Migraines, fatigue, mood swings, cramps, backache, and irritability are just some of the conditions that women battle with every month seeing their menstrual period as just one more of the hurdles that they must deal with as a woman. Many women grow up believing that it is normal to experience heavy blood loss, painful headaches, debilitating cramps, and a fear striken partner. They should just struggle through it like many women before them. Alternatively they may have started taking the oral contraceptive pill from an early age to control acne, heavy periods or strong pain. However, the pill is not a treatment for these imbalances, merely masking them, with most women experiencing a return of symptoms the moment they come off the pill.

Most of these conditions are symptoms of various hormonal imbalances that can be corrected. Herbs such as Vitex Agnus Castus (Chaste Berry) are widely known for the treatment of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) but most people are not aware that it is really only useful for conditions of excess oestrogen. If your problem stems from too little oestrogen or other hormonal imbalances then it may prove completely ineffective. Other herbs such as Shatavari, Dong Quai, Black Cohosh or Helonias, to name just a few, may be more appropriate. Herbs and other supplements can be used very effectively to help balance oestrogen and progestrone, affect (LH) and (FSH) levels to improve fertility, ease and prevent muscle cramps and reduce mental and emotional strain and irritability. Symptoms such as heavy blood loss, severe cramping, a cycle that is too short, too long or very infrequent can be indicators of underlying problems such as endometriosis, fibroids or cysts, ovarian dysfunction or be due to hypothalmic or adrenal responses to increased stress, excessive weight loss or exercise and nutritional deficiencies.

Many women don’t stop to question their menstrual symptoms until they decide to have a baby, and then only if they have difficulty conceiving. However, these conditions shouldn’t go undiagnosed and untreated as they can affect both reproductive and general health in the long term. In contrast to our Western attitude - that the menstrual cycle is a curse and punishment on women and to be dreaded each month – some ancient and indigenous cultures believe it to be the reason women live longer then men. In a more positive light, it is seen as a monthly cleanse or detox which can strengthen a woman’s health.

The first step towards achieving some balance is to get to know your own body better. How long is my cycle? Is it regularly the same length? For how many days do I bleed? How heavy or light is the blood loss? Am I ovulating? Your hormones influence all of these and the answers to these simple questions can tell a lot about the origin of any menstrual problems. Hormonal imbalances can also be caused by intakes of exogenous (or external) oestrogens. Hormones are used to treat many of the animals we eat, may be in the water supply and some chemicals found in plastics and dental treatments can also affect our internal hormone synthesis. So it is important to take a very detailed case history including diet and lifestyle to assess what may be causing any underlying imbalances. To be able to approach this ‘time of the month’ in a more positive frame of mind and to achieve a healthier cycle, it is important to treat the underlying problem not just continually fight the symptoms and soldier on.