The luteal phase (aka the last phase in the menstrual cycle before your period begins) receives a bad rap due to severe PMS symptoms running rampant. Many women complain of mood swings, body aches, cramps, headaches, inability to sleep and more! When these issues become overwhelming or unbearable, we often head to the doctor's office looking for help. I know from personal experience just how little the western medical systems offer when it comes to actual solutions for issues related to the womb and PMS. Like many women, I’ve gone to my doctor with these concerns only to be told my options are either birth control or some type of continuous pain medication. Neither of these options resonated with me, so I set off on a journey of self-inquiry to heal my PMS naturally. Here are the top three holistic remedies I discovered:
Womb Massages
Regular womb massages involve using a high quality organic oil, my favorite is castor oil, to externally massage the womb and pelvic area. You can even make your regular womb massages into a ritual experience. For example, light your favorite candles, turn the lights down, get comfy, take a few deep breaths, and set an intention. Then begin by applying the organic oil and gently massage your pelvic area directly where your womb resides (externally).
Regular womb massages are a wonderful act of self-love and provide numerous benefits that include:
Stimulate blood flow to the reproductive organs
Regulate ovulation patterns
Reduce cramps, bloating, and heavy bleeding
Improve painful and irregular periods
Mobilize scar tissue
Reduce stress
Sacred Rage Rituals
During the luteal/premenstrual phase, there is often a surge of emotions. We tend to feel more sensitive, tired, and irritable. Society generally teaches women that this is problematic behavior and needs to be suppressed. However, there are tremendous healing benefits in learning to express and release our emotions in healthy ways. Sacred rage rituals involve creating a safe space for ourselves where we can comfortably release the inner rage and other suppressed emotions that we carry.
This can look like:
Punching a pillow or your mattress
Using a hand towel to hit the wall
Screaming out loud or into a pillow
Blaring loud music and dancing as wildly as you’d like
Stomping on the floor
Once you feel that you’ve expressed your emotions adequately, take some time to journal about how you feel, what is coming up for you, and any aligned actions you need to take or boundaries that you should set. Sacred rage rituals may sound outlandish, but they are so helpful when processing big emotions like we often do during the luteal phase. This practice is also a remarkable technique to release stuck, unconscious, and heavy emotions from our bodies.
Prioritize Rest
During the luteal phase, the hormones that are responsible for our high ovulation energy, mainly estrogen and testosterone, begin to stop steadily. This often translates to feeling more tired and needing more rest. In our current, societal structure, this isn’t a lot of time for anyone to get rest, unless you intentionally carve out space for it. This is critically important for any menstruating woman because of the continuous hormonal shifts that occur during the luteal phase, especially right before menstruation. When we try to push through the natural inclination to rest more during this sensitive time, we often end up with menstrual symptoms that are far worse than they should be. Our feminine bodies need more rest than our male counterparts. Today, society is structured based on the 24 hour male hormonal pattern, whereas with women, we function on a 28 day (on average) hormonal cycle. This distinction is very important and illuminates the need for us to advocate for our bodies' natural hormonal fluctuations within a society that was not designed for our physiology. We are worthy, even when we are resting!
Our wombs and cyclical bodies are capable of existing in optimal health; they just need the proper support in doing so. These three techniques are by no means an exhaustive list for womb healing; however, they are great practices to include along the journey. Easing, and even erasing our PMS symptoms naturally is possible. I have supported countless women along their journey to healthy, pain free periods, better understanding of their cycles, and deeper connections to their bodies. If you would like to learn more about ways in which we can work together, please explore the link below.
With love,
Whitney
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