Most teens start menstruating when they are 11-13 years old but the first period can start as early as 9! So when do you start to talk about teen menstruation? How early is early enough?

You can generally predict the start of a girls menstrual periods by the development of her breasts. Girls develop breast buds, or small nodules below the nipples as the breasts begin to grow. This development happens approximately 2 years before she will start her period.

Most preteens are too embarrassed to start the discussion themselves so it is up to you to begin the conversation. There is too much information to cover all of it in one conversation and one talk will discourage your girl from asking questions later.

To introduce the topic you may want to ask her what she already knows and has heard from her friends. You can also start the conversation with health issues, which may be less embarrassing for her. Answer any of her questions honestly and at her maturity level.  Read more...

PMS Depression or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of PMS and is diagnosed by the pattern of PMDD symptoms. PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is a group of approximately 150 different symptoms that happen in the 2 weeks prior to the start of a woman’s period. The PMDD symptoms can be both physical and emotional and are very real and prompt many women to find an effective PMDD treatment.

PMDD symptoms were once thought to be hysterical and only in the mind of the woman, but after years of research scientists have found that over 50 million women suffer from these PMDD symptoms each month. PMDD  symptoms, including PMS depression, can significantly interfere with social, occupational and sexual functioning.

For a diagnosis of PMDD to be made, the woman must have a symptom-free period during her follicular phase of the menstrual cycle to distinguish it from other pre-existing anxiety and mood disorders.

The symptoms of PMDD and depression have considerable overlap. Approximately 30-75% of the women diagnosed with PMDD also have a lifetime history of depression, compared to the 15% of women without PMDD who suffer from depression.  Read more...

Menstrual migraines affect only women and are quite debilitating. The migraines are affected by hormones fluctuating through the menstrual cycle. Women suffer from migraines 3 times more frequently then men and those which are controlled by hormones are classified as menstrual headaches and PMS headaches. Menstrual migraines and PMS headaches occur in 60% of all women who suffer from migraines.

Menstrual migraines are a complex problem that requires a significant amount of skill to diagnose and treat successfully. Women shouldn’t be satisfied with the first answer or even the second one but should seek out care for menstrual migraines until they are satisfied that their particular menstrual migraines are adequately treated.

Serotinin is involved in the trigger of many menstrual migraines. Some researchers believe there is also a genetic link in the way that people metabolize serotonin and then the way in which the hormone interacts with the female hormones.

The symptoms of menstrual migraines are similar to those of migraines. The headaches usually start on one side, are throbbing and accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to bright lights.  Read more...

When we think of losing hair, our thoughts turn to men. They are the ones who have the shiny dome later in life. But what about women who are having problems in this area? More and more are suffering from hair loss.

For women, hair loss is particularly devastating. We think of our hair as our crowning glory. Without it we don’t feel beautiful anymore. It seems like vanity but to lose your hair and not have any grow back does affect your self-image.

Hair loss in women is referred to as alopecia. It is a blanket term that covers all types of hair loss. The causes are varied and can occur at different times in a woman’s life.

Why do women lose their hair? The first thing that comes to mind is menopause. When the menstruation cycle ceases, lots of changes occur in the female body. For one, hormone levels fluctuate. No longer are the ovaries producing estrogen and progesterone like they used to. This makes the level of testosterone in the female of higher concentration than the other two more dominant hormones.  Read more...

The history of herb usage in pregnancy

As you enter the last few weeks before your due date you may begin to feel apprehensive about the impending birth even though you are excited and looking forward to meeting the new addition to your family. Nervousness about labor and birth is completely normal for all expecting mothers but can often be more pronounced if this is your first child.

Long before the advent of hospitals and modern allopathic medicine, certain herbs were used to safely prepare the mother for birth. Knowledge of these herbs was handed down from generation to generation and each community had its own midwives who were skilled in the care of women during pregnancy and childbirth.

The ancient wisdom of the use of herbalism in childbirth has been largely lost in Western society and although modern medicine has helped to eliminate some of the problems associated with childbirth, it has brought its own problems too.

Modern day pregnancy and propartum drops  Read more...

A woman’s uterus is usually lined with a tissue that is called the endometrium. In some cases, this tissue actually moves around and implants itself somewhere else in the pelvis.

This endometrial tissue is supposed to be found in one of 3 areas: The ovaries, fallopian tubes or anywhere lining the pelvis.

