Natural Tips For Finding Balance In Your Mood
Women at any age can experience some level of sudden unexplained mood swings. These are most often the result of hormone imbalances. For that reason, women experience them frequently during mid-life as they approach menopause.
Whatever your stage in life, if you are experiencing sudden unexplained changes in your mood that you find out of the ordinary for you, these tips could help. If you are feeling more anxious, irritable, or down give these ideas a try.
Hormone imbalance is often at the root of those feelings and you may find your mood begin to lift and that will certainly improve your day! 
There are many things you can do to feel better. You can make some of these lifestyle changes today discuss the others with your health care provider.
- Eat a healthier diet, free of processed foods. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store, where the most nutritious foods are found. Check the labels and avoid foods that are loaded with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), refined carbohydrates and sodium (salt). All can contribute to more imbalance symptoms.
- Practice portion control. Honor your cravings, but do so in moderation.
- Eat at least five servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit each day. The more colorful ones are packed with valuable nutrients. Dark green and leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and collards have been shown to help in memory recall and other mental functions.
- Choose organic whenever possible to avoid preservatives, pesticides, hormones and other substances that disrupt hormone balance.
- Whole foods are healthiest, so pick the orange instead of the orange juice. You will get more hormone rebalancing nutrients and fiber to keep you healthy.
- Limit your caffeine intake; drink less coffee and soda.
- Drink more pure water and green tea.
- Load up on berries that packed with anti-oxidants blueberries, blackberries, cranberries and strawberries. Fresh or frozen, they reduce oxidative stress which assaults the cells of the body. So, “berry up” to reduce inflammation and improve your brain cell signaling.
– via womeninbalance.org
Plants To Help Ease PMS Symptoms
One common source of mood swings for younger women is PMS. Here are several plants that can help ease your PMS symptoms including mood swings.
PMS symptoms may be mild or severe, acting as a mere inconvenience or significantly interfering with your quality of life.
Many women turn to over-the-counter pain relievers to ease symptoms, and some even go so far as to use birth control pills to stop ovulation (which tends to lessen PMS symptoms), but these carry a risk of side effects.
Herbal preparations may be very effective as a natural alternative to ease menstrual cramps and other PMS symptoms. Top options include the following.
1. Cramp Bark and Black Haw
Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus) may help to relieve muscle spasms and is often used to relieve menstrual cramps. It’s known as a uterine relaxant and contains the antispasmodic scopoletin.
Traditionally, cramp bark is said to be particularly useful for menstrual cramps that radiate to your lower back or thighs.
Black haw is another viburnum species (Viburnum prunifolium) that also contains the uterine relaxant scopoletin. Intermittent, severe menstrual pains may best be relieved with black haw, especially if they’re accompanied by heavy menstrual flow.4
Tori Hudson, N.D. professor, NCNM and Bastyr University, recommends a 1/2 teaspoon of cramp bark tincture every two to three hours, or 1/4 teaspoon of black haw tincture every two to four hours.5
2. Black Cohosh
Black cohosh is traditionally used to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, but it’s also known for having a relaxant affect on the uterus. According to Hudson, who recommends a tincture of 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon every two to four hours:
“If PMS irritability and anxiety, delayed or irregular menstrual cycles, or scanty flow, are associated with the menses, then Black Cohosh would particularly be indicated for the menstrual cramps.”
3. Red Raspberry Leaf
Red raspberry leaf is known for its toning effects on the reproductive system, and it may help to calm the uterus and relieve menstrual cramps when taken regularly.
4. Dong Quai
Dong quai is traditionally recommended for dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation. It acts like estrogen in your body, and may help to improve uterine tone.
Dong quai may be especially useful when combined with other herbal remedies. According to the American Botanical Council (ABC):6
“Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), is a common condition amenable to treatment with herbs …
Women who suffer from PMS (approximately one third of all women between the ages of 30 to 40 years old) share the common hormonal pattern of elevated plasma estrogen and decreased plasma progesterone levels shortly before the menses appears.
… PMS can be effectively managed with dong quai, chaste berry, licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa).
The two latter plants contain phytoestrogens (which act like estrogen in the body), thought to have a tonic effect on the uterus.”
5. Wild Yam
Wild yam is popular for relief of menopausal symptoms, but it works well for PMS, too, helping the uterus work efficiently during menses as well as helping to prevent uterine cramping and spasms.
– via Mercola.com
Have you ever tried using plants to ease PMS symptoms?