A-Z menstrual health Articles

The chaste tree berry received its name from the ancient Greeks and Romans because they believed it decreased the female libido, thus ensuring chastity. Historically, it has been eaten and worn by Monks to promote celibacy. However, it is now known that chaste tree berry triggers a gland in the brain that produces hormones that in fact, stimulate sex hormones.

How Does Chaste Tree Support Health?

Its modern medicinal uses are also related to sex hormones. Active ingredients of chaste trees have been noted to affect the pituitary gland. This gland is located in the brain and produces hormones that stimulate the production of sex hormones in other areas of the body. It also contains chemicals that have the ability to stimulate human progesterone receptors and favour the production of luteinizing hormone over follicle-stimulating hormone. These hormones are used in the female body to support pregnancy and lactation, but their effects can also help other female complaints.

Modern Medicinal Benefits of Chaste Tree Berry

While there are many medicinal and historical uses for this nutrient, natural health practitioners recommended chaste trees for conditions such as PMS, acne and menstrual cramps; hot flashes, vaginal dryness and other menopausal symptoms; insufficient milk production and first-trimester miscarriages.

Chaste Tree Berry Supplement Varieties

Purchasing a quality chaste tree berry supplement is important to ensure potency and purity. Chaste tree comes in many supplement varieties and the format is up to individual preference. It can be purchased as a loose herb, tincture or encapsulated herb. Better quality supplements are standardized which is an assurance that the product contains chaste trees and contains active properties. The berry contains the greatest concentration of active ingredients.

Potential Side Effects

Although natural health practitioners may recommend it to pregnant women, chaste trees may induce menstruation and should be used cautiously. It may alter hormonal cycles and theoretically can interfere with birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. It alters dopamine levels and may affect drugs for seizures, Parkinson’s and mental disorders.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects women during the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle and usually subsides when the menstrual flow begins. Many womenconsider these symtpoms normal, but hormonal imbalance causes them. Diets rich in animal products, sluggish liver function, lack of sleep, stress, inactivity, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, heavy metal toxicity, and food allergies aggravate or contribute to PMS symptoms. Let's explore the typical symptoms of PMS, ways to alleviate them, and conventional and natural support for PMS.

Types of PMS

PMS is broken down into 4 classifications. PMS-A (anxiety) has anxiety, irritability and insomnia. PMS-C (craving) has increased appetite, sweet cravings, headache, fatigue, fainting spells and heart palpitations. PMS-D (depression) has depression. PMS-H (hyper-hydration) has weight gain, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness and swelling of the face, hands and ankles. Most women suffer from a combination of these subtypes. Other PMS symptoms include abdominal cramps, backache, and skin problems.

PMS Treatments & Support

Conventional PMS Support

Conventional treatment of PMS involves the use of oral contraceptives to artificially regulate hormonal changes. 

Natural PMS Support

Natural treatment of PMS includes liver and bowel cleansing. The liver is the organ that is responsible for processing hormones. The bowels are responsible for excreting processed hormones. Performing liver and bowel cleansing will help to decrease PMS by ensuring proper functioning of these organs. See the section on detoxification for more information.

Dietary Support For PMS

The nutritional approach to PMS should include these three facets: balancing hormones, providing nutrients specific to women’s health, and reducing symptoms.

Balancing hormones can often be a challenge. The symptoms that we experience as women during PMS are merely one example of how these very powerful substances in our bodies can have a profound effect on our health, well-being and enjoyment of life.

Many PMS symptoms are caused by an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. You can optimize your progesterone levels with supplements like primrose oil and borage oil. Both sources contain essential fatty acids like GLA. The body uses GLA to produce important hormones. Take vtiamin B6 with GLA for proper utilization. Apply progesterone cream topically when appropriate.

Decreasing overactive estrogen levels is equally important as optimizing progesterone production. Dong quad helps block estrogen activity in the body. It competes with estrogen at receptor sites.

D-glucarate supports the liver in reducing excess estrogen. It helps produce enzymes that break down estrogen. Milk thistle can provide benefits for the liver in this respect, too.

Providing nutrients specific for women on a daily basis can make a big difference for hormonal health. An overall nutritional supplement, such as a complete multivitamin specifically for women, or a green food supplement, both provide important micro- and macronutrients for optimal nutrition. Essential fats, B vitamins, amino acids, and trace minerals are important because they are all needed for the balancing of hormones. The mineral iron is important because of the loss of haemoglobin during menstruation.