When PMS occurs this endometrium becomes thicker so that it can be ready to conceive a baby. Hormones in the blood encourage this to happen.

If a baby is not conceived then the hormones in the blood become lower and the endometrium detaches from the uterus wall. It is then shed through the vagina in the process of menstruation.

Women who are experiencing endometriosis experience the same process with the exception of this extra tissue reacting the same way to the hormones in the blood. This misplaced tissue all breaks down the same way but becomes trapped in the body because it is unable to make it’s exit through the vagina. This is very problematic and can lead to pain and inflammation. If left unchecked, it can also lead to both cysts and scar tissue.  Read more...

How can Nipple Conditioning Cream help you?

Nursing your new baby should be a wonderful and precious experience – not only for feeding but also for bonding.

For many new mothers, the first few days of breastfeeding may cause the nipples to become sensitive and tender. This is quite normal and will generally resolve on its own within a few days.

However, for some women, the problem may be worse and sore, cracked and even bleeding nipples can occur. These difficulties may obviously make breastfeeding painful and unpleasant and can rob the mother of the joy of nursing her baby.

The most common cause of painful and cracked nipples is a problem with positioning and although this is theoretically preventable, it is very common as few mothers perfect the art of breastfeeding immediately. Also, once the damage has occurred, healing may be delayed and difficult, and breastfeeding painful.

Nipple Conditioning Cream has been specially formulated for nursing moms’ nipples. This cream will naturally condition the skin, prevent damage and infection and encourage healing of any cracks in the nipple, allowing breastfeeding to be a pleasant and joyous experience once again.  Read more...

Women experiencing menstrual cramps may be willing to try almost anything to avoid having cramps each month. Did you know you could treat menstrual cramps with nutrition? If you’re tired of having cramps every time you have your period, how can changing your diet hurt? Learn how diet affects the severity of your menstrual cramps.

* Eat a diet consisting of a variety of foods. Low fat, high fiber diets appear to combat the salty or sweet foods women typically crave during their menstrual cycle. Besides helping avoid cravings, you’ll also have more energy and a more stable mood.

* Ensure your body is getting all of the vitamins and minerals you need by taking a multivitamin each day. Minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium are particularly important before and during your monthly cycle.

* Eat more foods containing omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, mackerel, albacore tuna, swordfish, and lake trout. You may also want to add walnuts, Brazil nuts, and olive oil. These foods help stabilize your mood and have an anti-inflammatory effect. They also reduce the effect of cramps because they block the production of prostaglandins.  Read more...

Although there has not been established an exact cause or causes of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), it has been linked to the luteal phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle. We do know that PMS appears to be more common among identical twin girls, and those women with a family history of PMS or those who suffer from depression or are bipolar.

It may be that genetic factors play a role in who develops PMS. Some scientists say that the central-nervous-system neurotransmitter interactions with the monthly hormones put out by the reproductive system may also play a role in PMS, particularly PMS is thought to be linked to the activity of serotonin which is a neurotransmitter within the brain. Studies show that up to 40% of women who have PMS, also have a significant decline in the circulating serum levels of beta-endorphin. Beta-endorphin is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter.

Once a female is diagnosed with PMS a treatment plan can be developed. There are many treatments that have been deemed to be effective for the relief of PMS symptoms. Treatment is usually a combination of dietary changes, SSRIs, Hormone intervention, and supportive therapy.  Read more...

Painkillers are ever present in American supermarket aisles and when PMS begins to rear its ugly head, many a women heads straight for these painkillers. Of course, even an only cursory perusal of the list of ingredients as well as the side effects associated with these painkillers showcases that some risks are best not taken.

One painkiller, for example, is known to greatly increase the risk of liver problems, if the woman who ingests them also has a habit of ingesting alcohol. Although the complete extent of this risk is not fully known, the fact that alcohol is as common in American homes as painkillers should give pause to anyone who is considering fighting PMS with herbs and pills.

Moreover, the reliability of the painkillers specifically formulated for use with PMS symptoms leaves something to be desired, namely effectiveness. It appears that for women with multiple PMS symptoms there is a distinct tradeoff when using pain killers. While one might make one of the conditions – such as cramping – more manageable, it might worsen another one, usually bloating. Even women, who may not usually experience bloating, may actually do so for the first time after ingesting commercially available painkillers.  Read more...