What are Common Symptoms of PMS?

PMS often includes many different physical and emotional symptoms. Below are examples of the many complaints and symptoms associated with PMS.

Physical symptoms include: fatigue, insomnia, changes in libido, acne, hives, cramps, bloating, weight gain, headaches, breast tenderness, swelling in the hands and feet, flu-like symptoms (sore throat, sinus problems, and mild fever), heart palpitation, nausea, dizziness, and fainting.

Emotional symptoms include: mood swings, irritability, depression, anxiety, confusion, forgetfulness, emotional eating, food cravings (salt, sweet, spices, alcohol, etc), anger, short tempered, frustrated, "emotional rollercoaster," and loss of sex drive.

What are Traditional Treatments for PMS?

· Dietary Stimulants: Removing and reducing certain stimulants before a woman's menstrual cycle can often improve PMS symptoms. Stimulants include alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and salt. These substances are associated with both physical and emotional symptoms of PMS.

· Exercise: Exercise is an important step in reducing the effects of PMS. Exercise helps a woman to address both physical and emotional aspects associated with her PMS symptoms as well as other health concerns in her life. An important benefit to exercise is the release of endorphins. Endorphins activate different areas of the brain to help regulate mood, pain, and hormones. Over-exercising for extended periods of time can create other hormonal imbalances and should be cautioned. Exercising regularly for 20-40 minutes a day, 3 times per week is often recommended.

· Medication: There are a wide variety of over the counter medications, as well as prescription medications used to reduce the symptoms of PMS. The medications used to address the symptoms of PMS are generally broken down into 5 categories. Pain relievers (such as Advil, Aleve, or Motrin), Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's) for physical and emotional symptoms (such as Prozac, or Zoloft), Diuretics (such as Aldactone), and Hormonal medications (such as birth control pills). Always talk to your health care provider about contraindications and side effects associated with the medications you are taking, even if they are purchased over the counter.

What are Alternative or Complementary Treatments to PMS?

· Acupuncture: With a basis in energy medicine, acupuncture attempts to balance the energetic disturbances throughout the various energetic pathways of the body (meridians). Most acupuncturist do not claim to cure PMS, but assist the body in returning to proper energetic balance, which often results in a decrease in PMS symptoms. Acupuncture can be performed multiple ways, and does not always require a needle. Acupressure, laser stimulation, cupping, and magnets are a few of the tools that can also be used if the woman is hesitant to have needles used.

· Nutritional Supplements: Food is the building blocks of life, and the building blocks of food are the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Vitamin A assists in acne, and often reduces PMS symptoms. Calcium and magnesium often reduce cramping, and can help the body to relax. Vitamin E has been shown to reduce breast tenderness, and assist with mood swings. These are only a few of the many nutritional approaches for PMS. Unfortunately, not all nutritional supplements are created equally, and nutritional supplements are not regulated by the FDA. Check with your holistic doctor to ensure quality. When in doubt, read the ingredients and look for food, not man-made chemicals.

· Herbal Supplements: Herbs have been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes to stimulate a desired outcome. A few herbs specific for PMS include: Chaste Tree - often used to regulate the menstrual cycle, decrease breast tenderness, and relieve painful menstruation. Dong Quai - also used to regulate the abnormal menstrual cycle, decrease cramps, fatigue, and weakness experienced during menstruation. Black Cohosh - generally used to stimulate estrogen-like activity as a precursor to progesterone. As with nutritional supplements, check with your holistic doctor to ensure the quality of the herbs used.

· Chiropractic: Chiropractic philosophy states, "The power that made the body, heals the body." Chiropractic attempts to remove structural interference from the nervous system in order for the nervous system to communicate more efficiently with the body. Although often associated with back pain, neck pain, or headaches, many people are now looking to chiropractic to help where traditional medicine has not. For some people, the thought of a chiropractor giving them an adjustment (chiropractic term used for manipulating and area, often resulting in a "pop" sound) can be scary. To overcome this fear, many chiropractors learn multiple techniques to accommodate the needs of their patients, often using low force instruments, or low velocity manipulation. Speak to your local Doctor of Chiropractic about what he can do for you.

· Massage: Although some chiropractors have massage therapists in their offices, massage and chiropractic are very different professions. Studies from Touch Research Institute and the University of Miami report a decrease in the symptoms of anxiety, water retention, pain, and depression with women demonstrating PMS symptoms. Massage is a stress-free, relaxing experience without any side effects.

· Quantum Neurology: An alternative treatment that most women have never heard of, Quantum Neurology focuses on rehabilitating the nervous system. As nerves leave the spinal cord, they go to every part of the body, including the ovaries, uterus, and other hormone glands. Using traditional and unique neurological evaluations, Quantum Neurology attempts to normalize neurologic function to deficient areas using joint mobilization, low level light therapy, and exercise.

There are many alternative approaches to treating a woman's PMS and not everyone responds to the same treatment. Talk with your traditional or holistic doctor today to decide which treatment is best for you. The above statements are not intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any condition, and should not be used without proper medical advice.