Case Studies: How Naturopathy and Rapid Core Healing Transformed PMDD
by Camilla Brinkworth, Naturopath, PMDD Specialist & Founder of PMDD Naturopath and Camilla Clare Holistic Health
When I first began combining naturopathy with trauma-informed emotional healing for PMDD, I didn’t fully anticipate the depth of transformation I would witness. Many women come to me after years of trying everything — antidepressants, the pill, supplements, and endless diets — only to find that nothing truly reaches the root of their suffering. What I’ve learned, both through my own experience and my clients’, is that PMDD healing requires more than symptom management. It requires nourishment, regulation, and repair — physically, emotionally, and systemically.
The stories below are shared with permission (and identifying details changed) to illustrate what’s possible when we treat PMDD at its root rather than its surface.
Case Study 1: “Sophie” — From Emotional Overwhelm to Inner Stability
When Sophie first came to see me, she was exhausted from the monthly rollercoaster. She described the two weeks before her period as “losing herself” — intense rage, despair, and guilt that made her dread her own cycle. She’d tried medication and supplements but couldn’t sustain relief.
In our work together, I noticed her diet was very low in magnesium and essential fatty acids — both critical for nervous system regulation. We began by rebuilding her nutritional foundations:
Magnesium glycinate for relaxation and sleep,
Ahiflower® omega-3 oil to reduce inflammation and stabilise mood, and
A whole-food, plant-rich diet with leafy greens, legumes, and seeds to balance blood sugar and hormones.
After a few months, Sophie’s physical symptoms began easing, but her emotional triggers remained intense. This is where Rapid Core Healing came in. Through this integrative process, we uncovered old emotional patterns — particularly feelings of being unsafe expressing anger. These had roots in her childhood environment, where she’d learned to suppress emotions until they erupted under hormonal stress.
Within three sessions of Rapid Core Healing, she reported feeling “calm for the first time in years.” Her luteal phase no longer felt like a battlefield. Instead of being hijacked by emotions, she could recognise and respond to them with awareness and compassion.
Case Study 2: “Maria” — Healing Trauma Stored in the Body
Maria’s PMDD showed up as anxiety, insomnia, and chronic bloating before her period. She had seen multiple specialists, been told “everything looks normal,” and was beginning to lose hope.
We started with gentle detoxification and gut repair using herbal medicine and probiotics to reduce inflammation. This eased her digestive pain and improved nutrient absorption, which had been compromised for years.
However, what stood out most was how her anxiety felt “disproportionate to what was happening.” In our sessions, we explored her emotional landscape through Family Constellations, a therapeutic process that reveals hidden patterns in the family system. Maria discovered she had been unconsciously carrying her mother’s grief — a burden that became particularly heavy during her luteal phase.
As this systemic pattern came to light and was lovingly acknowledged, her anxiety began to dissipate. Within three cycles, her panic attacks stopped. Her body — once in a constant state of fight-or-flight — began to feel safe enough to rest.
Maria’s story highlights something I see often: PMDD can amplify unresolved emotional pain stored in the nervous system. When the body is supported nutritionally and emotionally, it naturally begins to self-regulate.
Case Study 3: “Elise” — Integrating Mind, Body, and Hormones
Elise had been on SSRIs for years with limited benefit. She described her PMDD as “living two different lives — one where I love my partner, and one where I can’t stand him.” Together, we used a multi-layered approach:
Supporting serotonin and hormonal balance through B6, zinc, and saffron,
Reducing systemic inflammation with a low-histamine, anti-inflammatory diet,
And addressing the subconscious self-sabotage patterns through Rapid Core Healing.
During one session, she uncovered deep resentment toward herself for “not being strong enough.” We reframed this belief and released it through guided inner processing. Within weeks, she described her luteal phase as “manageable, even peaceful.” For the first time, she could recognise when she needed space or rest — without shame.
The Difference Between Symptom Management and Root-Cause Healing
Conventional PMDD care often focuses on symptom suppression: medication to stabilise mood or hormonal contraceptives to control cycles. While these can offer temporary relief, they rarely address the deeper biochemical, emotional, and systemic causes.
In contrast, my approach combines:
Clinical naturopathy to balance hormones, gut health, and nutrient status.
Trauma-informed therapies like Rapid Core Healing and Family Constellations to resolve stored emotional stress and ancestral patterns.
Nervous system regulation practices to restore safety and emotional resilience.
When these elements work together, healing occurs on every level — not just hormonally, but holistically.
Healing Beyond the Physical
What unites all these women’s journeys is not perfection, but integration. PMDD doesn’t vanish overnight, but the relationship with one’s body changes profoundly. They learned that healing is not about control — it’s about connection.
As I often tell clients, “Your symptoms are not your enemy. They’re your body’s request for deeper attention.” Once we listen, the path forward becomes clear.
If you’re ready to move beyond managing PMDD and begin addressing the deeper causes — both physiological and emotional — I invite you to explore how we can work together through my PMDD Naturopath programmes or Rapid Core Healing sessions. Healing is possible, and it begins with understanding your body’s story.
Author Bio
Camilla Brinkworth is a naturopath, nutritionist, and Family Constellations facilitator specialising in PMDD and women’s hormonal health. Having personally healed from PMDD, she now supports women worldwide through her clinics — PMDD Naturopath and Camilla Clare Holistic Health — combining natural medicine, trauma-informed care, and plant-based nutrition to help women achieve emotional and hormonal balance.