Women have a lot of things to keep track of when it comes to taking care of their health. A lot! From menstrual cycles and PMS, to fertility and pregnancy, women have unique challenges in staying healthy and balanced. Naturopathic medicine incorporates the best parts of Western physiology and natural healing methods to come up with a treatment plan that addresses all of your women’s health concerns.
Some of the more common women’s health issues are described below.
Menstrual Cycle Issues & PMS
Many women experience pain or moodiness either before or during their periods, and it can interfere with daily life. Am I right ladies? Pain with menstrual bleeding is called dysmenorrhea and can range from mild to severe. PMS is the term for symptoms that appear in the days leading up to your period. You can read more about Menstrual Cycle Issues and PMS.
What is PMS?
Premenstrual syndrome is a combination of physical and emotional symptoms that can significantly affect a woman in the days or weeks leading up to her period. Cramping, bloating, irritability, and food cravings are some of the more common symptoms. In some women, PMS is so severe that it has its own psychiatric diagnosis; it’s called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and is used to describe PMS with extreme anger or sadness each month.
Conventional Medicine & PMS
Conventional medicine isn’t able to offer much in the way of support: ibuprofen for cramps, and prescription medications for other symptoms. Antidepressants like SSRIs are first-line therapy for PMS when the symptoms affect your ability to go to work. For women who can’t tolerate SSRIs, oral contraceptives (the birth control pill) is the next choice.
While the advances in female sexual liberation that came with the birth control pill are no doubt a good thing, the side effects that come with taking it are not. The pill alters the way your body produces hormones, and many women who take it end up with weight gain, mood swings, food cravings – symptoms very similar to PMS, except consistently experienced. The birth control pill also depletes important vitamins and minerals in your body, essentially starving your cells of the food they need. All in all, if it’s being used for anything other than contraception, there are better, healthier choices to help control your PMS.
What Can Naturopathic Medicine Offer?
Naturopathic medicine recognizes five subtypes of PMS that help guide natural treatment choices. Some women fall neatly into one category, and others may not. Either way, identifying the type and treating appropriately can make a big difference for women.
PMS Type A – Anxiety Type
Women who are more anxious leading up to their period have PMS Type A; their symptoms can include irritability, mood swings, nervousness, and insomnia. At the hormone level, this is a result of a relative progesterone deficiency, and herbs for correcting that imbalance, such as chaste tree and black cohosh, can help. Treatments that focus on anxiety can help as well, including supplements and stress management.
PMS Type C – Craving Type
PMS Type C is characterized for food cravings, whether it’s for carbohydrates, chocolate, salt, or sugar. We think that a relative excess of insulin causes this type, which makes blood sugar levels to fluctuate more than they should. Supplements aimed at correcting insulin and blood sugar like chromium or cinnamon can help with this type too.
PMS Type D – Depression Type
Women who show symptoms of depression, including sadness, easy crying, apathy, and in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts, have Type D PMS. These symptoms are often the result of a relatively low estrogen and serotonin, and herbs like chaste tree and red clover can help, in addition to proper exercise.
PMS Type H – Hyperhydration Type
Hyperhydration means excess water, and women with Type H PMS tend to have bloating, swelling, water retention, and weight gain before their period. The exact imbalances are unclear, and diuretic herbs like dandelion or nettle, and potassium-rich foods like bananas can help ease your symptoms.
PMS Type P – Pain Type
This shows up in the form of cramping, low back pain, and other aches throughout the body. For P-Type PMS, removing foods you are sensitive to, and adding pain relieving herbs, like turmeric and willow, can produce great results.
The Bottom Line
Like many health conditions, naturopathic doctors think about PMS differently from conventional medical practitioners. Where western medicine runs short on answers, NDs have had training in women’s health that helps us recognize different PMS types. In addition to herbs and supplements, NDs also have training in acupuncture and clinical nutrition, to make sure all the angles are covered and your PMS gets resolved.
Treat your monthly visit from mother nature naturally and book an appointment today!
Chronic Yeast Infections
Yeast infections are an annoying issue that most women experience at least once in their lives. High blood sugar, antibiotic use, and a high sugar diet can all be part of what’s causing frequent vaginal yeast infections, even if it doesn’t seem like they’re connected. Natural remedies are as effective as prescription and over the counter remedies, and help treat the cause so you don’t get infections in the future.
Urinary Tract Infections
Because women tend to have shorter urethras than men, they tend to get more urinary tract infections (UTIs). This can be annoying and painful, and taking repeated rounds of antibiotics can wreak havoc on your digestive system and cause yeast infections.
Fertility & Preconception Health
Fertility is a major reason that women seek alternative and complementary health care. One of the major causes of infertility is a lack of ovulation. Underlying conditions, like PCOS, hypothyroidism, and high stress can all prevent ovulation. Other causes of infertility include uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and tubal blockages. Supporting your body with natural methods and treating whatever’s causing your infertility can help you to have a baby.
If you’re thinking about getting pregnant, it’s important to make sure your body has proper nutrient stores. Iron and folic acid are important for your future baby’s health, and testing for STIs and other infections will help keep your future baby healthy.
During pregnancy, women need extra support to make sure their baby is developing normally. They can also use extra help with all the changes their bodies are going through. From morning sickness to insomnia and pain, natural remedies can help support the mother to have a healthy baby.
Menopause
Rare is the woman who has a symptom-free menopause. It’s the harsh reality. Hot flashes tend to get in the way the most, making work and sleep difficult. Mood swings are common, and so are changes in weight, appetite, and libido. There are many natural approaches to helping you through menopause.
Naturopathic Approaches to Women’s Health
One of naturopathic medicine’s guiding principles is to treat the cause, so identifying what’s causing your symptoms is the first step to healing your body. From there, we make a plan that may include herbal medicine, nutritional advice and supplementation. Naturopathic doctors are trained in counselling and homeopathy, and can listen and support you using those tools. Developing a treatment plan that works for you is important, and we’re with you every step of the way.
Woman’s health is very important to us and we care! Call and book an appointment today!