Chaste Tree Berries for PMS

Are you feeling uncomfortable, sever headaches, and extreme weakness? Experiencing great pain in your legs and lower abdomen?

Having mood swings with exaggerated naggings on your love ones? Your calendar holds the answer so quit doubting yourself for being insane.

All these symptoms indicate one thing: your menstrual cycle; these symptoms are commonly cold pre-menstrual syndrome.

Many women are already suffering from other menstrual problems, and the premenstrual syndrome is adding to these problems.

During this stage, some women are having problems such as increase and loss of appetite, cramps, severe headaches, and acne during PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome).

With these problems it offers, it is really essential to avoid it.

What Causes PMS?

Because of the wide range of symptoms it has, PMS remains a mystery and it is giving the experts difficulty in making a strong diagnosis.

Although have have already been a lot of advance theories to explain its causes, still it lacks strong and concrete proof; it is the reason why there hasn't been a specific treatment of it.  

However, these researches have commonalities: PMS springs from interactions and alterations between the levels of brain chemicals and sex hormones. With this, hormones and the neurotransmitters (those brain chemicals) must be regulated. Below are simple tips useful to ease the troubles PMS gives.

Easing PMS

1. Well-balanced Nutrition and Regulated Hormones

It is important to have a well-balanced nutrition and well-regulated hormones to ease the symptoms PMS is giving. Below are necessary things you should be including in your diet.
- Multivitamin - According to a recent study, women who take multivitamin suffers fewer symptoms of PMS that others who don't.
- Vitamin D and Calcium - Hormones which regulates calcium will react badly with progesterone and estrogen, which trigger PMS symptoms, if calcium and vitamin D intake is not enough.
- Iron, B6 and folic acid - The lack of these three can cause fatigue, anemia, and depression during PMS and menstruation. Balanced iron intake can lessen the risk of anemia; vitamin B6 and folic can maintain the metabolism of red blood cells, functions of the immune systems, and blood sugar levels.

2. Body and Mind Conditioning

It is important to battle PMS with a conditioned body and mind. Studies show that exercises and relaxations helps increase natural brain chemicals, endorphins, which give a feeling of well-being. If you are experiencing PMS try adding the following in your daily routine, it helps a lot.
- Yoga 
- Daily exercises and aerobics
- Relaxation with a cup of tea and aromatherapy

3. Natural herbal remedies for PMS

So far, the best known way in dealing with PMS is through natural herbal remedies. With herbs, hormonal imbalance can once again be back to its normal pace. Herbs of PMS are not only tested by today’s experts, but also of time (since it was already used during the ancient period). Following is a herb and a tincture recipe you could use as a home herbal remedy for PMS.

Chaste Tree Berries

The Chaste tree herb is one of the ancient Greeks' favorite remedy for PMS symptoms. Fielder recommends chaste tree berry, a favorite of the ancient Greeks, to help balance hormones and reduce PMS symptoms. In the British Medical Journal, a study on Chaste tree herb has been published and according to this study, chaste tree berries reduces PMS symptoms significantly over a period of three menstrual cycles. Women who are taking chaste tree herbs have had notable improvements in depression, irritability and headaches.

Chaste Tree Berry Tincture
 
Ingredients and Materials:
Chaste tree berries
A Quart glass container (with fitting lid)
100-proof vodka
Wooden spoon
Strainer
Amber bottles (with fitting lids)

*Note the ingredients and materials above can be bought in your nearest supermarket and herbal supplies shop or for your convenience, you can visit mountain rose herbs.

Instructions
- Place chaste tree berries in quart jar (one-third full).
- Add the vodka enough to fill the jar.
- Seal the mixture tightly, let it steep for at least six weeks.
- Using the wooden spoon, mash and squeeze the berries to release more liquid and gently strain the mixture.
- Pour the strained mixture into the amber bottles and keep it in a cool dry place.
- The mixture will last for years if done properly.

Precautions
Chaste tree may cause nausea to some because of its strong bitterness. And due to is hormonal actions, chaste tree should not be used during pregnancy.