Herbal Remedies for PMS

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I don't know about you, but when I have PMS I don't like to reach for the standard over the counter medicines like Midol. For one, they don't really do anything to help the problem itself - they're really just designed to make you feel better.

As an herbalist, I believe that eating right, exercising, and balancing your hormones gently with herbs is a better approach. In other words, I like to use natural herbs for PMS instead of relying on medication to just numb the pain, relieve the anxiety, or to give me energy.

The link I shared above is for an article I wrote that talks about some top herbs for PMS. In the article I listed

• Chaste tree berry

• Licorice root

• Dandelion

• Evening Primrose Oil

All of these are considered wonderful herbal remedies for PMS.

In the herbal tradition that I follow (the wise woman tradition) we don't believe in shocking our body with harsh herbal medicines and complicated blends. We believe in nourishing our bodies with the right nutrients and using herbs that also fit the "nourishment" purpose.

In looking at the list, the first two natural remedies I'd try are dandelion (especially fresh spring greens right from the lawn) and evening primrose oil. And bear in mind that it may take several months for your hormones to balance out so you may not notice that much of a difference right away.

Do you have success treating your PMS naturally?

Keeping Your Liver Healthy with Herbs

The liver is one of those organs that we often don't think about until it stops working. Whenever we drink or eat something, or liver steps in. It helps metabolize fats and the foods we eat and helps regulate our weight.
So what's the problem? It has TOO MUCH work to do. Obesity, taking medication, drinking too much, etc can all affect the way the liver functions. In other words, it is easy for the liver to get overworked which throws the body out of balance.

In Chinese Medicine, practitioners often help their clients restore liver health as a vital first step to any healing program. I believe in doing something similar. But instead of waiting for health to decline, I like to take herbs that are good for the liver on a constant basis.

Here are some of the herbs I use:

• Milk Thistle
• Dandelion Root
• Burdock Root

I go into greater detail about the herbs in an article I wrote: How to Use Herbs for Liver Health.

I also enjoy certain foods that have liver cleansing properties. Foods like lemons, artichokes, and watermelon are a vital part of my diet.