Ever woke up bloated wanting to cry uncontrollably while strangling everyone who dares to speak to you? If you are lucky enough to have suffered with PMS , chances are you connect with this first sentence on a primal level. Most of us have experienced PMS and the beast it turns us in to. A few days after ovulation your hormone levels drop drastically if you don't get pregnant. This can cause all sorts of emotional and physical shenanigans!

What are the symptoms of PMS?
While PMS symptoms differ from person to person, many women report many of the same symptoms to differing degrees. These can include:

Physical Symptoms

• Cramping
• Bloating
• Constipation and/or diarrhea
• Lowered tolerance for noise and light
• Headaches and backaches
• Tender& swollen breasts
• Weight fluctuations
• Acne flare ups

Emotional Symptoms

• Fatigue
• Depression, crying spells
• Food cravings
• Anxiety
• Trouble concentrating & moodiness
• Irritability & hostility
• Sleep disturbances (too much or too little)
• Loss of libido

For those of you reading this who have a Y chromosome, hopefully this will help you understand at least a little more why we can turn into crying, fire breathing, Gila monsters once a month. We don't want to go through all of the things you read above, but our bodies are hard wired to prepare for pregnancy once a month and we can't help it.

What causes PMS?
The exact cause is unknown, but most research points to changes in hormone levels as the body prepares for pregnancy and the extreme downswing in hormones when pregnancy does not occur. Factors that may contribute to PMS severity are:

• Cyclic changes in hormone levels - these typically disappear with pregnancy or menopause
• Depression - Many women suffering with severe PMS may have undiagnosed depression
• Fluctuating neurochemistry - It is believed that fluctuations in the neurotransmitter seratonin play a big role in mood stability. Insufficient seratonin can cause depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and food cravings.

PMS symptoms affect most women who have begun their periods in some form, but for the unfortunate few the symptoms can be extreme & debilitating. This is known as PMDD.

What causes cramps?

Every month your uterus works hard, triggered by a rise in estrogen levels, to prepare itself to host an embryo by building up endometrial tissue. A boost in progesterone causes the tissue to plump up with blood. Once your body realizes it will not be incubating, it puts up the closed sign and goes to work cleaning house. Triggered by a drop in progesterone your body pulls the blood supply from the endometrium and your uterus contracts to shed the endometrial tissue. Typically this sends us running for pain relievers, the heating pad, and of course ... chocolate.

What is PMDD?

PMDD stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. It is an extreme form of PMS that causes:

• Extreme sadness, hopelessness, & despair
• Debilitating depression, tension, and anxiety
• Extreme moodiness
• Extreme Irritability & anger

What causes PMDD?
The exact cause of PMDD is largely unknown, however it is likely that hormonal changes are the culprit. PMDD treatment is focused on symptom management. Many times a doctor will prescribe antidepressants or birth control pills to manage the sometimes debilitating symptoms. PMDD symptoms can start one to 2 weeks before your period & typically subside a few days after your period starts. This means that people who suffer from PMDD spend too much of their precious time suffering from what can be absolutely debilitating symptoms and are likely trying multiple cocktails of medications trying to find relief. Some studies also suggest that consuming foods that help to raise levels of tryptophan could also help ease the symptoms of PMDD. Tryptophan is a precursor to seratonin and other neurotransmitters. Foods that help increase tryptophan include: turkey, fish, complex carbohydrates, etc.

How can CBD help with PMS symptoms?
Pain Relief: CBD is a powerful and natural anti-inflammatory and can ease the cramping & headaches associated with PMS. Before you reach for your ibuprofen, which can cause all sorts of internal organ irritation and damage, try CBD instead. Many of my customers also like to use a topical CBD on the abdomen when suffering from cramps.
Anxiety/Depression: CBD is known for it's positive impact on mental health. Many of my customers report that the gnarling red eyed monster is quieted with their daily CBD.
Constipation & Diarrhea: CBD naturally balances the enzymes that trigger smooth muscle contractions. Many people suffer from constipation and diarrhea during their menstrual cycle & find relief with CBD. Many of my customers keep CBD suppositories around for just this reason.

The bottom line here is that there is hope for an easier period without throwing handfuls of pills at it. If you are looking for a natural solution with no dangerous side effects, consider silencing the beast with a CBD knockout!