How to use Herbs for Emotional PMS Relief

Whatever PMS symptoms I’m feeling, emotionally and physically, can usually directly be tied back to how my month went.

Little to no PMS symptoms means I took really good care of myself the month before. Bad PMS symptoms means all my vices have caught up to me.

I know this isn’t true for everyone. Maybe you’re doing all that you can to live healthily, and yet, PMS is still absolute torture for you.

Below are my favorite herbs for in-the-moment relief, so you can have some on had for when you need it most.

These are for emotional based PMS symptoms. There are also physical and cognitive PMS symptoms, and herbs for those symptoms, as well, which I’ll share about in a different post(s).

Herbs for Emotional PMS Symptoms

Rage - Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

Motherwort is a cooling bitter and nervous system support herb. The cooling bitter qualities of the plant help support the digestive tract and liver, which helps us process and eliminate excess hormones in our body, and helps to relieve hot and angry emotions. The nervous system support helps calm us down within a minute or so of taking this herb. I recommend tincture form because its quickest, easiest, and this is not a pleasant tasting herbs so there’s no point in having it as a tea really, unless you want to!

Irritability - Milky Oat (Avena sativa) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

These herbs help overtime and I definitely suggest long term use, but they also help in the moment. Milky Oat (Avena sativa) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). They soothe our frazzled nerves, literally. Milky oat tops (this specifically needs to be taken as a fresh green oat tops tincture) feed the Myelin sheath of the nerves. This is invaluable for nervous system support, when you feel completely overwhelmed, frazzled, burnout and overstimulated, like you could scream and cry if you hear someone crunch on a chip. Ashwagandha helps you roll with punches. I swear by this herb to help me stress less and sleep more. Recommend to take these as a tincture. Though you can also enjoy daily oatstraw herbal infusions.

Weepiness - Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Do you find yourself crying over the drop of a hat when you are PMSing? Lemon balm is the sweetest, most uplifting gentle herb to help you feel a bit more cherry and light hearted. This is delicious as a tea, or tincture.

Anxiety - Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Many of my clients report an overwhelming sense of anxiety during their premenstrual phase. Among other diet and lifestyle suggestions, I recommend daily lavender and chamomile tea with full fat milk (or add 1 tbsp of coconut oil or ghee) and honey, or a few drops of lavender tincture, daily. This has definitely done the trick for anxiety for many clients. This helps soothe anxiety in the moment, but also helps with daily use overtime. 

Melancholy - St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Do you have a general sense of sadness or doom and gloom about you? St. John’s wort is an herbal antidepressant (with no negative side effects that come from conventional antidepressants) that also has the benefits of supporting liver health (great for hormonal imbalances!) and is also an antiviral herb. I love this yellow sunny herb (pictured above)! This is also a wonderful herb to apply topically as an infused oil to help relax and unwind after a long day.

There are so many more herbs that could be offered to support emotional PMS symptoms, and so much more to be said about each herb already listed. As an herbal practitioner, it’s incredibly hard to mention some herbs and not go on to explain all the caveats and how herbs are sometimes best used in combination with others, or duration of use, or how emotional symptoms can sometimes stem from hormonal imbalances (excess estrogen), and so much more.

BUT, I will leave well enough alone for now and hope that these herbs can serve you well, as they’ve done for so many other women, including myself.

As always, reach out with your specific PMS symptoms and questions and I’ll answer you. If you need more personalized guidance, send me an email to book an appointment. It's always recommended to work with a registered herbalist (like me!) or naturopathic doctor to find the best herbs and herbal combinations for you. 

 Warmly, Veronica