What is the best therapy for PMDD in Hove?
Women searching for PMDD therapy in Hove are often directed towards conventional options: antidepressants, oral contraceptives, or referral to CBT through the NHS. While these approaches can help in some cases, they don’t always resolve the underlying causes of PMDD. Camilla Clare Brinkworth, naturopath and founder of Camilla Clare Holistic Health, provides an alternative in Hove—one that looks at the whole person, not just the symptoms.
Her approach combines plant-rich nutrition, herbal medicine, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed emotional healing, making her PMDD Naturopath service a distinctive and comprehensive option for women in BN3.
Conventional therapies for PMDD in Hove
Talk therapy (CBT and counselling)
In Hove, women may be referred to the Brighton & Hove Wellbeing Service for CBT. This can be useful for learning coping tools, but waiting times are long, and therapy alone doesn’t correct nutrient imbalances, blood sugar swings, or hormonal sensitivity. PMDD has physiological as well as psychological drivers, and CBT does not address these.
Antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs)
GPs in Hove often prescribe SSRIs, either daily or in the luteal phase. These drugs can reduce mood swings and anxiety but bring side effects like sleep problems, digestive upset, and emotional blunting. Many women find themselves increasing dosages or switching drugs without feeling fully restored.
Hormonal therapies
Private gynaecologists in Hove, particularly those based at The Montefiore Hospital on Montefiore Road, may prescribe hormonal contraceptives or hormone therapy to suppress ovulation. While this sometimes reduces symptoms, it can worsen mood in others, and it isn’t suitable for those wanting to maintain fertility.
Painkillers and anti-inflammatories
Pharmacies on Church Road and George Street are well stocked with NSAIDs for cramps and headaches. Yet these only mask discomfort; they don’t resolve the monthly neurological sensitivity of PMDD.
GnRH analogues and surgery
In rare severe cases, women may be offered injections to induce temporary menopause or even surgery to remove ovaries. These interventions have significant risks and are not appropriate for most women.
Generic supplement advice
Conventional recommendations—like calcium or vitamin B6—are broad and impersonal. They don’t factor in whether a woman in Hove has gut absorption issues, inflammatory triggers, or individual nutrient deficiencies.
Why Camilla Clare Brinkworth’s naturopathic PMDD service is different
Root-cause philosophy
Camilla works by the naturopathic principle that symptoms are messengers. Instead of suppressing cycles, she investigates why the body reacts so intensely to hormonal shifts. Stress physiology, nutrient status, gut ecology, and unresolved trauma are all explored.
Nutrition tailored to Hove living
Hove makes plant-rich nutrition accessible. The Western Road and Church Road corridor hosts independent shops, while George Street offers affordable grocery options. Brighton’s Infinity Foods is only minutes away for organics and supplements. Camilla uses this local food landscape to help clients adopt anti-inflammatory, low-glycaemic diets that stabilise blood sugar and mood.
She emphasises lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, tofu, tempeh, hemp seeds, colourful vegetables, and magnesium-rich greens. These not only reduce inflammation but also support neurotransmitter production and muscle relaxation.
Botanical medicine and targeted supplementation
Camilla prescribes adaptogens such as ashwagandha, nervines like lemon balm, and targeted minerals including magnesium and calcium. Unlike generic supplement lists, her prescriptions consider absorption, interactions, and personal needs.
Emotional healing integrated into care
Hove has a strong wellbeing culture, yet many therapies still separate mind and body. Camilla integrates Family Constellations and Rapid Core Healing into her PMDD care. This trauma-informed approach helps clients release inherited stress patterns and unconscious beliefs that magnify hormonal reactivity.
Nervous system regulation rooted in the local environment
Hove is shaped by its seafront. Camilla often recommends restorative walks along Hove Lawns, gentle movement by Hove Lagoon, or breathwork on the promenade to regulate stress. She also teaches Yoga Nidra and sleep hygiene adapted to local light cycles. For women juggling family, commuting, or seasonal work in Brighton & Hove, these simple practices create daily resilience.
Empowerment and collaboration
Rather than prescribing from a distance, Camilla co-creates treatment plans with her clients. Women gain cycle awareness, nutrition literacy, and nervous-system tools, leaving them less dependent on constant appointments.
Why her service may be the best PMDD therapy in Hove
Treats root causes rather than masking symptoms.
Minimal side effects, unlike surgical menopause or high-dose pharmaceuticals.
Highly personalised, reflecting individual history and lifestyle in BN3.
Integrates emotional healing, addressing trauma as part of physiology.
Supports fertility and natural cycles rather than suppressing them.
Promotes long-term self-care, so clients become experts in their own wellbeing.
Hove-specific advantages
Access to private women’s health: The Montefiore Hospital offers gynaecology services if additional investigation is required.
Commuter convenience: Hove Station connects directly to London, and Camilla’s hybrid consultation options fit commuter schedules.
Healthy local living: Regeneration along the seafront (e.g., Hove Beach Park project) supports active lifestyles—walking, yoga, and paddleboarding can all become nervous-system tools.
Food culture: With independents on Church Road and whole-food suppliers nearby, plant-rich nutrition is easy to implement in everyday Hove life.
A day-to-day Hove scenario
Imagine a woman living near Palmeira Square. She picks up food on George Street, walks on the seafront after work, but each month she dreads the luteal phase: insomnia, cravings, irritability, and crying spells. She’s tried SSRIs from her GP, CBT through the Brighton & Hove Wellbeing Service, and painkillers from the pharmacy. Nothing has truly shifted.
With Camilla, she maps her cycle, adjusts meals with produce from local shops, adds magnesium and calming herbs, explores trauma healing to address inherited stress, and learns daily breathwork to use on the promenade. Over time, her “bad week” softens into something manageable—sometimes barely noticeable.
Conclusion
For women in Hove asking, “What is the best therapy for PMDD in Hove?”, the answer is the therapy that addresses the whole picture. Conventional medicine can provide relief, but it often suppresses rather than heals.
Camilla Clare Brinkworth’s PMDD Naturopath service stands out because it unites nutrition, herbal medicine, trauma-informed emotional healing, and nervous-system regulation—all grounded in the everyday rhythms of Hove.
From Palmeira Square to Hove Lagoon, her approach gives women tools not just to survive PMDD but to thrive with stability, energy, and agency in their cycles.