Abnormal hormonal patterns--such as an elevated follicle stimulating hormone level, a relative excess of estrogen and/or deficiency of progesterone before menses, increased prolactin levels, and hypothyroidism--are common in PMS patients.  PMS has also been linked to food allergies, candidiasis, inactivity, low blood sugar, and poor nutritional habits.

Symptoms of PMS may include any or all of the following: acne, abdominal bloating, tender breasts, depression, edema, irritability, mood swings, sugar cravings, uterine cramping, and weight gain.  As many as 9 in 10 women may experience at least some of these symptoms associated with PMS.  Unfortunately, some women have been diagnosed as mentally ill when vitamin therapy, exercise, and change of diet were all that was needed.

1.                  Avoid consumption of refined foods (e.g., white sugar), processed foods (e.g., white flour), and fatty foods.  Also abstain from alcohol, caffeinated products, chocolate, coffee, dairy products, white salt, and tobacco.  (See “Smoking Addiction.”)  These have all been found to exacerbate PMS symptoms.  Restrict your consumption of red meat.  If you do eat red meat, make sure that it is organic and hormone-free.  The same goes for chicken.  You don’t have this concern with fish.

2.                  Increase your consumption of complex carbohydrates, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. This has been found to reduce anxiety, food cravings, mood swings, and tension that accompany PMS.  (See “Stress.”)

3.                  Check your food allergies.  (See “Allergy—Foods.”)  Often, you tend to be sensitive to foods that you crave.  Your body may not metabolize such foods normally.  This can result in an inflammation of the gut mucosa, allowing toxins to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This may trigger a reaction (e.g., headache, digestive complaints, mood swings, etc.).

4.                  Increase your fiber intake.  Fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains, oat bran, psyllium husk, and guar gum are good sources of fiber.  Fiber provides bulk to the stool and it binds and speeds the elimination of toxins (including estrogen) from the gut.  (See “Constipation.”)

5.                  Increase your water intake.  This is especially important if you are increasing your fiber intake.  Usually 6-8 glasses of distilled, spring, or reverse osmosis water is adequate.

6.                  Regular exercise has been found to significantly reduce many of the physical and psychological symptoms associated with PMS.  The endorphins released during exercise ease pain and enhance the sense of well-being.  This results in less anxiety, breast tenderness, food cravings, crying, depression, and edema.  Increasing your activity level by 20 minutes of aerobic-type exercise (e.g., brisk walking), three to four times weekly is usually adequate.  (See “Obesity.”)

7.                  Normal thyroid function is essential for hormonal balance.  Check your thyroid by taking your basal body temperature.  Place a thermometer under your arm for 10 minutes before arising in the morning on two consecutive days.  Your basal body temperature should be greater than 97.8.  If not, then you could probably benefit from natural thyroid supplementation.  DHEA, pregnenolone, and progesterone should be considered as well.  (See “Hypothyroidism.”)

8.                  Get your hormones balanced.  If you already take oral birth control pills or hormone replacement estrogen, be aware that this depletes the body of certain B-vitamins (such as B₂, B₃, B₆, and B₁₂) that will need to be replaced.  Estrogen, especially if made from synthetic sources, should not be used if any of the following conditions are present: breast cancer, pregnancy, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or phlebitis.  Estrogen is known to stimulate growth of cancer cells, cause heart arrhythmias, increase your stroke risk, and cause the blood to clot.

9.                  Do you have heavy metals?  Get them checked to find out.  (See “Chelation Therapy.”)  If body levels of lead are high, it will block the binding of estrogen to its receptor sites in the body.  A magnesium deficiency worsens this effect by increasing lead absorption from the diet and reducing your resistance to stress.

10.             Supplements found to be particularly useful in the treatment of this condition are vitamins A, C, and E, B-complex, bioflavonoids, the minerals magnesium and zinc, essential fatty acids such as those found in flax seed oil, and acidophilus.  Magnesium is particularly useful as it helps the body absorb calcium.  Known as a “natural relaxant,” magnesium also helps control food cravings (See “Allergy--Foods”) and stabilize moods.  Magnesium may be obtained from certain foods (e.g. beans, fish, green/leafy vegetables, peas, tofu, rice bran, spinach, and tofu), taken as a supplement, or added to warm bath water in the form of epsom salt.

11.             Herbs which have been found to inhibit inflammation, balance hormones, relieve uterine cramping, and improve liver function include black haw, blessed thistle, bromelain, cayenne, dong quai, ginseng, kelp, licorice root, milk thistle, raspberry, sarsaparilla, and squaw vine.

12.              Homeopathics to consider include:  Calcarea Carbonica (for overweight women who tend to be sluggish), Folliculinum (when menstrual cycle is irregular or absent), Iodum (for thin women with hunger), Lachesis (if PMS improves with the onset of menses), Natrum Muriaticum (if the woman tends to be quiet and insecure), Phosphorus (for slim, outgoing women), Pulsatilla (for sensitive women who cry easily), Sepia (if PMS worsens with the onset of menses), Silicea (if nutrition is deficient), and Viburnum (if there is cramping with menses).

To learn more about healing and health optimizing therapies, go to www.NewHopeMedical.org or call NEW HOPE MEDICAL CENTER at (702) 476-0000 (direct line) or toll free (866) HEAL-NOW!