The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by S.a (Savannah, Ga) on 03/05/2011
★★★★★
Took two tablespoons in a glass of water for 2 weeks straight before menstruation and LO AND BEHOLD no menstrual cramps pms or headaches!!! This is a miracle cure and I will continue to take it to see what else happens ;)
Flax Seed Oil
Posted by P.b. (Cape Breton, Ns) on 02/16/2011
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Just another comment on flaxseed oil for PMS! It worked wonders. 1000 mg/day, every day, and no mood swings (formerly debilitating for me) or breast tenderness.
There was a side effect though - it shortened my cycle by a week. I couldn't stand that so I'm off it now. But haven't found anything else yet that worked as well.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Molasses
Posted by T (Maryland, Usa) on 01/30/2011
Hang in awhile longer with the ACV and molasses. I remember breaking out and such when I first used them; it did pass.
For the PMS, B6 may help (I'd take a good B-complex, plus some extra B6 at PMS time). 5-HTP has been effective for some, so you might want to look into that as well.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Molasses
Posted by Paula (Ã…s, Akershus, Norway) on 01/29/2011
★☆☆☆☆
I suffer from dramatic mood changes, anger problems, weight gain and spots on my face with every period :(
I started drinking a glass of water with two teaspoons of ACV and one of molasses every morning and have been doing it for a month now. Not sure if it's related to it, but after months of being pretty regular, my mood changes came on day 14 on my cycle instead of right before my period. The spots on my face did not go away, and even got stronger right after my period!
I did not gain the traditional 2 kg but the cramps were maybe a bit more painful!
Does anyone know how long does it take to see the effects of drinking this mix? Should I be drinking it twice a day? Should I wait a little longer? My skin and hair are pretty dull too... I thought ACV was a miracle skin enhacer! :(
Any help will be appreciated!
Apple Cider Vinegar, Molasses
Posted by Diane (Berkeley, Ca) on 01/25/2011
I use ACV - perhaps 3x or 4x a week. I am quite thin, but not as thin as you (115 lbs at 5'-3"). I have not noticed any change in weight whatsoever. I suspect that people who lose weight have some underlying metabolic problem that it is addressing. It does nothing in that regard for me (luckily).
Apple Cider Vinegar, Molasses
Posted by Elise (Sacramento, Ca, United States) on 01/24/2011
Hi everyone, I'd like to try ACV to reduce bad cramps, pms-related acne, and bowel bloating/diarrhea related to pms. However, I don't want to lose weight; I am naturally underweight as it is (about 115 lbs. At 5' 6.5". ) Why does Apple Cider Vinegar cause weight loss (according to what I've read in this thread) and is there any way to NOT lose weight while taking it? Also, does anyone know if Apple Cider Vinegar would interact negatively with the prescription meds Effexor and Lamictal? I take both daily. Thanks so much!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by G (San Diego, Ca) on 01/21/2011
Now it is my turn to share my experience with ACV. Since the last update was so long ago, and I would like to share it with others. I have been using AVC for the last 2 months, and it has definetely helped to relief the PMS symptoms (server bloating in the tomach region, heavy menstrual) I can't say that they are nonexistence, but it is so much better than what I have been sufferring for the last several years. Thank you for all who had share thier wonderful experience, and helping me solve this nasty feeling as well, I can't wait to keep trying this for another few months, since 2 months is a short time.
Turmeric
Posted by Ee (New York, Ny) on 12/19/2010
★★★★★
Hi Kathy -
Yes, I had a morning tea of hot water, 1 heaping tsp of turmeric, 1 tbsp on black strap molasses or honey, 2 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar, and a dash of cayenne pepper. Honey makes it more palatable than BSM, but the BSM has iron, magnesium, and calcium - all which are good for PMS and PCOS. I drank it twice a day, or sipped it throughout the day. I stopped for a few months and noticed that the symptoms returned - depression, PMS, etc, - so I just started back once a day. Hope that's helpful! Really, it's the only thing that normalized my hormones!
