75: Period Cramps Relief Case Study: From 10/10 to No Cramps at All

This week, I’m walking you through a real client case: a 22-year-old woman dealing with debilitating period cramps, constipation/bloating, and acne that were impacting her social life, mood, and energy. We used HTMA (hair tissue mineral analysis) to uncover what her body actually needed—then built a simple, targeted plan.

Inside the episode, you’ll hear:

• What HTMA revealed: elevated magnesium (burning through it), high zinc and a zinc:copper pattern pointing to inflammation/estrogen dominance, a high calcium:potassium ratio (thyroid hormone not getting into cells), and a low sodium:magnesium ratio (adrenal burnout).
• How constipation can drive estrogen reabsorption—and worsen cramps, PMS, and skin.
• The exact levers we pulled first: mineral repletion (magnesium + quality sodium), digestive support, and daily habits to improve motility and hormone clearance.
• Her one-month results: period cramps dropped from 10/10 to 0 (except after coffee), and PMS down to 5/10—in just one cycle.

If you’re battling painful periods, PMS, constipation, or acne, this case will show you how data-driven mineral support can create quick, meaningful change—without guesswork.

👉 Ready for targeted help? Check the show notes to learn about HTMA testing and ways to work together.

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Transcript

Vanda:
Hey, hey — welcome back to the podcast!

Today I’m walking you through a new case study featuring a 22-year-old client I recently worked with. Her three main concerns were:
1️⃣ Painful periods
2️⃣ Constipation and bloating
3️⃣ Acne

Initial Concerns

On her intake form, she described her period cramps as debilitating — so painful that she often had to cancel plans. If it was something optional, she’d skip it; if it was work or school, she’d push through in pain. Over time, it really affected her social life and relationships.

Constipation had also been an ongoing issue for years. She’d tried probiotics, coffee on an empty stomach, and Miralax — none of which gave lasting relief. Things might improve for a day or two, but the constipation always returned.

As for her acne, she already suspected it was connected to both her hormones and digestion. She was smart, proactive, and familiar with functional medicine principles. She came to me because she wanted testing, answers, and a real plan — not another month of dreading her period.

Background & Lifestyle

She’s 22 — not married, no kids, and already doing a lot of things right.
She strength-trained twice a week, stayed active throughout her day, and ate mindfully without following any strict diet. She had one cup of coffee three to five days a week, managed stress well, and wasn’t on any medications. Her supplements included mineral drops, creatine, and collagen — all great choices we decided to continue.

Her cycles were around 26 days when regular, and she rated her cramps 10/10. PMS symptoms included bloating, mood swings, low energy, anxiety, depression, constipation, breast tenderness, and carb cravings.

Testing: HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis)

We started with an HTMA test since a DUTCH test wasn’t in the budget.
If you’re new here, here’s how I like to explain these two tests:

• DUTCH Test: Tells you what your hormone levels are and how your body metabolizes them.
• HTMA Test: Tells you why those hormone levels are off in the first place.

So, while the DUTCH gives valuable data, the HTMA is more actionable because it points to the root cause — the “why” behind symptoms.

Key HTMA Findings

Her test didn’t show any severe deficiencies (great news), but here’s what stood out:

• High Magnesium: Indicates the body is burning through magnesium quickly. Magnesium is needed for over 300 enzyme reactions — including muscle relaxation — which explained her intense cramps.
• Elevated Zinc: Still within range, but on the higher side, suggesting inflammation.
• Zinc-to-Copper Ratio: Skewed toward zinc dominance, indicating possible estrogen dominance.
  Combined with her constipation history, this made sense. When stool stays in the body too long, estrogen gets reabsorbed instead of eliminated — worsening PMS and skin symptoms.
• Heavy Metals: Some low-level excretion suggested her body was starting to detox stored metals, but chronic constipation likely slowed elimination.
• Calcium-to-Potassium Ratio: Very high, meaning her body struggled to get thyroid hormone into her cells — a classic case of cellular hypothyroidism.
• Sodium-to-Magnesium Ratio: Very low, signaling adrenal burnout and long-term stress.

The Plan

We focused on:

• Magnesium repletion to calm cramps and support over 300 enzymatic processes.
• Quality sodium support to rebuild adrenals and aid digestion (since sodium helps create stomach acid).
• Digestive support and mineral balancing to relieve constipation and improve nutrient absorption.
• Lifestyle consistency — building on her already-solid foundation of movement and mindful eating.

Results After One Month

At her one-month follow-up, the progress was amazing.

She reported that her cramps dropped from a 10/10 to 0, except for one episode after drinking coffee (which we already know can trigger cramps).
Her PMS symptoms went from an average of 10/10 down to 5/10, and she wrote:

“This is the first time in a long time that I didn’t have any period cramps.”

That’s an incredible shift after just one cycle.

Takeaway

This case is a perfect example of why testing matters. Without data, you’re just guessing — trying random supplements and hoping something sticks. But when you understand your body’s mineral balance, you can take specific, effective action.

If you’re dealing with painful cramps, constipation, bloating, acne, or PMS, this is your sign to get your own data.
You can find the links in the show notes to learn more about HTMA testing and how to work with me.

Thanks for tuning in — I’ll talk with you next week!