You Don’t Have to Suffer With PMS By: Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND,
CN, HHP

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

Don’t confuse PMS with cramps occurring at the beginning of your
period, which is a different condition.

Chart the Pattern You don’t 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 woman’s 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.

Don’t 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.