Pre menstrual symptoms can be as daunting or even worse as menstruation itself. Pre menstrual symptoms like irritability, mood swings, bloating etc. are very common among most women and trouble them so much as to disrupt their life.
Edema or swelling of the cells and tissues of the abdomen is a common pre menstrual symptom that is commonly found in all women. This is a temporary phase and resolves on its own after menstruation.
Premenstrual bloating, however leaves women with a feeling of girth around the abdomen, causing a certain tightness round the abdomen while you wear your normal clothes.
Fortunately, there are certain specific herbal remedies that can be used for treating premenstrual bloating with ease and without any side effects. Herbal infusions relieve the bloating and ease the discomfort in women during the premenstrual days.
Ways To Treat Pre Menstrual Bloating With Herbs
Chamomile And Lemon Balm
Take a large pot of water and boil it. Add one teaspoon each of dried chamomile and lemon balm and cover the hot water with a lid. Allow the herbs to steep for about 15-20 minutes.
Once it is cool, you can strain the herbs and take 2-3 cups of this water a day. You may sweeten it with honey or turbinado sugar. This treatment has to be started two weeks prior to your menstruation to ease the bloating and discomfort.
Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds are known to relieve bloating in general and hence good for treating pre menstrual bloating as well. For preparing a tea, take half a teaspoon of fennel seeds and boil along with a cup of water. Take this infusion 3-4 times every day to relieve bloating before menstruation.
Ginger
Ginger is a great remedy for treating bloating and also pain associated with menstruation. A tea can be prepared with ginger by boiling crushed ginger pieces with a cup of water.
Sweeten it with honey and take this when you start feeling the PMS setting in. Ginger tablets, capsules and syrups too are available for consumption.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a great remedy for relieving bloating and stomach spasms. It can kill bacterial action and also aid digestion and hence a great remedy for all kinds of stomach related problems.
Dried peppermint leaves can be used for preparing a tea which can be taken several times throughout the day to relieve pre menstrual bloating. Again, it is also available as capsule and mint form.
Licorice Root
Licorice root is beneficial for treating a number of pre menstrual syndrome including bloating. The phytoestrogens that are present in licorice helps in treating bloating and other PMS symptoms. You can take mild doses of this root after consulting a herbalist.
Flax Seeds
Flax seeds too have great estrogenic properties that hep in treating pre menstrual bloating. A teaspoon of flax seeds can be taken every day before the symptoms start and can be continued until your menstruation stops.
Flax seeds also have many other health benefits and can be consumed on a daily basis.