Soy
Posted by Jacqueline (Phoenix, Az) on 10/17/2010
★☆☆☆☆
I actually think I went through something similar to you. I had used that same powder in the past and my PMS symptoms have just been seeming to get worse each month. After a food intolerance test revealed that I had a severe intolerance to SOY I cut it out and the pain I had under my left breast has gone away and my breasts are not swollen or tender like they usually are this time of month, so I'm hoping that next month some of my emotional symptoms will go away too from eliminating soy.
Turmeric
Posted by Kathy (Las Vegas, Nv) on 09/19/2010
Just a few questions... Did you take all together, how many times a day and what amounts? Thank you!
Turmeric
Posted by Ee (New York, Ny, United States) on 09/18/2010
★★★★★
Over the summer I started drinking turmeric with ACV, BSM, and cayenne pepper for general health that all three indicated. I noticed that within a month my extreme PMS had completely subsided, so much so that my cycle arrived as a surprise, without me having the nervous breakdown that had usually accompanied my periods for the past decade or so. 4 months later I'm still symptom free and went to the doctor to get a blood test to make sure everything was alright. Turns out my hormones are balanced for the first time in my life! The only change I made to my diet was my daily turmeric tea, which as it turns out, has been used by women in India to balance hormones... The doctor said my levels normalized so much that I should have little to no symptoms of PCOS. I have tried everything - every natural remedy I could think of - but have not had the success of plain ol' turmeric.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Cleoppa (Cleburne, Tx) on 08/28/2010
★★★★★
I discovered several years back that if I took iron throughout the month, my period would be less severe, I wouldn't breakout and I wouldn't have any other icky symptoms. However, I stopped taking it because if I didn't take it just right (very, very slowly and with food) it would make me sick. Then I started adding blackstrap molasses to my morning smoothie. I'm pretty sure it's the high iron content in it that has the same positive benefits--and it's not a chore to get it down every day.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sarah (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) on 06/04/2010
★★★★★
I was drinking 2tsp ACV with 10oz water twice a day for a month or so, and then decided maybe I should stop for a while so that my body don't get lazy. Lo and behold suddenly I was a raging lunatic, irrational, just angry and irritated for the smallest things. Realized it was PMS which I missed it last month (got my period without PMS), wasn't sure if it was due to ACV but had 1 tbsp in a big glass of water in the evening and this morning I'm relaxed and normal again still couple days away from my period. So, will continue to drink it from now on, I highly recommend...
Iodine
Posted by Sarah (Denver, Co) on 05/31/2010
★★★★★
I started a high dose of oral iodine (12 mg) plus the absorptions supplements (Calcium, Magnesium, Selenium, C) Ted had listed that are needed with iodine for my Hashimotos. It happened to be 4 days before my cycle started. This is the first cycle in my life (41 yrs old) that I did not have a two day migraine and now my cycle started with no cramps. I am dumbstruck. I always spend 2 days with the headache and then two more in bed vomiting/diarrhea/cramps. I have been to Dr.'s to no avail my entire life. I also did not have the typical irritability, irrationality, and depression either. I will post again if they come back next time. But I have a strong feeling they won't. I only took them for 4 days and then was on the three day break before I started taking them again.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Stephanie (Orlando, Fl) on 05/15/2010
★★★★★
I started to take acv and baking soda about a month ago. My reasoning is for my pms, it has been progressively been getting worse over the past year. I really didn't want to go back on birth control since it made me gain weight. I am happy to say that I have had no cramps, bloating, chest swelling and it came a week early. Plus another bonus is that I have lost some weight. My emotional levels were so up and down I felt like I was going crazy during my period. And for the first time ever! i feel normal during my period. Thank you so much I would have not known about this cure without this site!
my recipe is-
2 table spoons of acv and 1 tsp of baking soda with 10 oz of cold water once a day :)
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Selene (Valletta, Malta) on 01/13/2010
How much ACV and baking soda do u take?
Apple Cider Vinegar, Blackstrap Molasses, Natto
Posted by Dawnrivers (Barnwell, Sc, USA) on 12/21/2009
Sharon I can't find natural natto, is the pill form less potent?
