Mood swings, water retention and cramps in the lower abdomen: when hormones turn everyday life upside down, many menstruating women suffer. The level of suffering varies and the symptoms vary from person to person. The diverse complaints shortly before and during the period can hardly be distinguished from premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The remedies are so individual that every menstruating person has to find their own way to make the menstrual symptoms easier to bear and contain. In this article, we present two remedies: yam root and magnesium.

Many cycle-related complaints are due to an imbalance between progesterone and estrogen. Progesterone is usually broken down too quickly, whereas the body produces excess estrogen. Mood swings, water retention, reduced libido and cramp-like abdominal pain are particularly common in menstruating women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and are caused by this imbalance. Yams contain the herbal active ingredient diosgenin, which is similar to the corpus luteum hormone progesterone. This can balance out the progesterone deficiency and the estrogen excess.

The effect has not yet been scientifically confirmed, but side effects rarely occur: reddening of the skin when applied externally, a short-term worsening of symptoms (which then subsides), nausea and increased urge to urinate. If you notice side effects that make you feel uncomfortable, talk to your gynecologist!

If you don't want to resort to supplements, you can also replenish your magnesium stores through your diet. Bananas, cashews, linseed, raspberries, oatmeal and sunflower seeds contain a lot of magnesium. Make sure you eat enough magnesium-rich foods, especially shortly before and during your period!

The perception of pain varies from person to person. If you find period pain unusual or if your general condition has changed significantly from one period to the next, it is helpful to go to a gynecologist's office. Your gynecologist can rule out organic causes.