Lara Briden - The Period Revolutionary
Leading the change to better periods and hormones
Nutritional treatments for premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD include magnesium, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and reducing mast cell activation or histamine. Micronized progesterone can also be helpful.
There’s a lot going on in the luteal or premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle, including higher histamine and an increased requirement for sodium. And if you’ve been struggling with hormonal mood symptoms, the solution might be simpler than you think.
Check out episode 19 of my podcast, where I explore the luteal phase.
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Progesterone is a fascinating hormone. It’s calming, protective, metabolically active, and deeply responsive to its environment, especially estrogen and the nervous system. In the right context, it can be transformative for sleep, mood, heavy bleeding, and perimenopausal symptoms. In a not-quite-right context (for example, very high estrogen or inflammation), progesterone can feel strange or uncomfortable, especially at first.
When it comes to mood, progesterone is a paradox.
For most women, it’s soothing, thanks to its calming effect on the brain. But for some, it can trigger anxiety, irritability, or even rage. What’s going on?
💡 Also read: Troubleshooting progesterone and Top 6 natural treatments for premenstrual mood symptoms
Body-identical progesterone (also called bioidentical, natural, or oral micronized progesterone) can be an effective treatment for a range of women’s health conditions, including PCOS, PMDD, migraines, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and perimenopause.
To be clear: progesterone is a real hormone (identical to what the body makes) and usually requires a doctor’s prescription. Depending on your country, brand names include Prometrium, Utrogestan, Teva, and Famenita. In some countries, progesterone cream is available over the counter. Cream can help with mild symptoms, but it’s generally less effective than capsules.