Holy Basil
Posted by Lisa (Coto De Caza, Ca) on 10/12/2009
★★★★★
Holy Basil for Irritability: Since I started peri menopause, I noticed that I can get very grumpy and irritable. Taking 1 Holy Basil first thing in the morning helps a lot, just ask my husband and kids.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Kathy (Bowling Green, Ohio, USA) on 09/07/2009
★★★★★
Black Strap Molasses cured my IBS. I have suffered with alternating constipation and diarrhea for ten years. In the last few years mostly diarrhea at least once everyday. I started taking BSM for my anemia after reading your website and was pleasantly surprised to find that it also cured my IBS. And it got rid of any PMS issues. I have no pre-menstrual symptoms at all. Mine was never terrible, but what little I had was gone. I was so excited that I shared this info. with my sister who has the same issues as me with the IBS and she has worse PMS...and she was thrilled with the results! Wow! I take 1 tbls. each night before bed. I use the sulphured molasses...tastes nasty to me, but it's worth it!
Chasteberry
Posted by P.B. (Winnipeg, MB) on 07/29/2009
★★★★★
PMS - hormonal moodiness/depression
I just wanted to write about the success I've had with chasteberry (sometimes called chastetree berry or vitex) for PMS moodiness (read "madness"). I take, I believe it is 80 mg, 3x per day. I begin it as soon as I start to feel the moodiness coming on and continue as long as needed; it seems to be work right away. Apparently it helps to regulate hormone levels. However it works, it is amazing - it's given me an extra two weeks per month of normality.
It's a bit harder to find than some other supplements but you can sometimes find it as an ingredient in PMS or menopause supplements if you can't find it alone.
I've also found that apple cider vinegar is fantastic for bloating/water retention!
Soy
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn.) on 07/09/2009 490 posts
Hello Mika,
Have you ever taken a magnesium supplement to get rid of the PMS symptoms? This mineral is one a lot of people are deficient on and it does a lot of different things in our bodies from blood pressure, heart rates to PMS symptoms decrease!
Soy
Posted by Rose (Tampa, Florida) on 07/09/2009
Soy is not for everyone. There are wonderful benefits, however there are also some hidden dangers.....it causes anemia among other things and can also cause hypothyroidism.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kristy (Los Angeles, CA) on 05/26/2009
★★★★★
After reading about it on this website, I decided to try ACV to cure my PMS. It was terrible before--drastic mood swings, depression, heavy bleeding--a real nightmare. So in a state of desperation I mixed two tablespoons ACV and one tablespoon blackstrap molasses in a large glass of water, and continued every day this month. I'm happy to report that my period came almost without warning--my mood has been stable and positive, my bleeding is lighter... I'm a normal person again! This has been a real godsend. In addition, my skin tone is now even, and I'm back to jogging because my knees feel great.
I've also been oil-pulling this month, using sunflower oil, and taking more calcium. In the coming month, I plan to switch to sesame oil and also to drinking the acv twice per day. Will post any differences I observe. Thanks to all who posted about ACV!!!!
Evening Primrose Oil
Posted by Stacia (Port Orange, FL) on 04/12/2009
★★★★★
Evening Primrose Oil cured my PMS, cramps and my scaly-dry-itchy skin within a few days-weeks. My skin saw relief withing a few days. I started taking it for the first time a few weeks before my period and it was actually a shock when my period started because I had NO warning as usual. My PMS was bad enough that I knew to the hour when my period would start. Not anymore! That is the only downside, but I'll take it! :) I've used two brands..both 1300 and 1350 mg work. I take one a day religiously, but two a day if I think about it. The bottles say you can take 1-2 softgels a day. My skin is normally very oily, but sometimes I get combination skin where it gets very scaly, dry, itchy and UGLY! The evening primrose oil has COMPLETELY solved this issue. I was on birth control pills as a child of 14 for debilitating cramps and what a nightmare that was. I will never play around with my hormones again. I gained a lot of weight, got heart palpitations, grew excess hair everywhere...I don't recommend birth control pills to anyone. As a 31 year old and still dealing with terrible periods, this is a lifesaver! No more cramps, no more crazy PMS symptoms (and I had them all...sore breasts, moodiness, depression, lethargy..etc). Thank you Earthclinic! I tell everyone about this site, use it all the time and everything that I've tried here is fantastic!
