8 Ways to Eliminate PMS Symptoms

Today I would like to share with you 8 things I add to my life as I am experiencing the symptoms of PMS and during my cycle. I find these items to be soothing and greatly beneficial in relieving pain, anxiety, bloating and a plethora of other symptoms. 

Clary Sage:
Clary Sage reduces insomnia, increases circulation, relives menstrual discomfort, and supports hormone balance. I find the smell to be calming and has a soothing effect when applied topically. I enjoy diffusing this oil at night w lavender but during my cycle I will also diffuse during the day w peppermint or citrus. 

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea:
Now this is something I have started drinking on a regular basis. I enjoy a cup per day but closer to my cycle I up the amount to three cups per day. Red Raspberry Leaf contains fragarine which tones and strengthens the pelvic region, specifically the uterine muscles. This makes them more efficient and helps relive the pain of menstrual cramps as well as controls bleeding. As I wrote about in this post, I drank Red Raspberry Leaf Tea during labor as it can encourage uterine contractions and I believe it helped w the pain during childbirth. 
It must be the actual Red Raspberry LEAF, not raspberry.

Raw Carrots:

When you consume carrots in their raw state, they help clear your body of excess estrogen.

Eating raw carrots helps to ease the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. This was my original encounter with balancing hormones naturally as I was suffering with severe PMS. I found carrots rid the body of excess estrogen, the culprit for physical (and sometimes mental) symptoms of PMS. During my pregnancy and after delivery I made sure to eat plenty of raw carrots and I did not encounter the hormonal acne or anxiety I experienced during my first two pregnancies.

This is a result of the remarkable fiber, unique to carrots and bamboo shoots that estrogen binds to. This is useful for breastfeeding mommas as high estrogen levels decrease your milk supply. It is also good news for suffers of PMS and menopause.

Dr. Ray Peat, “There are interesting associations between vegetable “fiber” and estrogens. Because of my own experience in finding that eating a raw carrot daily prevented my migraines,... Several women who suffered from premenstrual symptoms, including migraine, had their serum estrogen measured before and after the “carrot diet,” and they found that the carrot lowered their estrogen within a few days, as it relieved their symptoms.”
Full article and peer studies found here)

Acne Free:
If you suffer from hormonal acne or the breakouts that occur a few days before your cycle, I HIGHLY recommend this 3 step system skin cleansing system (found on Amazon here). This system calms my skin and clears up breakouts in days, if I am proactive  and actually use this before my monthly PMS begins then I will not experience the hormonal acne that generally occurs before my cycle. If you suffer from acne or oily skin, try it. It works.

Detox and rebound
Detox by drinking room temp water or warm water. Ice cold water freezes digestive enzymes and fluids in your gut which prohibits your body from digesting your food efficiently. This causes toxins to build up. Warm water encourages elimination of toxins and stimulates your lymph system. Warm water increase circulation which allows your body to focus it's energy on repairing your reproductive system during menstruation.

The rebounder, as you all know by now is one of my favorite ways to exercise. read more about how I exercise using a mini-trampoline here and why Nasa deemed rebounding the most effective form of exercise.

Pumpkin seed protein powder
When we moved into our camper I started a high protein eating plan. I was a little off schedule because of the big change (moving from 2800 sq feet to a small camper as a family of 6). One thing I did every day was eat yogurt mixed with peanut butter and this Pumpkin seed protein powder. I was surprised when I started my monthly cycle and I had absolutely NO symptoms and NO CRAMPS! This was highly unusual for me and I attribute it to the low carb high protein eating plan and the pumpkin seed. I have read a lot about seed cycling for hormones but I just don't have the time to devote to that. I knew I wasn't doing seed cycling so it wasn't the reason for my disappearing menstrual symptoms. What I did find was that pumpkin seeds contain large amounts of magnesium. Magnesium is a muscle relaxant and prevent migraines and helps w period cramps. Pumpkin seeds also contain high amounts of zinc which helps to regulate progesterone levels and decrease menstrual cramps. These seeds are rich in Omega-3s that reduce inflammation as well as rich in iron which your body loses during your cycle.
Admittedly, this protein powder is on the expensive side for being purely ground up seeds. I have decided to try purchasing these seeds in bulk and grinding them myself or adding them to my yogurt as a crunchy topping.

Evening Primrose Oil 
Evening Primrose oil  balances progesterone and estrogen levels. It also relieves bloating and mood swings. I do find that it helps control PMS induced anxiety. I usually take these 3-4 days before I start my cycle or anytime I start feelin anxious as a result of PMS.

 

I do find tremendous relief from my monthly cycle when I apply these items to my daily regimen during the week leading up to my period. I hope you find comfort in these as well.

Thank you for reading.

Grace & peace,

Adoring Family

7 Healing Home Remedies

on Apr 4, 2015 at 10:40am PDT

When someone in our family comes down with an illness there are several home remedies I run to...

