PMS is NOT Normal!

Learn why you suffer from PMS and tips for how to overcome it

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is experienced by up to 80 percent of women on a monthly basis. Luckily, only around 5 percent seem to be severely affected by it. 80 percent however, is a big number. It’s the reason why some Western societies consider PMS as normal, a part of what happens before women get their period. The assumption being since many women experience it and usually take a pill for it, then it most probably is normal.

When it comes to PMS, the majority of women experience mood and physical changes during the days leading up to their menstruation. These changes affect a woman’s normal life over this time.

Below is a table listing the common signs and symptoms of PMS:

Symptoms – Emotional	Signs – Physical
Angry outbursts	Food cravings
Depression	Breast tenderness
Crying spells	Weight gain and bloating
Confusion	Headaches
Anxiety	Aches and pains
Poor concentration	Skin problems
Increased nap taking	Abdominal pain
Social withdrawal	Fatigue
Lack of sexual appetite or a change in sexual desire	Swelling of hands or feet
Insomnia	Gastrointestinal symptoms
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Note: To know if you may be suffering from PMS, record the things you feel and see during your menstrual cycle in a diary. This makes it easier for you to document any changes that occur. You start to feel the signs and symptoms roughly two weeks before your menstruation.

There are no specific laboratory tests to confirm if you have PMS. Your doctor will rely on your accurate history and his physical examination findings. See a doctor if you think you may have PMS. Excluding other causes of the symptoms is essential because your doctor can most probably do something about them.

PMS is NOT normal, but why does it occur?

The exact cause or causes of PMS aren’t fully established. Here are some possible causes of your PMS:

Changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. There may be an excess of oestrogen compared with progesterone. The changes in hormone levels can affect some women more than others.
Nutrient deficiencies - especially vitamin B6.
A diet high in sodium. Sodium causes your body to retain a lot of excess water.
Consuming a lot of caffeine and alcoholic drinks. These two seem to have significant effects on your mood.
Alterations in neurotransmitter levels. Changes in chemical messengers in your brain might be causing you to have PMS symptoms.

What you can do about your PMS

Start with your diet. Concentrate on whole foods with plenty of vegetables, healthy fats and moderate protein. Avoid sugar and processed grains and starches as well as alcohol and caffeine.
Consider taking multivitamin supplements. Vitamin B complex capsules will provide all the B vitamins including B6 which is known as an effective remedy for PMS.
Eat adequate amounts of the right kinds of fat. Eat foods high in the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA, such as fermented cod liver oil (you will also get vitamins A, D, and K). You can also try evening primrose oil, shown to benefit women during this time.

Exercise. There is some evidence that exercise can reduce the symptoms of PMS. Exercise increases blood flow and ensures adequate oxygen and nutrient supply to the tissues of your body. And it is well known that exercise is a natural mood-lifter.
Going herbal. Here are our choices of herbs to help you with your PMS.
- Chaste tree, dong quai and wild yam. Help in balancing out your oestrogen and progesterone levels.
- Dandelion root, milk thistle and globe artichoke. Your liver is primarily tasked to get rid of excess oestrogen. Help it do so by taking these herbs.

Ask yourself this question: Is PMS affecting your health and well-being? Or that of your wife / mother / sister? No one has to suffer from regular PMS. It is not normal and you can definitely do something about it. Speak with your doctor and natural health practitioner and get the right kind of help to be rid of PMS!