Dong Quai Tea
Posted by Briona (Los Angeles, CA) on 02/27/2009
★★★★★
For a few decades, I had the most painful cramps and horrible PMS. A few months ago, I started drinking a large cup of Dong Quai tea every afternoon - except during my period, and since then, no more cramps, no more PMS. My husband loves it - and me too.
Milk Products
Posted by Melinda (Tucson, Arizona) on 01/24/2009
★★★★★
Yea-I started taking calcium pills for PMS some time ago, I usually start taking them a week before my period, they cut back on the overall PMS symptoms, as well as the pain from cramps, irritability, etc. when I do actually start. I notice I will sometimes "crave" cheese products and milk during this time as well, and I think it's just my bodies way of trying to get me to take in more calcium. This is the only time of the month I take it so as not to overdue it. The calcium in extra strength tums works like calcium pills too.
Milk Products
Posted by Janis (Renton, Washington) on 11/23/2008
Andrea, thanks for your reply. I was hoping to get the word out in case others didn't know of this. So thanks for confirming.
Milk Products
Posted by Andrea (Ontario, Canada) on 11/22/2008
★★★★★
Janis you are so right about this. A lack of Calcium in the body can be responsible for over 150 diseases. So many people think it is just for healthy bones and teeth but it is needed for so much more. eg. muscles need it to release their contractions. I know so many women that take calcium supplements or the husbands automatically run for milk products when the cycle approaches!
Milk Products
Posted by Janis (Renton, Washington) on 11/22/2008
★★★★★
My daughter had suffered from horrible pms.When she was younger I watched her moods after foods that she consumed.When she had pms and consumed a milk product her mood went from irritable or angry to happy.So when you are suffering from pms try consuming a milk product like cheese, milk or ice cream and see if that helps your pms. It worked for my daughter and still does.
Lugol's Iodine
Posted by Jess (San Fran) on 10/20/2008
★★★★☆
I started to take a few drops of Lugol's in water early last week. On the 3rd day, I got my period. I think the Lugol's made it come earlier than usual, but I will have to mark it on a calendar for the next few months to know exactly how much earlier it arrived. What was unusual is that I had NO PMS! No wild hormonal swings, no irritation, no breast tenderness. My period just arrived without fanfare ha ha. The next unusual thing that happened is that I got PMS symptoms (irritablity) on the 1st day of my period, instead of 4 days before... It lasted for a few hours and then all was well in the universe once again. I stopped taking it after 5 days, but will start up again in about 2 weeks. I'd say its a MAYBE remedy for PMS.
Magnesium
Posted by Patti (Ewing, NJ) on 09/06/2008
★★★★★
A long time ago I read about a natural cure for hormonal mood swings, (PMS symptoms) and I read that if you have the type of PMS where you are cranky it works to take a Calcium/Magnesium supplement but the Magnesium amount has to be more than Calcium. There's a popular supplement available that has twice the magnesum to calcium ratio. It works so well that even my husband makes sure I always have it on hand/I take it ten days before, 3 times a day. As I get older I've started taking Vitex, and for some reason the (awful tasting) liquid works better than the capsules for me, and that has made a huge difference. I will say that I am now looking into supplements as I head into perimenopause, I am feeling very unhappy a lot of days which is very unlike me. In doing a lot more research (from books) I have been reading great things about Black Cohosh and am about to start taking that. No synthetic drugs for me, just natural cures and I would love to hear how other women have handled the depression (mild, but that's enough) and lethargy that I really want to get some help with. Hope I was able to help someone else!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 08/04/2008 490 posts
Hi Alecia, another thing you might consider adding for your nerves @ PMS time and all time is a supplement of magnesium that so many of us have a deficit of these days.
