Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a real medical condition that affects about 40% of women in their reproductive years. The medical profession has lagged behind in recognizing PMS as a real biochemical hormonal disorder that causes physical and emotional symptoms. Over half of the women who suffer PMS have symptoms serious enough to interfere with their lives. Common symptoms of PMS are breast tenderness, bloating, food cravings, irritability and mood swings which range in severity from mild to severe and generally occur 1 to 14 days before the period. The positive aspects of PMS are that women tend to be more assertive during this period, when they dream of bigger and better things, and many do their best creative work during this time. Sometimes PMS is an accentuation of what is not right in the women's life, be it their career or family. The answer is to address these underlying issues and PMS symptoms may lessen or even disappear.

In addition to emotional work, women have many nutritional options for treating their symptoms. Caffeine and sugar both deplete the body of B Vitamins and contribute to the incidence of headaches, irritability, water retention, cravings for chocolate and sweets and painful fibrous breasts. One tablespoon of fresh flaxoil helps reduce the cravings for unhealthy fats as well as helps to regulate the ratio of estrogens and progesterone hormones in the body; 1000mgs calcium citrate and 500mgs magnesium citrate help with preventing menstrual cramps, cravings for chocolate, and symptoms of anxiety. When calcium and magnesium are taken before bed they may help you sleep better. Vitamin B6 is prescribed in 100-250 doses along with a complex B 50-100mg capsule. This will help with moods, water retention, cravings and energy.

Common herbs that help are helonias, viburnum, caulophyllum, mitchella, and vitex. These balance estrogens and progesterones. In many cases there isn't enough progesterone. Vitex is a wonderful herb to naturally raise progesterone levels in the body. If this approach isn't effective then natural progesterone creams can be applied topically with great success. St. John's wort is wonderful for treating anxiety, sleep disorders and depressed moods.

Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants for you but the above treatments are safer over the long run and work very well in my practice. If you are in your late thirties or early forties, you may be experiencing perimenopause or your thyroid may be underactive or you may have low blood sugar. Both of these topics I have covered in previous Weekender articles, copies of which are available in our office.

If you have severe menstrual cramps effective alternatives to Ponstan and other pain medication include: antispasmodic herbs such as black and blue cohash; the anti-inflammatory bromelain and taking calcium every hour for a few hours. As the liver metabolizes the hormones in the body supporting the liver to prevent PMS is crucial. Milk thistle is a common herb for this, but lipotrophic factors which also help include methionine, inositol, choline and lecithin.

In addition to looking at what you are not getting in your life, try these naturopathic treatments and you will surely get off the roller coaster of PMS!