Low-5 and Severe PMS – Kiki Grace’s Experiment

Explore the emotional and physical shifts observed when Low-5 enters the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder toolkit.

by Aviva Rabinovici

Kiki Grace

As most women can attest, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is no laughing matter. Up to 75% of women¹ experience hormonal swings that cause sadness, anger, and exhaustion. For roughly 5% of women², however, these symptoms are so severe that they affect their work and relationships. These women struggle with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and find themselves wading through extreme mood swings, anxiety, and depression that interfere with their normal lives.

This was the reality for Kiki Grace, a somatic coach and psychedelic guide who was experiencing debilitating PMDD symptoms roughly 7 to 10 days before her period started. 

The “Emotional Flip”

“About two weeks before my period, I’d experience a full emotional flip that saw me rethinking every decision I had made that month,” she explains.

“I would question all my business choices, whether I was in the right relationship, whether I was truly loved.”

The emotions were so intense that Kiki often found herself reversing sound decisions before, as she puts it, “sanity returned”. 

“It was incredibly frustrating,” she admits. “I would become irritable, self-critical, and excessively anxious, and it wouldn’t dissipate until my blood came, at which point the emotions would release and everything would go back to baseline.” 

Although she consulted a specialist to learn how to stabilize her hormonal cycle, the monthly emotional rollercoaster continued. In search of a solution, she spoke with her life partner and, together, they realized she could apply the same care she provided to her clients to herself.

After years of personal work and formal training in the psychedelic space, Kiki had begun to facilitate 5-MeO-DMT experiences for her clients. Then it occurred to her to investigate how low-dose 5-Meo-DMT (Low-5) might help with her difficult PMS.

Designing a Low-5 Ritual

In creating her personal ritual, Kiki begins by noticing when her hormones start becoming unbalanced. From there, she schedules time on her calendar to hold space for roughly 60 to 90 minutes, preferably in the evenings, so she can be held by her partner afterwards. Choosing a private spot in her bedroom or bathroom, she smudges the space, sets an intention, and begins with opening prayers. She plays soft music in the background and ends the experience with closing prayers.

After some trial and error, she landed on a protocol that works best for her: two to three inhalations of vaporized Low-5 from a vape pen with an 8% concentration, followed by two to five inhalations from a pen containing a 13% concentration. All the preceding doses are spaced a few minutes apart. For Kiki, at these concentrations, Low-5 is typically non-intoxicating and extremely short-acting, with effects usually clearing within 15 minutes. 

“I remain conscious of my surroundings, but I go in and out of a somewhat altered state,” she explains. “The length of time I sit depends on what comes up for me. Sometimes it’s just a buildup of emotion. Sometimes I cry.”

Results after Six Months 

Since beginning this monthly ritual, Kiki has noticed significant abatement of her symptoms. On the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP)—a validated 24-item self-rating scale for PMDD—Kiki says her average luteal-phase score fell from 59 (pre-intervention) to 34 (post-intervention), a 42 % reduction.

“In almost every journey with Low-5, I’m reminded how much love I truly have in my life,” she says. “I receive it as a mental wave and can tangibly feel the emotion. Even more critically, I come out of the experience with greater confidence and a return to self-trust.”

Now, instead of getting lost in obsessive second-guessing and catastrophizing, Kiki can put her feelings into perspective. “Instead of telling myself terrible stories, I advocate for myself and ask my partner to hold me. And, having had the experience, I can tap back into this knowledge more readily.”

A Monthly Intervention

Currently, Kiki is treating her Low-5 experiences as a monthly intervention. She is not expecting a cure. “These hormones shift every month, so I’m open to using this protocol as a lifelong tool if needed,” she stresses. “There’s a cultural assumption that wellness tools are supposed to deliver a permanent fix, but I think it’s more important to destigmatize their ongoing use. I’d rather have a Low-5 journey every month than experience a lifetime on anti-depressants.”

Although this approach works for Kiki, she cautions that every woman is unique. “I’d like to inspire other women to take control over this part of their lives without fear,” she asserts. “At the same time, it’s important to work with this medicine with care. I suggest starting with a guide until you’re comfortable navigating the experience on your own.”

Learn More

If you’re interested in learning more about women-centred Low-5 protocols for menstrual mood challenges, contact Kiki via www.somahealing.ca or DM her @kiki.somahealing on Instagram.

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1.  https://www.webmd.com/women/pms/pms-vs-pmdd

2.  https://www.webmd.com/women/pms/pms-vs-pmdd