Pre Menstrual Syndrome - Facts & Remedies

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Pre menstrual syndrome

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Facts

The medical term for a range of symptoms that occurs before the start of the menstrual period and then disappears after the first few days of the period.
Mood changes associated with PMS have been described as early as the time of the ancient Greeks. However, it was in 1931 that PMS was officially recognized by the medical community. The term "premenstrual syndrome" was coined in 1953.
PMS is believed to be caused by fluctuations of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
The symptoms classified under PMS are menstrual cramp (when the uterus contracts), headache, acne, bloating, depression, insomnia, mood swings, diarrhea, backache, gingivitis, breast tenderness and lumpiness, fatigue, hot flashes, rashes and the list goes on. Every woman is affected differently.
PMT is premenstrual tension where emotional symptoms like being irritable, teary or moody are experienced 7 to 10 days before a period and officially disappear when the period starts or sometimes for a few days into menstruation.
For some women, asthma symptoms may worsen before their periods due to hormone fluctuations.
Thyroid hormone levels which are either too high or too low can also cause menstrual problems.
Other menstrual disorders include menorrhagia (heavy bleeding), amenorrhea (the absence of menstruation) and dysmenorrhea (severe menstrual cramps).

The relief plan

Noni is a natural tropical fruit found to contain over 150 nutraceuticals. According to Dr. Neil Solomon's survey in his book Tahitian Noni Juice : How Much, How Often, For What (Direct Source, 2002), of the 3,161 women who drank noni juice to help reduce painful and uncomfortable menstrual symptoms, 80% found relief after consuming an average of 2.5 ounces daily.
Noni is believed to help the body maintain regular hormone levels. Noni has high levels of bromelain which is also known as proxeronine. This substance is used to treat severe menstrual cramps.
Taking about 2 ounces of TAHITIAN NONI™ Juice at the onset of pain provides relief in less than 45 minutes.
More about noni
As featured in the U.K. Journal of Women's Health (1998), a study showed that taking 200mg of magnesium for at least 2 months helped to relieve menstrual swelling and bloating.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study reported in the British Medical Journal concluded that the use of chasteberry fruit (agnus castus) is effective and well tolerated in the relief of PMS symptoms, including depression, breast tenderness, irritability and bloatedness.
Reference : Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract. R Schellenberg. British Medical Journal, 2001, vol. 322, pg 134-137
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is the omega-6 fatty acid found in evening primrose oil known to bring about significant relief. Take 2000 mg of evening primrose oil at least 3 days before the period starts. GLA is especially helpful for easing sore and swollen breasts. It also helps reduce benign breast lumps. Blackcurrant oil is another source of GLA.
For heavy, prolonged or irregular periods, taking 100 mg of vitamin B6 and 300 mg of magnesium daily or 2000 mg of evening primrose oil daily for the 10 days before the period starts may help.
Supplementing calcium (1000 mg) and magnesium (500 mg, twice a day) can help ease painful menstrual cramps.
Vitamin K aids blood clotting which can slow heavy bleeding. Herbs such as shepherd's purse, green tea and alfalfa contain this vitamin.
Calendula (also known as marigold) tea can help reduce tension in the uterine muscles and relieve menstrual cramps. Drink 3 cups of calendula tea daily. To prepare tea from fresh calendula petals, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of petals to a cup of boiling water, steep for about 10 to 15 minutes before drinking.
Parsley helps to ease bloatedness.
Other herbs that can help alleviate PMS symptoms are black cohosh, dong quai, cramp bark and wild yam.
For problems with water retention, drink a diuretic herbal tea like corn silk. Take 2 to 4 cups daily. Another nonotoxic diuretic is dandelion leaf (freeze-dried), take 1 to 2 capsules, 2 to 4 times a day.
Avoid high salt intake when experiencing water retention.
The herb feverfew is effective against headache and migraine.
Try rubbing half a fresh lime on the forehead or sniff peppermint essential oil to relieve headaches.
For tension headaches, try chamomile or peppermint tea.
Lavender has also been used for period pain.
Soothe abdominal pain by placing a hot bottle over the lower back. An alternative to hot bottle is to steam a towel for 5 to 10 minutes then wrap with another towel to retain heat and fold to desired size.
Soak foot in a small tube of hot water (bearable to the skin) to relief PMS.
Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes. Exercise regulates hormone levels.
Eliminate caffeine.

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Books & articles
Menstrual relief shoppe

pre menstrual syndrome, pms, menstrual cramp, menstrual period

"For years it was assumed that since PMS symptoms occur when progesterone levels are normally relatively high, it was progesterone that was causing the symptoms. Theoretically, symptoms could relate either to elevated progesterone levels or progesterone deficiency (estrogen dominance).
Elevated levels of progesterone are unlikely since, during pregnancy, progesterone levels are ten to twenty times higher than normal mid-cycle levels and similar symptoms do not occur. Progesterone deficiency (estrogen dominance) is more likely since many of the symptoms correlate with estrogen-dominance symptoms, most notably water retention, breast swelling, headaches, mood swings, loss of libido, and poor sleep patterns.

A woman's response to her own cyclical hormones is extremely individual, and this is part of the reason that it has been so difficult to pin down the causes of PMS."
- John Lee, Jesse Hanley & Virginia Hopkins, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause (Warner Bks, 1999)

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Books & articles

The Noni Solution - Neil Solomon.

Tahitian Noni Juice : How Much, How Often, For What - Neil Solomon.

76 Ways to Use Noni Fruit Juice - Isabelle Navarre-Brown.

Prescription for Nutritional Healing - Phyllis & James Balch.

Can exercise help relieve some of the symptoms of PMS?

Menstrual relief shoppe

TAHITIAN NONI™ Juice

Evening primrose oil

Blackcurrant seed oil

Magnesium