Reducing The Symptoms of PMS

• Depression and mood swings often worsen PMS symptoms. Optimizing neurotransmitter levels helps stabilize mood during PMS. St. John's Wort improves mood and reduced anxiety and 5 HTP supports serotonin production in the brain. Do not use either of these with prescription antidepressants. Melatonin supports sleep and may improve mood. Take each supplement with vitamin B6 to enhance effectiveness.
• Cramp relief can be found with Cal-Mag supplements. Use citrate or chelate forms for better absorption. Magnesium relaxes uterine muscle contractions. Vitamin E may also reduce muscle cramps.
• Water retention can be relieved with herbs such as horsetail, marshmallow, and dandelion.
• Cravings can be reduced with blood sugar stability. Green food supplements in protein shakes help control cravings. Chromium improves insulin function and reduces cravings. Glutamine helps reduce appetitie and food cravings.

Lifestyle Support

Balance in lifestyle and environment supports hormonal balance. Regular exercise reduces PMS-related stress and symptoms. Castor oil compresses reduce abdominal cramping and water retention. They also support detoxification and hormone processing.

Dietary Support for PMS

Diet affect hormones, neurotransmitters, and prostaglandins. A vegetarian diet helps reduce excess estrogen levels. Animal protein may increase PMS by affecting anti-inflammatory hormones. Cold-pressed oils like flax, hemp, sunflower, and sesame support hormone balance. Magnesium, vitamin B6, and vitamin E foods reduce symptoms.

Eat wheat germ, nutritional yeast, cabbage, cantaloupe, alfalfa, figs, nuts, lemons, and grapefruit. Fermented dairy supports gut bacteria and hormone balance. Gut bacteria help regulate estrogen metabolism in the intestine. Drink 2 liters of filtered water daily. Avoid salt, processed foods, caffeine, alcohol, and non-fermented dairy.

What is Yarrow?

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a flowering plant that was used in ancient times to stop the bleeding from battle wounds. More recently, it has primarily been thought of as a tonic for the digestive and female hormonal systems. Yarrow has a number of beneficial effects on health; It is useful as a sedative, anti-inflammatory, digestive, antispasmodic, and tonic. It can be used to treat conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, muscle spasms, digestive disturbance, diarrhea, headaches, pain, fevers, and the symptoms of the common cold.

Key Health Benefits of Yarrow

Digestion and Antispasmodic

Yarrow can be used as a digestive bitter that promotes the increased secretion of digestive juices. This increases the secretion of saliva, stomach acid, digestive enzymes and bile, all of which promotes better digestion and help to alleviate symptoms of gas, bloating, and constipation. Because it also has antispasmodic abilities, it can help to reduce spasms in the digestive tract, including IBS and gallbladder attacks.

Hormonal Effects

Recent research has indicated that yarrow may contain phytoestrogens, which are plant-derived chemicals that act on estrogen receptors in the human body. This allows it to help balance female hormones by covering for a deficiency and blocking an excess of estrogen. It was also traditionally used as a tonic for the uterus, which helps to relieve menstrual cramps and stop excessive menstrual bleeding.

Slows Bleeding

The traditional use of yarrow to stop the bleeding from open wounds has since been supported by research. Applying the leaves to a wound can help to slow the bleeding. It has also been found to slow excess menstrual bleeding. Interestingly, taking it internally has also been shown to stimulate circulation and may be able to help lower blood pressure. Because of this, yarrow is thought to be a blood regulator, and will either promote circulation or slow the blood as required.

Antibiotic

The aerial parts of yarrow are also used to help break up phlegm, a common symptom of infection. Extracts of yarrow have been shown to have antibiotic activity and also to act against certain mutated cell types in a test tube.

Anti-inflammatory

The ability of yarrow to reduce inflammation and inflammation-associated pain has been well established. It can help to reduce the effects of the common cold and can help with the treatment of fever by promoting a healthy sweat.

Cosmetics

Yarrow is often added to cosmetics and personal hygiene products. It is valued for its astringent, cleansing and tonic effects on the skin. Since it is high in antioxidants, it is also valued for its protective and anti-aging effects.

Shopping For Yarrow

Most yarrow supplements are made as encapsulated or loose dried herb, or a tincture. It can be found alone or in combination formulas for digestion, bleeding, hormone regulation, and anti-inflammatory effects. The essential oil of yarrow contains thujone, a substance that is toxic and should only be used under professional supervision. It used to often be added to massage oils to be used topically as an anti-inflammatory for inflamed joints. It is also often found in cosmetics and cleansing hair products. The typical dose for loose or encapsulated herb is 4.5g per day in divided doses, although this is not based on research. Follow the manufacturer's directions on the product label of your supplement.