There’s no doubt that PMS can be very miserable, and most women would not dispute it! There are as many varieties of PMS as there are women, so it’s best to follow an individualized treatment. That said, there are many natural medicines that can work wonders.
Watch out for Antidepressants
Some people with PMS take antidepressants, including Zoloft. While I applaud interest in discounting these drugs, use appropriate caution. This antidepressant drug is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). SSRIs are not thought to be addictive per se. However, discontinuing their use is known to produce physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms, a condition known as “SSRI discontinuation syndrome.” SSRIs do have the important advantage that the toxic dose is high, so they are much less likely to cause life threatening effects than some other psychoactive drugs.
It's a real concern for people taking the SSRIs. Discontinuation symptoms may include anxiety, numbness and tingling, weird dreams, agitation, depression and flu-like symptoms. The symptoms are ultimately not dangerous. They eventually go away on their own, but they are pretty uncomfortable while they are happening. I have spoken with patients who found it very difficult to discontinue an SSRI due to the discontinuation symptoms, and had to decrease the dose extremely slowly. Consult your physician.
Chinese Herbalism for PMS
Chinese herbal formulas designed to regulate the menstrual cycle or treat PMS almost always center on bupleurum, a “minor tonic.” “Chai Hu” (Bupleurum chinense) (“hare’s ear root” in English) is said to relieve “blood stagnation” in the liver. In women, liver stagnation can cause menstrual cramps, breast swelling, irregular menstrual flow, irritability and food cravings.
Chai hu is relaxing, so it can be very helpful in PMS with anxiety and irritability. Its liver supportive qualities help to reduce sugar cravings, a common PMS symptom.
Bupleurum is bitter and cool, so it is particularly good in women who are always hot or who are developing a fever.
Start the herb in capsules as soon as the symptoms begin. Take enough to stem the tide, and increase the daily dose to control the symptoms. The immediate premenstrual dose might be around 8 grams per day.
An Appalachian Herb Favorite
My personal favorite for PMS is blue cohosh root. It gets results in a lot of cases. As with the chai hu, increase gradually as needed, to a high of perhaps 5 grams per day if necessary. Careful, it can make you queasy of you increase the dose too fast. I like to use it in combination with wild yam root (for inflammation, not progesterone), and Chinese ho shou wu root (for long term hormonal balancing).
Many PMS symptoms hint at magnesium deficiency. In my experience, upping magnesium is about the most profound thing you can do for chronic problems, since a majority of Americans are deficient. And it is excellent for PMS in general. Take the mineral at just less than the dose that loosens the bowels (about 1,000 mg per day for most people).