Best Single Herb: Wild yam

Best Combinations: Wild yam; evening primrose oil; red raspberry, dong quai, ginger, licorice, black cohosh, queen of the meadow, blessed thistle, marsh-mallow

Other Helpful Supplements: B-complex vitamins; calcium/magnesium with vitamin D

Possible Causes: Constipation; water retention; hypoglycemia; stressed liver

Complementary Help: Avoid fatty foods; reflexology; acupuncture; cleansing the bowel

Premenstrual syndrome encompasses a variety of symptoms, which is why it is referred to as a syndrome. Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome include irritability, moodiness, nausea, bloating, cramping, facial break-outs, swollen abdomen or breasts, and tension. These symptoms are usually caused by an overproduction of estrogen and a lack of progesterone production, which is caused by unknown reasons. (We have to keep those men guessing don’t we?) Actually, since the liver has the job of filtering excess estrogens from the blood, a couple capsules of milk thistle added to your daily herb program can help. Milk thistle cleanses and boosts a sluggish liver and can help keep your hormones balanced.

Several herbs listed in this book can help you during any of these symptoms. For instance, see for nausea; and for menstrual troubles. Here we will address an herb used to help tame the wild feelings and tension that accompany PMS symptoms.

Wild Yam to Tame a Wild Woman

Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) is another one of God’s gifts to women. This herb has been misunderstood by some; it can be confused with the potato-like vegetable tuber, sometimes called sweet potatoes or candied yams that are served at many holiday dinners. Wild yam is different from these vegetables; although the herb is a root, too, it is derived from a tropical vine found in Mexico.

The Japanese discovered that they could derive steroid components from the wild Mexican yam species and process them many times to create steroid drugs. Drugs derived from the wild yam include oral birth control pills and corticosteroids. (However, if you really don’t want to get pregnant ladies, don’t rely on wild yam as a viable birth control!)

A component in wild yam called diosgenin is a hormone-like substance that acts like progesterone in the body. Progesterone is a female hormone that helps keep estrogen in check. When progesterone and estrogen are in the right balance in the body, women do not experience Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) symptoms.

Terms related to herbs or holistic health

Progesterone is a hormone made in the ovaries that helps keep estrogen levels in balance within the body to create harmony. If progesterone levels drop for some reason (menopause, PMS, and other unknown causes), there is nothing to keep estrogen in balance. The result is experienced as the cranky symptoms of estrogen overload — otherwise known as Premenstrual Syndrome.

This is why supplementing with wild yam during your usual PMS time can be helpful. This herb taken 10 days to two weeks before menstruation can ease PMS symptoms by assisting a hormonal balance. Wild yam is also used to relax muscle tissue, which can help ease menstrual cramps. Consider supplementing with wild yam if you have any spasmodic conditions in the muscles because this herb may be able to ease the pain associated with tension and cramping. Two capsules taken three times daily have been helpful for many, but dosage is always an individual thing.

A Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Plan

Evening primrose oil contains hormone-like substances and has also been helpful as a supplement for PMS suffers. My recommendation is that you try wild yam or evening primrose oil separately. If one doesn’t seem to work for you, try the other. How many tablets or capsules you take will depend on your body and will differ for everyone. If you are not working with an herbalist or practitioner who can guide you, read the label on the bottle and start there.

Cleansing the bowel can help take away that bloated feeling you get when PMS-ing. Also, B-complex tablets will help your body rid itself of excess water and should be considered as a daily supplement; you can increase your intake during Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) times.

Here are some helpful tips in keeping you more steady during your cycle:

• Supplement with wild yam or evening primrose oil capsules 10 days before your scheduled period, or try the combination listed in the table at the end of the chapter.
• Avoid excess salt in the diet, which can cause water retention and lead to bloating and irritability.
• Take extra B-complex vitamins to help get rid of excess water.
• Avoid fatty foods such as dairy products. These can actually have a change on your own hormones, so eat more vegetables, fruits, and grains.
• Try reflexology. This therapy has been studied extensively for its effectiveness on PMS symptoms.

Also keep your blood sugar in check; fluctuating blood sugar levels (see on hypoglycemia) caused by sugar consumption and a weak liver can cause a person to be irritable with or without Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).

Related posts:

1. WILD YAM Botanical name: Dioscorea villosa Family name: Dioscoreacaea Synonyms: Colic root, rheumatism root Part used: Root and rhizome MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS Glycoside and steroidal saponins, including diosgenin and dioscin, alkaloids, tannins, phytosterols, and starch PRINCIPAL USES • Spasmolytic in the treatment of uterine cramping, dysmenorrhea, and chronic pelvic pain • Spasmolytic in cases of urinary tract...
2. CHASTE TREE Botanical name: Vitex agnus-castus Synonyms: Vitex, Chasteberry, Monk’s pepper Family: Verbenaceae Part used: Fruit MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS The principal constituents are two labdane diterpenoids, including rotundifuran, vitexilactone, as well as vitexilactam A; flavonoids, including casticin, penduletin, chrysosplenol, isoorientin, and isovitexin; iridoids, including aucubin and agnuside; fatty oils, including caprinic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid...