Help with PMS, How I Cure Mine, Naturally!

PMS, premenstrual syndrome, hormotional times, mid month meltdown, red mist, whatever you call it, I've had it, since a staggeringly young age. I've been actively looking for a cure for PMS for most of my adult life, because, believe me, I suffer. If your time of the month, is preceded by  hormonal Chernobyl too, the natural supplement Maca just might help you too... And/or keep you out of prison. 


When I say 'I suffer', I'm talking 5/7 days of swinging wildly between Peig Seyer's couch rocking, inexplicably crying to the point of dehydration, to unprovoked red mist descending, Scissor Sister stabbiness. No, I don't feel it coming on, no, I still haven't taught my brain to recognise what's happening and take solace in the fact that it WILL pass, it always passes but Yes, I have found a fool proof, natural cure. 

Maca is a root vegetable, high in antioxidants and nutrients, such as vitamin C, copper and iron. It has been used medicinally for thousands of years and has been shown to enhance sexual health and libido; improve energy, mood and memory; and balance hormone levels.

Granted its primary use has been to increase Testosterone levels in men and studies to show efficacy are limited, what I know is that I have been taking this natural supplement for 2 years now and it's literally changed my life quality. So much so that it's easy to take the benefits for granted. 

Maca is a root vegetable. Powdered Maca tastes malty and can be used in smoothies, oatmeal or yoghurts (Image Canva)

The last time I ran out, I intended to stock up but instead, slipped slowly back into monthly hormonal madness, only spurred on to buy it again when an Instagram viewer asked for the name. I'm now taking 2 500mg tabs daily for the past 5 weeks and this is the first month in many months that my period has snuck up on me. 

No tender breasts, no dipping chips into mash to satiate a hunger that won't stop, no biting my knuckle rather than gut punching colleagues (because that's unprofesh) and no guttural sobbing at flash mobs of people I don't know. It's a new world. 

Normally I buy Sara's Choice Maca from Boots but I've found it even cheaper from Biovea this time around. I allow 3-5 weeks of taking them before I expect results, as with any natural supplement but then BOOM, energy aplenty and hormonally balanced bliss.

120 tabs for €20.25 but ordering more reduces the price.
I used to pay €26 for 100 in Boots. 

It should go without saying, I'm not a Doctor, nor have I medical training. I'm simply sharing what works for my PMS, in the hopes that it might work for you too. If in the year of our Lord 2018 we still haven't discovered how to do away with periods altogether, the least we can do is help each other get through them as unscathed as possible. If you are consistently suffering though or taking other medication (the pill included) do please contact your GP, it's quite literally what they're there for. 

As an addendum to this, if you haven't tried a MoonCup yet, please do. This post from Lorraine is a VERY good (and hilarious) place to start. My MoonCup + Maca have changed the game for me. 

Have you any hints or tips for PMS? Care to share?