You Don't Have To Suffer With PMS
by Loretta Lanphier
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We now know that premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is experienced by
60% of all women. What causes PMS has been difficult for researchers to
pin down because each woman experiences symptoms differently.
PMS
Symptoms
When making the diagnosis, the most important tool you can use
is a chart of the cyclic nature in which they occur. If nothing is done to
interrupt PMS, it often gets worse over time. You may begin by having
symptoms just a few days before your period that stop abruptly as soon as
your period begins. Later, the symptoms gradually begin to appear one to
two weeks before the onset of menses. Over time, you may have only two or
three days of the month that are symptom-free. Eventually no discernable
pattern of good days and bad days can be detected. You feel as if you have
PMS all of the time.
There are general symptoms that have been
determined that include:
Abdominal bloating
Abdominal
cramping
Accident proneness, coordination difficulties
Acne,
hives
Aggression, rage
Alcohol intolerance
Anxiety,
irritability, suicidal thoughts
Asthma
Back pain
Breast
swelling and pain
Bruising
Confusion
Depression, withdrawal
from others, emotional liability
Edema
Exacerbation of
preexisting conditions (lupus, arthritis, ulcers, herpes, etc.)
Fatigue, lethargy
Fainting
Food binges, salt cravings, sweet
cravings
Headache, migraine
Heart palpitations
Insomnia
Joint swelling and pain
Nausea
Seizures
Sex
drive changes
Sinus problems
Sore throat
Urinary
difficulties
Dont confuse PMS with cramps occurring at the
beginning of your period, which is a different condition.
Chart the
Pattern
You dont have to suffer. By keeping a chart of your symptoms,
you can often begin to see a pattern emerge and predict when the symptoms
will start. Keeping a daily symptom journal can be a valuable tool when
trying to uncover your premenstrual symptom triggers and the issues
associated with them. Many events and other factors can contribute to or
trigger your PMS by resulting in hormonal changes in the body,
including:
Onset of menses
Perimenopause
Discontinuing
birth control pills
Amenorrhea
Childbirth, or termination of
pregnancy
Toxemia during pregnancy
Tubal ligation
Unusual
trauma
Decreased light associated with autumn and winter
Family
history of alcoholism; parent or grandparent who is an alcoholic
High
consumption of dairy products
Excessive consumption of caffeine (soft
drinks, coffee, chocolate)
High blood levels of estrogen
Low
blood levels of progesterone, either due to lack of production or
excessive breakdown
Diet that leads to increased levels of the
hormone prostaglandin F2
Excess body weight which can increase you
levels of estrogen
Low levels of vitamins B, C and/or E
Selenium
deficiency
Magnesium deficiency causing chocolate cravings
End
the Suffering
Many of the factors in this list you can control. For
years allopathic (traditional) medicine has given symptomatic treatments
for PMS that do not work. Most physicians do not know the latest research
on hormone balancing. Some never had any training in PMS. Treating a
womans bloating with diuretics, headaches with painkillers, and anxiety
with Valium ignores the underlying imbalance that led to PMS. Many of the
treatments prescribed often have side effects. Psychotherapy can provide
insight about stress, but this bypasses the nutritional and biochemical
aspects of this disorder.
Dont give up! There are answers that
can help you heal your PMS:
·Adopt a diet of fresh, in-season,
organic fruits and vegetables.
Review your dietary needs eliminating
caffeine, sugar, dairy and excess soy.
Take good organic multivitamin
mineral supplements.
Reduce stress.
Consider participating in a
12-step program if alcoholism runs in your family.
Get at least 20
minute of aerobic exercise five times per week.
Try reflexology.
Get more natural or full-spectrum light.
Test hormone levels and
apply natural progesterone.
For more suggestions go to
www.menopause-pms-progesterone.org and www.oasisserene.com
At
Oasis Advanced Wellness hormonal levels can be tested with a simple and
inexpensive saliva test performed in the privacy of your own home. With
these results and your symptom journal, you can determine your need for
natural hormone replacement therapy (HRT). One product that is safe and
non-toxic is natural progesterone. It helps to balance the effects of
estrogen, and has a calming effect on the nervous system. The use of
natural progesterone in combination with lifestyle changes often improves
PMS symptoms. By reviewing your symptoms, we can evaluate your diet and
exercise program, create a program and then monitor your
progress.
You can find out more about the solutions in my e-Book,
Balancing Your Hormones Without Drugs
You Can Feel Good Again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND, CN, HHP is a Doctor of Naturopath, Clinical
Nutritionist and Holistic Health Practitioner in the Houston, TX area and
Founder / CEO of Oasis Advanced Wellness. Dr. Lanphier is Editor of the
worldwide E-newsletter Advanced Health & Wellness.
www.oasisadvancedwellness.com Be sure and visit our hormonal balancing
site at www.menopause-pms-progesterone.org and www.oasisserene.com
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