Environmental Toxins and Endocrine Disruptors: Hidden Drivers of PMDD

by Camilla Brinkworth, Naturopath, PMDD Specialist & Founder of PMDD Naturopath and Camilla Clare Holistic Health

When I first began working with women struggling with PMDD, I focused heavily on hormones, nutrition, and emotional regulation — the core areas we know influence symptoms. But as I began delving deeper into functional testing and environmental health, I started to see another pattern emerge: toxin overload.

Many of the women I work with eat well, take their supplements, and do everything “right,” yet still experience severe PMDD symptoms — mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, and painful cycles. In these cases, environmental toxins are often the missing piece. These chemicals, found in everyday products, quietly disrupt the endocrine system and make hormonal balance almost impossible to achieve until they’re addressed.

How Environmental Toxins Affect Hormones

Chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, bisphenol A (BPA), and other synthetic compounds are known as endocrine disruptors. They can mimic or block the action of natural hormones — particularly oestrogen — and interfere with how the endocrine system communicates.

For women with PMDD, who already experience heightened hormonal sensitivity, these substances can amplify mood changes and physical symptoms. When your body is flooded with oestrogen-like compounds, it can lead to what we call oestrogen dominance — a state where oestrogen levels are high relative to progesterone. This imbalance is often linked to irritability, anxiety, breast tenderness, and heavy periods.

One client of mine, a yoga teacher in her thirties, came to me after years of battling extreme PMDD and fatigue. She was surprised when we discovered her BPA levels were elevated. After replacing her plastic drink bottles, switching to natural cosmetics, and supporting her liver detoxification pathways, her symptoms began to ease. “I didn’t realise how much my environment was affecting me,” she said. It’s something I hear often.

Common Sources of Endocrine Disruptors

You don’t have to live next to a factory to be affected by toxins — they’re embedded in our daily routines. Some of the most common sources include:

• Plastics: water bottles, food containers, cling wrap, and receipts containing BPA or BPS.

• Cosmetics: conventional skincare, makeup, and perfumes often contain parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances.

• Cleaning products: surface sprays, detergents, and air fresheners may release volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

• Non-stick cookware: Teflon and other PFAS (“forever chemicals”) can leach into food when heated.

• Pesticide residues: found in non-organic produce.

These compounds enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, or absorption through the skin — and over time, they accumulate.

The Liver’s Role in Detoxification and Hormone Balance

Your liver is responsible for metabolising and excreting both hormones and toxins. When it becomes overloaded — whether from alcohol, poor diet, stress, or environmental exposure — its ability to process oestrogen diminishes. This can lead to recirculation of unprocessed hormones, heightening PMDD symptoms.

Supporting the liver is one of the most important aspects of PMDD naturopathic care. By enhancing liver function, we not only improve toxin clearance but also help stabilise hormonal fluctuations that drive emotional and physical distress.

Practical Steps to Reduce Exposure

Reducing your toxin load doesn’t require perfection — just consistent, conscious choices. Here are some simple steps I encourage clients to begin with:

1. Choose Glass, Stainless Steel or BPA-Free Containers

Avoid heating food or drinks in plastic. Even “microwave-safe” plastics can leach chemicals when exposed to heat.

2. Simplify Your Skincare and Cleaning Products

Opt for natural or organic brands free from parabens, synthetic fragrance, and phthalates. I often tell clients, “If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin.”

3. Wash Fresh Produce Thoroughly

Choose organic where possible, especially for high-residue items like berries, spinach, and apples.

4. Support Your Body’s Detoxification Systems

Hydrate well, sweat regularly through exercise or sauna therapy, and eat plenty of fibre to support elimination.

Liver-Supportive Foods and Herbs for PMDD

A liver that functions well can better metabolise both hormones and toxins. Incorporating these foods and herbs can make a real difference:

• Leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts enhance oestrogen detox pathways.

• Beetroot and carrots: rich in antioxidants that support phase 2 liver detoxification.

• Turmeric and dandelion root: potent anti-inflammatory and detox-supportive herbs.

• Milk thistle: helps regenerate liver cells and improve bile flow.

• Coriander and parsley: bind to heavy metals and aid their excretion.

In my clinic, I often use tailored herbal liver tonics and gentle detox programmes to help women process both environmental toxins and excess hormones. When combined with nervous system support and trauma-informed care, the results are often profound — calmer moods, lighter cycles, and greater emotional stability.

Healing from the Inside Out

Environmental toxins may be invisible, but their impact is tangible — especially for those with PMDD. The good news is that the body has an incredible capacity to heal once the burden is lifted.

When we reduce exposure, support detoxification, and restore the body’s natural hormonal rhythm, we see not just symptom relief but genuine transformation.

If you suspect toxins may be contributing to your PMDD, I offer comprehensive naturopathic consultations that combine hormone and liver support with nervous system and trauma-healing approaches. Together, we can identify your unique triggers and help your body return to balance — naturally.

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 restore hormonal harmony.