Premenstrual Syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a wide range of symptoms that can affect a woman 5 - 11 days before she begins to menstruate. Symptoms can include a wide variety of physical and emotional effects which usually subside with menstruation or shortly after. Approximately 80% of women experience premenstrual changes, but only about 30% are disturbed by these changes.[1]
 Premenstrual Syndrome | |
| Causes | Dietary Factors, Smoking, Stress, Environmental Toxins |
|---|---|
| See Also | Women's Health, Adrenal Fatigue, Hypothyroidism, Depression, Anxiety |
| Books | Books on Women's Health |
| Articles | Articles on Women's Health |
Naturopathic Assessment
Causal Factors
In order to stimulate the innate ability of the body to heal the causes of disease must be identified and addressed. PMS symptoms are often an exaggeration of underlying conditions such as anxiety, depression and digestive disturbances. There are also many factors that contribute to PMS including lifestyle and environmental factors.
Lifestyle
- There are many dietary factors that seem to be correlated with increased PMS symptoms including food allergies, food intolerances, adverse reactions to food, nutrient deficiencies, dietary imbalances.
- Irregular eating patterns and diets high in processed food can aggravate PMS.
- Increased consumption of alcohol, caffeine, sugar and simple carbohydrates are associated with increased symptoms.
- It is common for women with PMS to crave certain foods, sugar being the most common craving, which may indicate dietary imbalances.
- Regular exercise can help prevent PMS or at least alleviate the intensity of the symptoms.
- Inadequate sleep increases the likelihood of PMS symptoms.
Social
- Emotional and physical stress seems to worsen PMS symptoms.
- PMS can occur when a person is overwhelmed with their life or when they are unhappy with aspects of their life. For many women they can handle of stress of life most of the month, but during PMS the stress or dissatisfaction becomes intensified, sometimes to the point of being unbearable.
- PMS tends to be worse in those individuals that suffer from anxiety and depression.
Environmental
- environmental toxins often disrupt hormone levels and can contribute to PMS symptoms.
External
- Women who smoke cigarettes experience greater levels of PMS.
Medical Interventions
- Prescription Medications
- Some prescription medications may cause or aggravate PMS symptoms.
Physiology
- Chronic constipation may increase some of the symptoms associated with PMS.
Genetics
- Monozygotic (identical) twins are twice as likely to experience PMS than dizygotic (fraternal) twins, thus indicating a genetic component to PMS.[2]
Diagnostic Tests
The diagnosis of PMS is typically based on a thorough medical history and on the symptoms that a women experiences prior to her period. Although lab tests or other diagnostic testing may be used to determine if there is any other underlying conditions, the diagnosis of PMS does not require blood or other diagnostic testing.
Related Symptoms and Conditions
Conditions associated with PMS include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
- This is a separate and severe form of PMS including depression, irritability, and severe mood swings.
- Hypothyroidism
- Adrenal Fatigue
- Serotonin deficiency
- Deficiency in prostaglandins
Characteristics
Several PMS subtypes exist, including the following:
- PMS-A: Characterized by anxiety. Most common subtype.
- PMS-C: Characterized by carbohydrate cravings.
- PMS-D: Characterized by depression. Least common subtype.
- PMS-H: Characterized by retained water and salt, as a result of increased aldosterone.
The symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome begin before menstruation and subside before or during menstrual flow. The common symptoms include:
- Emotional symptoms such as:
- anxiety
- irritability
- depression
- increased sensitivity
- anger
- aggression
- Cognitive symptoms such as:
- tension
- poor coordination
- decreased concentration
- Physical symptoms such as:
- headaches or migraines
- insomnia
- fatigue and lethargy
- swollen tender breasts
- back pain
- edema (swelling) of fingers and ankles
- abdominal bloating
- diarrhea or constipation
- changes in sex drive
- food cravings
Naturopathic Treatment
The goal of naturopathic treatment is to support and work in tandem with the healing power of the body and to address the causal factors of disease with individual treatment strategies. The naturopathic approach to PMS is based on prevention of further episodes by identifying and addressing the causal factors. Providing relief during PMS can also be achieved as needed.
It is always advisable to work with a naturopathic doctor before engaging in any treatment plan.
Home Care
Home Care strategies include:
Lifestyle
Lifestyle recommendations include:
- Quit smoking
- Eliminate all adverse food reactions including food allergies and food intolerances.
- Eliminate alcohol, caffeine, sugar and chocolate.[4]
- Choose whole unprocessed food such as whole grains, legumes, vegetables, nuts and seeds.[5]
- Increase intake of soy foods.[4]
- Decrease fat intake, especially saturated fat.[4]
- Increase foods high in potassium and low in salt to reduce bloating.[4]
- Ensure you drink adequate water.
- Ensure adequate sleep
Naturopathic Therapies
| Article | Ginkgo is Effective for Relief of PMS Symptoms, 2010 March Natural Medicine [1] |
|---|
Naturopathic Therapies for anemia include:
- Clinical Nutritional Supplementation includes:
- Vitamins such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin E,[6] Vitamin D.[1]
- Minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc
- Amino Acids such as Tryptophan.[1]
- Other supplements such as evening primrose oil[5], Indole-3-Carbinol, Pregnenolone, Spirulina
- Botanical remedies such as Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus), Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis), Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum),[7], [8]Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis), Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), Nettle (Urtica dioica), Vervain (Verbena officinalis).
- Gemmotherapies such as Rubus idaeus
- Homeopathic remedies such as Calc carb, Kali carb, Lachesis, Lycopodium, Nat mur, Pulsatilla, Sepia.[9], [10]
- Acupuncture can help decrease the symptoms associated with PMS.
- Bodywork
- Massage and other forms of bodywork can decrease the symptoms associated with PMS.
References
Reviewed by Iva Lloyd, BScH, RPE, ND [2]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hudson T (2007) Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health. McGraw-Hill.
- ↑ Dickerson LM, Mazyck PJ, Hunter MH (2003) Premenstrual syndrome Am Fam Physician; Vol67(8):1743-52 PMID: 12725453.
- ↑ Murray Michael 1996 Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements, The Essential Guide for Improving Your Health Naturally Prima Publishing
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Pizzorno Joseph, Murray Michael, Joiner-Bey Herb (2008) The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Murray Michael 1996 Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements, The Essential Guide for Improving Your Health Naturally Prima Publishing
- ↑ Prousky Jonathan (2008) Principles and Practices of Naturopathic Clinical Nutrition CCNM Press Inc.
- ↑ Godfrey Anthony, Saunders Paul Richard, Barlow Kerry, Gilbert Cyndi, Gowan Matthew, Smith Fraser 2010 Principles and Practices of Naturopathic Botanical Medicine, Vol 1: Botanical Medicine Monographs, CCNM Press, Toronto
- ↑ Boon Heather, Smith Michael 2004 The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to the 50 Most Common Medicinal Herbs, Robert Rose, Toronto
- ↑ Hershoff Asa 2000 Homeopathic Remedies, A Quick and Easy Guide to Common Disorders and their Homeopathic Treatments, Avery Publishing Group, New York
- ↑ Ullman Robert, Reichenberg-Ullman Judyth 1997, Homeopathic Self-Care, the quick and easy guide for the whole family. Prima Publishing
