Why Naturopathy Offers a More Complete Approach to PMDD
Living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) can feel overwhelming. The days or weeks before your period might bring severe mood swings, exhaustion, irritability, anxiety, physical discomfort, or a sense that life suddenly becomes unmanageable. For many women, PMDD disrupts relationships, work, and self-confidence month after month.
Conventional medicine often offers two main routes: antidepressants or hormonal birth control. While these treatments can help some women, many find that they don’t provide lasting relief, bring unwelcome side effects, or simply don’t feel aligned with their values. This leaves countless women wondering: is there another way?
The answer is yes. Naturopathy offers a more complete, integrative approach to PMDD—one that considers not only the physical symptoms but also the emotional, nutritional, and lifestyle factors that shape how PMDD shows up.
The Limits of Conventional PMDD Treatments
It’s important to acknowledge what conventional treatments do offer. Antidepressants such as SSRIs can help manage mood symptoms, and hormonal contraceptives may blunt the hormonal fluctuations that trigger PMDD. For some, these options are a lifeline.
But for many others, they come with drawbacks:
Side effects like weight changes, low libido, or emotional numbness.
Trial-and-error frustration—trying one medication after another without real relief.
Incomplete solutions—treating symptoms in isolation rather than addressing underlying imbalances.
It’s little wonder so many women end up feeling that they are “managing” rather than healing.
How Naturopathy Views PMDD Differently
Naturopathy takes a broader perspective. Instead of seeing PMDD as simply a hormone problem, it recognises that PMDD is a condition of sensitivity: the brain and nervous system react more strongly to normal hormonal changes. This opens the door to a more holistic approach.
A naturopath looks at:
Hormone sensitivity – how your body responds to shifts in estrogen and progesterone.
Inflammation – since higher inflammatory markers are linked to worse mood symptoms.
Nutrient status – deficiencies in magnesium, vitamin D, B vitamins, or omega-3s can worsen mood swings.
Nervous system regulation – how stress and unresolved trauma amplify PMDD symptoms.
By working with the whole person, naturopathy offers a complete picture, rather than focusing on one piece of the puzzle.
Naturopathy’s Core Approaches for PMDD
So what does this look like in practice?
Nutrition and Diet
Food is one of the most immediate ways to influence mood and hormone balance. A naturopath will often focus on:
Balancing blood sugar – steady energy helps reduce irritability and anxiety.
Anti-inflammatory foods – colourful plants, legumes, and healthy fats reduce systemic inflammation.
Plant-based proteins – lentils, beans, tofu, quinoa provide the building blocks for hormone and neurotransmitter balance.
Key nutrients – magnesium (calms the nervous system), B vitamins (support energy and serotonin), and plant-based omega-3s like Ahiflower (stabilise mood and reduce inflammation).
Herbal Medicine
Evidence-based herbs can provide gentle but powerful support:
Vitex (Chaste Tree Berry) – helps regulate menstrual cycles and support progesterone.
Saffron – clinically shown to improve mood and reduce anxiety.
Kava – useful for stress, anxiety and panic, especially in the luteal phase.
These, or many other herbal medicine options, are chosen individually, based on your symptoms and constitution.
Lifestyle Support
Naturopathy goes beyond pills and potions. Sleep, movement, and stress management are all part of the plan. Restoring good sleep alone can dramatically reduce PMDD intensity. Gentle exercise like walking, yoga, or swimming helps regulate mood and hormones without overstressing the body.
Emotional Healing
This is often the missing link. For many women, PMDD symptoms are amplified by nervous system dysregulation and past trauma. That’s why I integrate trauma-informed methods such as Family Constellations and Rapid Core Healing. These approaches address the deeper emotional patterns that make PMDD harder to live with, offering release and resilience where “symptom management” isn’t enough.
Why This Feels More Complete
The beauty of naturopathy is that it:
Addresses root drivers – inflammation, nutrient gaps, trauma patterns.
Integrates body and mind – not just “hormones” but the nervous system, digestion, and emotions.
Personalises care – no two women with PMDD are the same. Plans are tailored, not one-size-fits-all.
Builds long-term resilience – helping you feel stronger cycle after cycle, not dependent on temporary fixes.
Instead of patching holes, naturopathy works to rebuild the foundation.
A Realistic and Compassionate Approach
Let’s be clear: there is no “overnight cure.” Healing takes time, consistency, and self-compassion. But the difference with naturopathy is that the process is supportive rather than suppressive. It gives women tools to understand and care for their bodies.
I often encourage women to start with one or two changes: adding magnesium-rich foods, or replacing coffee with calming teas in the luteal phase. These small shifts reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed, while still creating noticeable changes. Over time, those steps build into sustainable transformation.
When to Seek Naturopathic Support
You might consider working with a naturopath if:
Conventional treatments haven’t brought the relief you hoped for.
Side effects from medications feel worse than the problem itself.
You want to address PMDD in a way that supports your whole health, not just your symptoms.
When you work with a naturopath, you can expect:
A detailed assessment of your health and history.
Cycle tracking to understand when symptoms hit and why.
Tailored nutrition and herbal recommendations.
Emotional and nervous system support woven into your care.
Conclusion
PMDD does not mean you are broken. It means your body is asking for a different kind of care. Naturopathy offers a more complete approach—one that respects the complexity of your body, your hormones, and your emotional world.
By combining nutrition, herbal medicine, lifestyle changes, and emotional healing, naturopathy gives you a path not just to “manage” PMDD, but to genuinely improve your wellbeing.
If you’re ready to explore a holistic approach to PMDD, I invite you to learn more about my PMDD Transformation Programme or book an online consultation. Together, we can create a plan that helps you find balance and relief—so you can feel like yourself all month long.
About the Author
Camilla Brinkworth BHSc Naturopathy, Grad Cert Human Nutrition – Naturopath, Nutritionist & Trauma-Informed Practitioner.
Camilla specialises in helping women with PMDD, hormonal imbalances, and emotional wellbeing through a unique blend of naturopathy, plant-based nutrition, Family Constellations, and Rapid Core Healing. Having personally experienced PMDD, she combines lived experience with clinical expertise to offer compassionate, effective care.
She offers online consultations, group programmes, and retreats to support women worldwide.
Learn more at www.pmddnaturopath.com