PMS & PMDD: A Gyno-Spiritual Look At The Goddess Within

Dr. Lissa Rankin’s medical blog is based on her upcoming book What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend, which you can preorder here.

I’m a sufferer of severe PMS (my doctor calls it PMDD), and girl: SUFFER is the word. The whole issue is a stew of contradictory thoughts & worries for me. It mucks up my mojo worrying about how Goddess-dissing it seems that I have such problems surrounding my cycle. My condition is totally screwing up my relationship. I’m confused about treatment & what it all means, gyno-spiritually, if you will. I didn’t seem fair that I should have to endure this, all because Eve ate that damn apple.

I hear you, sister. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or its evil stepsister, the more severe premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), can rob even the best of us of our mojo for those few days before the menstrual cycle begins. You may feel like you’re rockin’ in love, joy, and acceptance 24 days out of the cycle, but the 4 days before your period you turn into a raging lunatic. If you feel this way, you’re so not alone.

Most women experience symptoms of PMS from time to time — mood swings, chocolate cravings, bloating, irritability. But the more serious PMDD can seriously affect your quality of life. Makes it hard to Own Femininity, eh? It’s enough to make a Goddess like yourself resent being born female. So what can you do?

Natural Tips For Minimizing PMS Symptoms

1. Eat a whole foods diet. You’ve heard it before, but it really does help. That means cutting back on sugar, refined carbohydrates, dairy, caffeine, processed foods, and saturated and hydrogenated (trans) fats, and instead adding fruits, veggies, and whole grains, especially during the luteal phase (second half) of your cycle. Sorry, but that means bye-bye chocolate.

2. Increase essential fatty acids by eating nuts, seeds, and fish.

3. Manage your stress effectively. Try yoga, meditation, massage, or guided imagery CDs.

4. Engage in regular aerobic exercise. A good, long hike helps regulate your hormones and your stress, and it builds up happy-making endorphins.

5. Take a multivitamin and 1200mg of calcium/day.

6. Talk to an integrative medicine doctor about how to use supplements to help your PMS symptoms. Alternative medicine therapies like acupuncture and Reiki can also help.

Next: Criteria for PMDD and the Gyno-Spiritual side of PMS

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Zion R.

6:25AM PDT on Sep 30, 2010

As a PMDD sufferer myself, here are some things that help me cope: meditation, regular physical activity, deep breathing exercises; supplementing with omega 3s, multivitamins and minerals; drinking peppermint and chamomile tea, eating lots of raw veggies, fruit, garlic, onions, ginger, nuts, and beans; drinking lots of water, and of course, spending time reflecting on the wonderful and helpful articles on care2! (Seriously, this site helped me tons).

I used to believe I was a victim and had no choice but to endure 2 weeks of hell every single month. But I realized that I do have a choice and that was to change my lifestyle habits. It entails a lot of sacrifice but in the end, it really is worth it.

September 30
send a green star

Santanita G.

9:28AM PDT on Sep 4, 2010

I am sorry to say that this article was not what I was looking for. I was under the impression I was going to find ALTERNATIVE TO WESTERN MEDICINE. If western medicine was actually working for me I would not be researching alternative.
What I have learned to help me is bananas, dong quay, Pecos Comfort Oil, herbal tea, and my husband has learned that a little love during this time goes a long way. He has also taught me how to be ready for it and has learned when its time to make me a nice cup of tea. At first I would get offended, but now I welcome it. Tea is better than the anti bitch pill sold in the drug store.

September 4
send a green star

Charla D.

9:23AM PDT on Sep 1, 2010

If you suffer with menstrual cramps there are several herbs you can try, and they are all very effective: Valerian (I like Gaia Herbs Liquicaps) -take 2-3 capsules and it relaxes the muscles that cause the cramps - also it will calm your nerves and help you sleep; Women's Precious (a Chinese herb formula - Mayway Herbs carries safe, good quality Chinese herbs); Crampbark. Don't underestimate the power of the Hot Water Bottle either! It seems so simple, but it really does work. It's very important to keep this part of our bodies' warm. Start placing it on your lower abdominal area (below the bellybutton) for up to 1/2 hour a day a couple of days before your period starts. Then continue to use as needed throughout your period.