PMS

[AKC_75]

Is there an over-the-counter medication for PMS/cramps that does not contain Tylenol or Advil???
I already take a lot of Tylenol cause its in Excedrin Migraine. And I have to take Advil for my Rheumatoid Arthritis.
So, I don't know what to do for cramps. Help pls someone!

[AKC_75]

Thanks everyone.

[gymdandee]

Research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The study found that women who consumed 1.9 milligrams per day of thiamine and 2.5 milligrams of riboflavin per day had a 25 to 35 percent lower risk of developing PMS than women who consumed less, but they didn’t see those same benefits when they took supplements. So pork and beans are your best sources of both vitamins. Eating a 3-ounce serving of the meat and a cup of cooked beans on a regular basis will provide you with the amount you need to keep PMS away.

[Paxiled]

Should also add, evening primrose oil is a better GLA source for PMS than borage oil or black currant oil.  Don't know exactly why as it has less GLA in it, but it seems to have other hormone balancing properties.

[Paxiled]

Meant to say, if you don't know this stuff it's important to not just read laundry lists of things you might do because they can have other unwanted effects.  Also, meant to say, exercise is great for both migraines and PMS, but I know that's not so easy with RA.  But if you can find some cardio that you're able to do without too much pain it will help all three conditions by evening out circulation.

[Paxiled]

PMS is a hormonal imbalance, so the best thing is to go to the cause, not necessarily symptomatic treatment which assumes you just have to suffer with this forever and take a thousand supplements and change your whole life.  There are herbal formulas that can help, and soy can be very helpful for this as well assuming estrogen is your problem, but it probably isn't -- progesterone is usually the bigger culprit in our society.  Planetary Formulas is a good place to start.  You might start with a formula based on cramp bark, black cohosh (balances estrogen), and vitex, also known as chaste tree berry (balances progesterone).  There are progesterone creams that also might help.  Some find help with DHEA, a hormonal prescursor, but care has to be taken with this.  Many combine this with pregnenalone, another hormone precursor, but again, this also increases testosterone, so watch for side effects if you go this route.  If you don't know all the herbs that can help with this, I'd go see a naturopath or herbalist who does and can try different things to see what sticks.  It usually takes some experimentation.  As for migraines, meditation can be very helpful here -- TM got rid of mine over thirty years ago, on the advice of my then doctor.  Tends to even out circulation; migraines come after a buildup of stress from some source ends, causing constricted blood vessels to open as you relax.  Unfortunately, they open first in the head, which is where the migraine comes from.  One treatment used in biofeedback is to learn to open the blood vessels in the hands by relaxing,  You can even do this by running hot water over them.  There's a great herbal supplement made by Ridgecrest Herbals that helps if taken at the first sign of a migraine.  Now, I'm assuming you get migraines; you might be taking this pain reliever for something else.  For the arthritis, you have an autoimmune disorder and there's no known cure, but nightshades aggravate it for some people and avoiding pro-inflammatory foods can help.  There are some good herbs mentioned above for this that might help.  On the caffeine issue, caffeine helps reduce migraines, so if you do use caffeine and want to stop, be careful and do it very slowly -- one of the side effects of withdrawal from caffeine is migraines.  Many migraine medications have caffeine in them because they are helpful in opening constricted blood vessels.  Which is why it's important, if you don't know this stuff, to read laundry lists of things without knowing all the possible effects of following them.  Given the many issues you're facing, all of which involve circulation and an over-active immune system, I'd really consider at least consulting with a professional.  On your own, Michael Tierra, who started Planetary Herbals, wrote two good books on herbal medicine, The Way of Herbs and Planetary Herbology.  

[AKC_75]

Lots of info...thanks so much!

[gymdandee]

Research shows that women who report high stress are 2-4 times more likely to have moderate to severe premenstrual syndrome. If you suffer from PMS Reduce caffeine by avoiding coffee, tea, chocolate, soda. during your period. Exercise more often. Black current oil contains GLA, an essential fatty acid found in mother’s milk that acts as an anti-inflammatory. Take 200mg twice a day at the start of the week you experience PMS.
As for Migraines try the following,
Keeping a diary to help you identify your own triggers.
Learning and practicing relaxation techniques regularly.
Trying biofeedback - this training can teach you how to influence autonomic functions in the body and may help alter blood-flow patterns, including those that can cause migraines.
Avoid all excitotoxins all MSG, aspartame, hydrolyzed protein, isolated protein, protein drinks, soy products and soy proteins, Portabella mushrooms, sodium or calcium caseinate, stock, broth and natural flavoring. All of these are major triggers for migraine.
Increase your magnesium, It can take a long time for oral magnesium to raise depleted brain levels to normal, as much as 6 months.
Vegetables are high in magnesium, so increase your vegetable intake. To assure maximum intake, I suggest taking magnesium citrate or
citrate/malate, two capsules three times a day between meals. If you develop diarrhea, start with two capsules a day and slowly over a week’s time increase the dose.
Low blood sugar depletes magnesium and increases brain excitotoxin levels (glutamate). Avoid all sugar especially soft drinks. Drink purified water. You can empty a capsule of magnesium into your water.
Including beans with your meals slows carbohydrate absorption. Also, avoid all potatoes except sweet potatoes. Irish potatoes are strongly hypoglycemic.
Take 500 mg. three times a day of Riboflavin  to reduce migraine attacks, by protecting against excitotoxicity.
flavonoids are also important, The best are curcumin, quercetin, hesperidin, feverfew and nettle. All should be taken with meals.
Natural vitamin E (Unique-E 800 IU a day), magnesium ascorbate (1,000 mg. twice a day between meals) and take a
multivitamin/mineral supplement daily. White tea (decaffeinated) will also reduce inflammation, calm nerves and it is a powerful antioxidant.
DHA a component of fish oils also reduce inflammation and reduce migraine attacks.
Take 200 mg. twice a day. You can mix the quercetin and curcumin with the oil to increase absorption. Keep the DHA in the refrigerator.

For Rheumatoid Arthritis try Parsley can reduce joint pain
you do need to use it regularly in moderation in consumption can be a safe way to proceed. try parsley tea by combining fresh or dried parsley leaves with lemon and hot water. Using and consuming parsley in dishes or tea can help release the essential oils contained in this herb.
Devil’s Claw You could combine Devil’s Claw in teas, with other potent herbs and spices with medicinal properties including turmeric and ginger.
Yucca,  studies that show yucca as being effective in providing relief and remissions to arthritis patients and research points to a direct link between the yucca medicinal plant and the treatment and prevention of arthritis.
Turmeric contains an active ingredient known as curcumin which is the base of these anti-inflammatory properties. By adding turmeric to dishes while cooking, you could reap the natural benefits.
Horsetail is rich in silicates and other compounds. This is another herb that is purported to address the prevention of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Ginger can be used to fight inflammatory conditions.