Being a woman is a beautiful thing – females hold the power of creation for goodness’ sake! And all those incredible things your body can do, are made possible by hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that help coordinate core functions like metabolism, energy, mood, sleep, libido, and (you guessed it) menstrual cycles.
Natural Hormone Balance
To feel your best during menstrual cycles, establishing hormonal harmony is the name of the game. But if you struggle with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), then about one week prior to the start of your period, maintaining natural hormonal balance starts to get tricky.
PMS rears its head as your body begins to experience hormonal fluctuation in preparation for menstruation. Some of the physical and emotional symptoms of PMS have become tropes, like having highly specific cravings (*ahem* pass the chocolate), mood swings, or intense cramping. While others are less commonly known, like sleep disturbances or poor concentration.
Natural Remedies for PMS
With so many disrupting symptoms, it’s no wonder lots of women dread their periods. But if that’s you, luckily, Mother Nature’s got your back! Try out these science-backed botanicals the next time PMS symptoms start to (literally) cramp your style.
Saffron – Mood Balance
Saffron is one of the most revered herbs in the world, and for good reason. Its primary bioactive compounds, safranal and crocins, are known to support a host of science-backed benefits. And if you’re looking for a natural remedy for PMS you’ll be glad to know, mitigating mood swings is at the top of that list.
When adding saffron to your PMS wellness routine, note that extracts are going to give you the most bang for your buck. But not all saffron extracts are created equally. The flower itself is a beautiful violet bloom, but the safranal and crocins don’t live in the petals, they’re concentrated in the flower stigma. To get the purest and most potent form available, it’s the stigmas that should be gently extracted.
It's this kind of care and precision that was taken into account when formulating Radiant Mood®, our newest herbal offering for mental and emotional balance. Our SuperPure® saffron extract is sourced exclusively from the stigmas and included in research-backed amounts to ensure that you get the most out of its mood-balancing benefits.
Maca Root – Natural Hormone Balance
Maca root is aptly referred to as “The Fountain of Youth”. It's been revered in Peruvian culture for over 2,000 years for its ability to help establish a natural hormone balance and healthy libido. For women, maca can be a great ally during times – or even life stages – that are influenced by hormonal fluctuations, like PMS and perimenopause.
If you’re looking to add maca as a natural remedy to your PMS toolkit, here’s what you should know. Maca root is native to the Peruvian Andes mountains, so when it’s sourced from this region, it tends to be the most nutrient-dense. But because maca is so starchy, a precise extraction method is paramount to experiencing its benefits. Using a specialized process that degrades the starch with heat results in an extract that’s much more concentrated than its raw form (and easier on your tummy).
We kept all that in mind when including this Peruvian powerhouse in our newest herbal multivitamin Vita•Min•Balance® for Women. Perfect for establishing overall hormonal harmony.
Ginger – Healthy Inflammation Response
Known as “The Universal Healer”, be sure to add ginger to your list of herbal remedies for occasional menstrual cramps. Due to its ability to help maintain a healthy inflammation response, ginger is an herbalist’s dream when it comes to managing the discomfort of menstrual cramps.
It’s all thanks to its star bioactive compounds: gingerol and shogaol. Found in the essential oils of ginger root, these two compounds work overtime to help your body maintain a healthy inflammation response and regulate levels of prostaglandins.
If you’re looking to supplement ginger as an herbal remedy for menstrual woes, look no further than SuperPure® Ginger Extract. Starting with fresh, organic ginger root, we use an exclusive dual-extraction method to distill a whopping 25mg of gingerol and shogaol into each capsule. Making it an easy and effective way to integrate this herb into your PMS arsenal.
Lemon Balm – Balanced Stress Response
Used since the days of the ancient Greeks, lemon balm is truly a classic adaptogen (aka an herb known for its stress-relieving properties). Due to its ability to support GABA activity in the brain, it helps promote a healthy stress response and mood, as well as soothing sleep. Definitely what’s needed when dealing with the pains of PMS.
When it comes to using these lemony leaves as a natural remedy for PMS, supplementing an extract is going to be your best bet. The hallmark of a quality lemon balm extract? Rosmarinic acid. This valuable antioxidant is the bioactive compound driving all of lemon balm’s bodily benefits. So finding a lemon balm extract with quantified amounts of rosmarinic acid is a must.
If you want to experience the levity of lemon balm alongside eight other herbal adaptogens, reach for Stress Remedy™. Its exclusive synergy of organic extracts will keep you calm, cool, and collected while Aunt Flow is in town.
Achieving Hormonal Harmony
Remember: even during times of hormonal flux, your body is trying to establish equilibrium. It’s just that sometimes, it can use a little extra support. Luckily, Mother Nature is here to ease the discomfort of Aunt Flow’s monthly visits with an array of science-backed botanicals. From mitigating mood swings to soothing cramps, these powerful plants are perfect for establishing balance when you need it most.
