to logically move through my luteal phase.

My Oura ring is also incredibly helpful in tracking my cycle and seeing when luteal starts to affect my heart rate/sleep/etc!

Paige Stewart Enslow · Answer

lexapro and birth control: you don’t need to raw dog your hormones! there is literally no reason for that.

Dylan · Answer

No cold drinks or foods on your period!: Ask any Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner and they'll tell you that drinking that cold beverage or eating a bowl of ice cream (as delish as that might be) is only going to make cramps worse. Replace cold and raw foods (like salad, smoothies etc) with warm and easily digestible foods (stews, soups, tea, bone broth).

"TCM views the menstrual cycles as the cycles of nature which correspond to the four seasons of Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn.

The season of Winter begins on day one of your bleed and ends on the final day of your bleed. This season is a time to rest and to release. Through winter, energy moves inward and downward as Blood leaves the body.

Just like Winter in nature, this season should be listened to for the body by slowing down, keeping warm, and consuming warm and easily digestible foods."

Dylan · Answer

Traditional Chinese Medicine (specifically: acupuncture): I've been seeing a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner for 15+ years, and it has truly changed my life. Issues that regular doctors haven't been able to figure out, TCM has fixed for me (def not saying don't see a regular doctor; TCM is just a wonderful complementary support).

Some articles about TCM below <3

Acupuncture and acupressure for premenstrual syndrome

Acupuncture and women’s health: an overview of the role of acupuncture and its clinical management in women’s reproductive health

Acupuncture: A Promising Approach for Comorbid Depression and Insomnia in Perimenopause

A new approach to overcoming antibiotic-resistant bacteria: Traditional Chinese medicine therapy based on the gut microbiota

Combined traditional Chinese medicine therapy for the treatment of infertility with polycystic ovary syndrome: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Effects and treatment methods of acupuncture and herbal medicine for premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder: systematic review

Integrative Management of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: The Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine

International Clinical Practice Guidelines on Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Dysmenorrhea: Development Protocol

Traditional Chinese medicine on treating premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Treating Gynaecological Disorders with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review

Dylan · Answer

Silly little mental health walks in nature: Just left the house for the first time in 9 days to go for a silly lil mental health walk in nature and found myself bawling my eyes out at this rainbow lorikeet just hanging outside his lil tree stump house. We stared into each other's eyes for a good 10 mins until he decided that was enough and retreated back inside his lil tree hole.

Dylan · Answer

Giving your cat 500 forehead kisses: i don't make the rules, this is just a legal requirement in my house.

Dylan · Answer

Magnesium & Aloe Vera Spray: perfect for helping you have sweeter sleeps and soothed muscles

Dylan · Answer

Epsom Salts 1kg: muscle pain relief

pino · Answer

prozac😁: It’s honestly changed my life for the better. i’m on the lowest dose possible and it’s made a HUGE difference

Rebekah Weston · Answer

PMDD what works for me. Acupuncture, Magnesium spray, and HTMA test if you can swing it.: I found an acupuncturist that had experience with hormone imbalances and generally women’s health, and went to her once a week for a month and plan to go back to her 1 or 2 a month but for now while I’m busy I use ear seeds on specific points on my ears during my luteal.

In part, having an hour once a week to semi meditate may also have helped lol.

The magnesium spray I use on my feet before bed every night.

It’s expensive but I also got an HTMA test, I found it very helpful. Gave me direction and also showed me that my body was depleted and struggling despite being generally “healthy”.

elaine · Answer

vitex for pmdd: i take prescription meds in addition that keep me alive. this is just supplementation, but it really does reduce my symptoms— not the rage, but the uncontrollable crying— and i’m happy to talk more about what else works! i’ve been trying to figure out a regimen for 6 long years.