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Menstrual Problems

Menstrual problems come in different forms and affect many women.  Some women experience pain, fatigue, light-headedness days before and during a period.  Other may have irregular periods, too little blood, skip periods for reasons other than pregnancy, or too heavy menstrual flow.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the most common disorder of menstrual problems.  It occurs days before menstruation.  Symptoms include abdominal bloating, acne, anxiety, depression, fatigue, headaches, insomnia, joint pain, water retention, drastic mood swings and debilitating cramps. 

Menstrual problems are usually caused by hormonal imbalance.  However, other medical conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine infection, fibroid cysts, tumors can cause similar symptoms.  It is important to consult a doctor if there are drastic changes in menstruation and if the symptoms significantly affect daily activities. 

Although PMS can be helped with drugs such as analgesics, gonadotropin inhibitors, antidepressants, tranquilizers, etc, these drugs can cause many side effects, including stomach bleeding, liver damage, weight gain, excess hair growth, hot flashes, headache, nausea.  A change in diet (avoid fried foods, alcohol, caffeine), nutritional supplementation, and regular exercise are safe alternatives for the relief of PMS.

Food supplements for menstrual problems:

Evening primrose oil

Vitamin B complex

Vitamin E

Black cohosh

Feverfew

California poppy

Hops

St. John's Wort

Valerian

Yarrow

Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis)

Search for combo formulas for PMS