Dear Kim,
I know you aren't home right now, but here goes anyway-
I think that herbal or natural remedies are quite potent, and we need to
consider if there might be any effect on the baby...A little knowledge can be
a dangerous thing. I once took dong quai to help me with "perimenopause"
symptoms because "everyone" told me to try it, apparently it's the newest
women's cure-all; I got the most excruciating pain in thumb and wrist joints,
I could barely move my thumbs, my ankles swelled up quite a bit...
I later attended a lecture given by the Herbs. Etc. president/owner. This is
a comapny that manufactures herbal extracts including dong quai, echinacea,
etc etc. Please try to contact him to find out if dong quai is used to treat
PMS or not. He didn't think the dong quai was indicated in my case, rather
something called "Vitex". Also check any good herbal book. Even better-find
an authentic herbalist who knows what they are doing.
Has the mother cut out caffeine, sweets, maybe even dairy? There are other
things to try before using drugs, even drugs found in herbs.Good luck
Pearl Shifer