What is the best therapy for PMDD in Bristol?
Women in Bristol searching for PMDD therapy are often offered the same narrow set of options—SSRIs, hormonal contraception, or short-term talking therapy. While these can bring temporary relief, they don’t always address the deeper causes of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).
Camilla Clare Brinkworth, a naturopath and founder of Camilla Clare Holistic Health, offers a more integrative and trauma-informed path for women across Bristol, Clifton, Redland, Bedminster, and Stokes Croft. Her PMDD Naturopath service goes beyond symptom management, combining plant-based nutrition, herbal medicine, nervous system regulation, and emotional healing to support lasting transformation.
Below is a detailed comparison between conventional PMDD treatments and Camilla’s holistic approach—rooted in science, compassion, and the rhythms of Bristol life.
Conventional therapies for PMDD in Bristol
Talking therapies (CBT and counselling)
Many women in Bristol are referred through NHS Talking Therapies Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. CBT can help with negative thought patterns and anxiety, but waiting lists can stretch for months. Moreover, PMDD isn’t just a cognitive issue—it’s a neuroendocrine condition affected by hormones, nutrients, and stress physiology.
A therapist may help you “cope better,” but coping is not healing. CBT doesn’t repair nutrient deficiencies, gut dysfunction, or the nervous system dysregulation often underlying PMDD.
Antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs)
GPs across Bristol—from Cotham Hill to Southville—frequently prescribe SSRIs or SNRIs for PMDD. While these can ease mood swings, side effects like fatigue, nausea, or sexual dysfunction are common. Many women end up trying multiple medications or increasing doses.
Pharmaceuticals can help manage symptoms, but they don’t resolve inflammatory triggers or serotonin metabolism issues caused by poor nutrition or gut imbalance—problems naturopathy directly addresses.
Hormonal therapies
Some private gynaecologists in Clifton or Harley Street clinics with Bristol partnerships prescribe combined oral contraceptives or progestogens. For a few women, these suppress symptoms; for others, they worsen depression or cause migraines.
The pill halts ovulation, silencing the body’s signals rather than improving how it processes hormones. For women in Bristol trying to conceive, or those who prefer natural cycles, this isn’t a sustainable choice.
Painkillers and anti-inflammatories
Over-the-counter NSAIDs from Boots in Cabot Circus or Superdrug on Broadmead may ease cramps, but they don’t alter brain chemistry, cortisol rhythms, or blood sugar balance. Relief is temporary, and long-term use can strain digestion and liver function.
GnRH analogues and surgery
In severe cases, women are offered GnRH analogues to induce menopause or even oophorectomy. These carry major risks—bone density loss, cardiovascular changes, and emotional side effects. They are rarely appropriate for women seeking natural, fertility-preserving solutions.
Generic supplement advice
Conventional care may suggest calcium, vitamin B6, or evening primrose oil. Yet these are not personalised, and rarely address gut absorption, stress-related depletion, or dietary context—all vital for genuine improvement.
Camilla’s holistic PMDD Naturopath service: Rooted in Bristol, grounded in results
Root-cause philosophy
In her Bristol-based naturopathic practice, Camilla Clare Brinkworth follows six naturopathic principles:
Treat the root cause
Support the body’s innate healing capacity
Do no harm
Educate and empower
Treat the whole person
Focus on prevention
She views PMDD not as a hormonal “curse,” but as a sensitivity signal—a sign that the body’s stress and nutrient systems are overwhelmed. Her mission is to calm the reactivity rather than mute it.
Nutrition tailored to Bristol life
Bristol’s food culture is perfectly suited to Camilla’s anti-inflammatory, plant-rich approach. From Better Food in St Werburghs to The Bristol Loaf in Bedminster and the Harbourside Market, access to seasonal produce is abundant.
