Do you get bloated, have cramps, or become irritable in the days leading up to your period? If so, you’re not alone. Those and many other symptoms are considered part of premenstrual syndrome or PMS. It is supposed that almost 90% of women between the ages of 20 and 40 experience at least one premenstrual syndrome symptom, of which over 150 symptoms have been identified.

Treating these varied and vast symptoms can be nearly impossible with medications. Not to mention the symptoms are very unpredictable, being severe some months and milder others. Natural remedies allow you to dictate your treatment schedule, letting you decide how much attention your symptoms may require. Consider some of the following natural remedies to soothe your frustrating PMS symptoms.

Aromatherapy

The sense of smell can be incredibly powerful, capable of causing memory recollection as well as relaxation, excitation, and many other moods. Aromatherapy also has very few, if any, side effects, making it one of the safest natural methods for relieving stress and restoring emotional balance. Try some of the following scents by placing a drop or two of the oil into a warm bath and soaking for at least 20 minutes:

• Stress/tension: lavender or clary sage
• Water retention: juniper, grapefruit, or fennel
• Depression: chamomile, geranium, or bergamot

Yoga

Many women suffer from sore joints and muscles, headaches, and emotional stress (irritability, anxiety, and depression) just before menstruating. These symptoms can be relieved, and in many cases prevented, by utilizing the practices of yoga. Yoga uses gentle stretching and deep breathing exercises to clear the mind and soothe muscle tension.

When performed 3 or 4 days a week for 30 to 60 minutes at a time, yoga sessions accompanied by some soothing music can be incredibly relaxing, leading to the production of serotonin and endorphins within the brain which can lighten mood, relieve stress, and assist our ability to deal with pain.

Massage and Heat

Abdominal massages with the application of heat can be incredibly effective for soothing the pain of menstrual cramping. Massaging helps move the fluids which build up in the uterus just before menstruation. Heat applied to the skin causes the local dilation of blood vessels, increasing circulation which can help sore muscles. If you don’t have a heating pad you can create one by placing a washcloth warmed with hot water in plastic bag and then wrapping it in a towel.

Herbal Remedies

Black cohosh root and dong quai are two herbs commonly used to treat PMS symptoms. They both contain phytoestrogens which have been shown in German studies to relieve joint pain, headaches, insomnia, hot flashes and depression better than synthetic estrogen.

Both of these herbs can be found in herbal supplements.

The herbs in certain teas have a calming aroma as well as the ability to relieve physical symptoms like menstrual cramping and bloating. Dandelion tea has been reported to relieve the discomfort of bloating. The pain of menstrual cramping can be helped by drinking a cup or two of red raspberry leaf tea per day.

Make the weeks leading up to your period a lot more enjoyable for you and the people around you by using some of these trusted natural remedies.

Find a great Herbal Supplement for PMS here.

Sources:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0820/is_n247/ai_20380025/pg_3
http://health.howstuffworks.com/alternative-medicines-for-premenstrual-syndrome.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/premenstrual-syndrome/DS00134/DSECTION=7