1. Healing Chicken Soup

2. Super hot, fresh salsa

3. Silverbiotics

4. Essential oils

5. Probiotics

6. Green smoothies

7. Hot Totties

First thing in the morning I make green smoothies for the sickies and I give them a dose of Silverbiotics. I concoct "hot totties" as mentioned in this post. I then load my diffuser with Thieves and Frankincense and put on a pot of Healing Chicken Soup. I make a big batch of homemade salsa with fresh peppers, onions, garlic and cilantro if I have it. I confine the sickies to a specific couch for two reasons, one is rest and the other is to seclude all those nasty germies. I make sure everyone is cozy with pillows, blankets, books, tissues, water and essential oils.

Here's the breakdown of why we do what we do...

 

1. Healing Chicken Soup

When we are sick, there is nothing more comforting than homemade chicken soup. I put on a pot of it this morning because we all have little funk going on at our house. I am hoping it is just allergies but our sweet baby has a fever :( her first illness.

Healing Chicken Soup

2 cups chopped celery

2 cups chopped carrots

2 whole onions, chopped

6 cloves of minced garlic

1 whole, organic chicken

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Sea salt and pepper to taste

In a large stock pot, place all the veggies on the bottom and place the whole chicken on top of them. Fill the pot with water until it is covering the chicken with about two inches to spare. Sprinkle in sea salt and pepper and vinegar. Bring to a boil then turn down to a simmer for 6 hours. The longer the soup cooks, the more nutrients from the bones are incorporated into the broth. The vinegar is a vital ingredient as it helps draw the nutrients from the bones.

Chicken stock has anti inflammatory properties and contains calcium and magnesium. The stock produced is gut healing and contain amino acids that are similar to medicine found in over the counter cold and flu medicine. The soup is a natural decongestant. You will know you have concocted a good stock when the liquid gels after it is refrigerated.  We love the comforting smell of chicken stock on the stove.

2. Super hot, fresh salsa

Next, I make a big batch of homemade salsa with
fresh peppers, onions, garlic and sea salt.

The peppers are a natural decongestant so it will drain sinuses quickly preventing infection. Jalapeno peppers are full of vitamin c to help boost your immune system. Sea salt kills bacteria and clears the throat of germs.

Onions contain Quercitin which is a natural antibiotic with antiviral, antiseptic and anti-cancer properties. The onion is also anti-inflammatory.

Garlic is a natural antibiotic as well and contains allicin which is antifungal. To obtain these benefits it is best to consume raw, crushed or chopped garlic and wait at least 15 minutes to consume the garlic to utilize the maximum potency of the allicin. I have friends that take garlic like you would take a pill, swallowing it whole with a glass of water. Garlic contains vitamin C and zinc to help you battle your illness.

3. Silverbiotics

I am a firm believer in the power of Silverbiotics. It is a brand of colloidal silver, a natural antibiotic. Even hospitals put colloidal silver on bandages to help patients' wounds heal and fight infection. It is said to shorten the duration of a cold or flu. I have had success in using colloidal silver every time I had mastitis.  There are varying opinions on colloidal silver so I encourage you to do your research and draw your own conclusions but know that our family has enjoyed it's healing benefits for years.

4. Essential oils

We diffuse essential oils and apply them topically. Thieves of course, along with Frankincense. I rub both on the bottom of our feet (for the baby I use a carrier like coconut oil). I find the oils to be soothing healing. Frankincense is applied or diffused to relieve pain and congestion. Thieves contains clove, lemon, cinnamon,  rosemary and eucalyptus which cleanses the air and is antiviral and antibacterial. It also supports your lungs, sinuses and boosts immunity.

5. Probiotics
We  like to keep several sources of probiotics in our arsenal. I make homemade sauerkraut which provides gut friendly lactobacilli. The calcium, vitamin c and magnesium are increased during fermentation rendering it healthier than cabbage in its original state. I also brew water kefir which has a variety of probiotics by the trillion per serving.Water kefir  is an excellent source of B vitamins and minerals as well as natural antibiotic and anti-fungal qualities.  More information about both of those along with recipes coming in future posts :) Another probiotic source you may have heard of is Kombucha which is readily available at your local health food store or you can try brewing your own.

  

6. Green smoothies

We drink green smoothies for most of the day.

I believe it is extremely important to give your digestive system a rest when you are healing. This way your body is expending all of it's energy on healing itself and not wasting energy digesting your food. We avoid any dairy products. I am no expert but it has been my personal experience that dairy clogs our digestive systems and contributes to mucus production. Our favorite savory green smoothie recipe is found in this post.

7. Hot Totty
Our "Hot Totty" is a actually an apple cider vinegar drink that I wrote about here.

We feel instant relief when sinus symptoms arrive because the acid in the vinegar hinders the survival of the germs that cause a nasty sore throat. Lemon juice aids recovery from the common cold. We drink this apple cider vinegar drink daily but increase the frequency of consumption when we feel the slightest tingle in our throat or stuffy nose.

Our family wishes you good health but if symptoms do sneak their way in your home we hope you find some or all of these home remedies helpful.
Grace and Peace,
Adoring Family

Please note that we are not offering medical advice and these remedies are not intended to take the place of a doctor. We hope you understand that the user assumes all risk and responsibility for the outcome of any and all side affects incurred from these remedies.