Her clients are encouraged to build plates with:
Complex carbohydrates (quinoa, oats, buckwheat) for stable blood sugar
Plant proteins (tofu, tempeh, legumes, hemp, and lentils) for neurotransmitter balance
Omega-3 sources (chia, flax, Ahiflower oil) for inflammation support
Leafy greens and magnesium-rich seeds to calm the nervous system
Camilla helps busy Bristol women—from tech workers in Temple Quay to artists in Montpelier—create practical meal plans suited to real life, reducing mood dips and cravings linked to PMDD.
Herbal medicine and targeted nutrients
Herbal prescriptions are chosen after comprehensive assessments, not guesswork. Camilla may include:
Ashwagandha or Rhodiola to balance cortisol
Lemon balm or Passionflower for anxiety and sleep
Vitex (Chaste Tree) for progesterone regulation
Saffron for mood balance
Magnesium glycinate, B vitamins, and calcium to nourish neurotransmitters
Unlike generic supplement regimens, these protocols consider absorption, bioavailability, and synergy—ensuring that nutrients truly reach cellular level.
Emotional healing for deeper change
Bristol has a rich culture of self-development—from mindfulness circles in Stokes Croft to yoga collectives in Easton—but few practitioners blend emotional and physiological healing as seamlessly as Camilla.
She uses Family Constellations and Rapid Core Healing to uncover subconscious loyalties, inherited trauma, or patterns like self-silencing and guilt—issues commonly linked to hormonal sensitivity.
By integrating trauma work with nutritional healing, clients experience calmer luteal phases, improved sleep, and a greater sense of safety in their own bodies.
Nervous system regulation for urban resilience
Bristol’s pace can be stimulating—creative yet demanding. The traffic on the M32, crowded mornings at Temple Meads, and tight schedules can leave the body in constant “fight or flight.”
Camilla teaches:
Breathwork and somatic grounding to reduce stress reactivity
Yoga Nidra and restorative routines for sleep
Circadian rhythm support—especially for women working shifts at the Bristol Royal Infirmary or in creative industries with irregular hours
Many clients report feeling steadier, sleeping better, and regaining the capacity to respond rather than react.
Collaborative and empowering care
Camilla’s consultations are co-created, not dictated. Women learn cycle literacy, gain nutritional awareness, and master self-regulation tools, building autonomy over time. This collaborative method turns clients into active participants, not passive patients.
Why her PMDD Naturopath service stands out in Bristol
Root-cause resolution – Tackles hormonal sensitivity, gut health, nutrient depletion, and trauma rather than masking symptoms.
Low risk and natural – Avoids surgical menopause, drug side effects, or fertility suppression.
Personalised – Adapts plans to Bristol lifestyles, work schedules, and stress loads.
Integrative – Unites nutrition, herbal medicine, and trauma therapy into one cohesive plan.
Empowering – Teaches lifelong tools for resilience, rather than fostering dependence.
Cycle-honouring – Supports fertility and body awareness, not cycle suppression.
A Bristol-based example
Imagine a woman living in Clifton Wood, working in Temple Quay, and juggling a demanding role with family life. Each month, during the luteal phase, she experiences exhaustion, rage, and despair. She’s tried SSRIs, CBT through the NHS, and hormonal pills from her GP on Whiteladies Road. Nothing feels sustainable.
Camilla helps her stabilise blood sugar using lunches from Better Food or home-cooked lentil dishes. Herbal tonics calm her adrenals; magnesium supports sleep; and Rapid Core Healing sessions reveal an inherited belief that she must “earn” rest. Within months, her symptoms lessen dramatically—proof of what happens when mind, body, and emotion are treated together.
Conclusion
For women across Bristol—from Redland to Bedminster, Stokes Croft to Clifton Village—the question “What is the best therapy for PMDD in Bristol?” has a clear answer: one that treats the whole person.
While conventional medicine can offer short-term relief, Camilla Clare Brinkworth’s PMDD Naturopath service provides a lasting, integrative path. Through anti-inflammatory nutrition, herbal medicine, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed emotional healing, Camilla supports women to restore balance, agency, and peace with their cycles.
In a city as dynamic as Bristol, her approach meets modern women where they are—empowering them not just to manage PMDD, but to truly heal from it.