Every month, millions of women turn to prescription or OTC medications just to get through their menstrual cycle. Menstrual pain, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) - a more severe form of PMS - affect the mental and physical health of approximately 30-40% of women annually. Painful periods are also a leading cause of school and work absenteeism, resulting in an average of 9 days of lost productivity each year.

Common symptoms of PMS include:

Physical symptoms

• Cramps: lower abdominal pain or discomfort, often due to uterine contractions
• Bloating: a feeling of fullness or swelling in the abdomen
• Headaches: migraines or tension-type headaches
• Fatigue: a feeling of tiredness or low energy, often severe
• Acne: breakouts, usually on the face, chest or back
• Joint or muscle pain: aches in various parts of the body
• Constipation or diarrhea: changes in bowel movements

Emotional and psychological symptoms

• Irritability: increased frustration, mood swings, or anger
• Depression: feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or tearfulness
• Anxiety: worry, nervousness, or tension
• Mood swings: rapid shifts in emotional state, from happiness to frustration or sadness
• Trouble sleeping: Insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns
• Cognitive symptoms: Difficulty concentrating or memory lapses ('brain fog')

While the above statistics have remained largely unchanged for decades, there are still few effective treatment options available for women. Most are prescribed anti-inflammatory medications, contraceptive pills and/or SSRI antidepressants.

While anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve period-related pain, they don't address the emotional and mental challenges that often start up to 10 days before menstruation. Contraceptives may help manage both pain and emotional distress, but their harsh side effects and the serious risk of blood clots lead many women to avoid them. The long list of negative side effects associated with SSRIs - such as insomnia, weight gain, loss of libido, and hair loss - raises even more concerns.

As a result, many women have turned to natural alternatives for relief, including cannabis, hemp extracts and, more recently, psychedelic mushrooms.

An increasing number of women are turning to microdosing psychedelic mushroms as a potential solution for easing symptoms of PMS and PMDD. Microdosing involves taking a sub-perceptual dose of psilocybin mushrooms every 2-4 days to achieve specific psychological or physical benefits. Most individuals use microdosing to improve mood, reduce anxiety, address addictive behaviors, alleviate chronic pain and boost focus and creativity.

Microdosing for PMS/PMDD mood symptoms

The most commonly reported psychological symptoms of PMS and PMDD include irritability, depression, anxiety and fatigue. All these symtoms suggest a possible dysfunction or imbalance in serotonin production and/or metabolism. This is why SSRIs are often prescribed to manage the mood swings associated with the menstrual cycle. However, one has to question whether it makes sense to prescribe a daily antidepressant - especially with its significant negative side effects - to address symptoms that typically occur once a month and often last only 3-10 days.

Psilocybin mushrooms provide an appealing alternative because they also interact with the serotonin system, binding to serotonin receptors and producing effects similar to a serotonin boost. This results in enhanced mood stability, improved stamina, better sleep, and an overall sense of well-being. The positive effects of psilocybin mushrooms can be felt within 30 minutes of ingestion, and unlike antidepressants, they don’t require daily dosing or a prolonged period of use to achieve the desired results. Moreover, while research on this subject is still limited, no serious side effects of microdosing mushrooms have been identified to date.

In the absence of significant research and investment in the microdosing space, many women have taken a proactive approach, experimenting with various dosing schedules to find the ideal regimen for their bodies. In numerous cases, women have reported a complete absence of PMS or PMDD symptoms, or only mild symptoms, during or shortly after a microdose. As a result, many are increasingly considering microdosing as a viable treatment option.

Microdosing for PMS/PMDD pain

Anti-inflammatory medications are often the go-to treatment, many women require high doses to find relief, which can lead to unwanted side effects such as chronic stomach issues, as well as kidney and liver damage.

There is evidence that microdosing psilocybin may have an anti-inflammatory effect. In small doses, psilocybin slightly constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to certain organs. This reduction in blood flow can help alleviate inflammation, which in turn relieves cramps, soreness and pain. Additionally, the resulting increase in blood pressure - due to the constricted blood vessels - can help ease symptoms of nausea, dizziness, and fainting, which are commonly associated with PMDD and linked to low blood pressure.

We still know little about why some women experience PMS and PMDD while others do not, and even less about why the severity of symptoms can fluctuate month to month. Women's health issues have long been understudied, underfunded, and inadequately treated, with little progress in recent years. Every month, millions of women endure debilitating physical and psychological symptoms that interfere with their daily activities, mental health, relationships, and productivity. These challenges come with significant costs—not just for the women themselves but for society as a whole. Psychedelic mushrooms could provide a promising treatment path, but much more research is needed to fully understand the benefits, risks, and optimal dosages.