Lately I have been getting more and more questions about the menstrual cycle. Why do I have so much pain with my period? Why is my PMS so horrible and getting worse? Why am I going into early menopause? Why is menopause so difficult for me and not my friends? Etc, etc. I’d like to go through some basics on our cycle, and reasons why some of these common problems may arise.

As most of you know, the female cycle includes in- creases and decreases in the hormones progesterone and estrogen. It is when there is an imbalance in these fluctuations that problems arise. Although the increases and decreases change with age, there are always fluctuations.

If kept in check, symptoms such as those listed above are easily handled. In younger women, improper fluctuations are what prompts a visit to the doctor for starting a birth control pill (BCP). The problem with this is most BCPs blast your system with estrogen. So now, not only do you battle side effects, but taking BCPs will leave you very nutrient deficient over time. In order for the liver to properly metabolize these drugs, extra vitamin B, C, and zinc are taken from your body.

Also, the new no-period pills or seasonal-period pills in my opinion have not been properly studied before their release. The people now using them are actually the test subjects. I don’t know about you, but I do not want to be a guinea pig. I know deep down inside as much as you would love life without your period, you know there is something very un-natural about not having it. Trust your instincts.

If you are an older women starting menopause, again you are dealing with hormone fluctuations, and instead of covering up the problem with hormone replacement therapy, or worse yet organ removal, why not help alleviate your symptoms from the inside out?

There are many general tricks of the trade to keep your hormone levels fluctuating properly throughout life. As you may have realized by now, this is not rocket science. Just remember to give it a few cycles (or a few months if it is a menopausal concern) to really start working well for you.

1. Diet: Hormones are dependent on fat to be released and to work properly. You must have adequate fat in your diet. Good fats include avocados, deep sea fish, grass fed meats, free range eggs and fresh nuts. Supplements for cycling women include a quality fish oil or flax oil.

For non-cycling, or "semi"-cycling women, my favorite would be a good black current seed oil. Please remember, quality is key when working with oils. Most over the counter oils are rancid by the time you use them.

There are also some things you will need to avoid. These include refined sugars, white flours, soy products, and meats or dairy that contain their own hormones. If yours is an extreme case that has been causing you problems for a long period of time, talk to your doctor about a natural progesterone cream or a bio-identical hormone cream. Try to avoid surgeries and side effect-causing medications if at all possible.

2. Exercise: Proper oxygenation to the cells is imperative for a proper hormone cycle. No matter your age, you must get adequate exercise for this reason. It doesn’t have to be a 2 hour gym workout. Just go for a walk for 20 minutes if you’d like, but be consistent.

3. Comfort: Because it will take a little time for every- thing to normalize, there are some things you can do during your period to help with your discomfort. A rice pack (moist hot pack) directly on the uterus can be quite sooth- ing. Make sure you do not use dry heat (heating pad), as more congestion can accumulate in the area.

White willow bark is an herb that is excellent for pain relief. Evening primrose oil is also great during menstruation, for mood changes before your period, and for menopausal symptoms.