PMS Remedies And Treatment Options
In the past, progesterone was recommended as a viable PMS treatment, but recent studies have shown that there is actually little to no evidence to support the progesterone and PMS theory. A 2001 British Medical Journal study of 900 patients found that "progestogens are unlikely to be effective in the management of premenstrual syndrome." Despite this setback, there are numerous other studies indicating that dietary supplements, dietary modifications, exercise, increased water consumption and over-the-counter remedies can be effective PMS remedies.
One of the most effective PMS remedies is the use of certain vitamin supplements. According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (August 1998), women can get PMS relief by taking 1,200 mg of calcium per day. They can do this within two months by taking supplements or by drinking four glasses of milk each day. Vitamin B6 was touted in a British Medical Journal study that said women can find relief from depression and discomforts with 100 mg of B6 each day. Another study published in the Journal of Women's Health and Gender Based Medicine (March 2000) reported that bloating and water retention was reduced when women took 200 mg of magnesium a day, along with 50 mg of B6, which reduces anxiety and mood fluctuations too.
Treatment for PMS may also consist of herbal supplements. In Germany, St. John's wort is used as an antidepressant. The active ingredient, hypericin, works by inhibiting serotonin reuptake and monoamine oxidase. Eight separate randomized, controlled trials have found that the herb worked the same as tricyclic antidepressants in treating depression. A preliminary study conducted at The University of Exeter in England found that 300 mg of St. John's wort daily improved PMS related symptoms like anxiety and depression by 50%. Chasteberry, which affects the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus region of the brain, has also shown to improve PMS symptoms in 57% of all cases and complete relief for 33% of women suffering from PMS. Other herbal remedies may include evening primrose oil, dong quai, licorice, black cohosh, kava kava and valerian root.
PMS remedies for depression may require an antidepressant drug. "Our findings suggest that women with less severe forms of PMS...may also benefit from treatment with antidepressant medication, and they may be able to take medication only on the days that they are symptomatic," said Susan G. Kornstein, M.D., a professor of psychiatry and obstetrics and gynecology in VCU's School of Medicine and lead author of a study about premenstrual syndrome and depression. In her study, patients took sertraline two weeks before the onset of menstruation and stopped taking it once they began menstruating. Unlike drugs taken for clinical depression, it doesn't take weeks of consistent use for the drug to begin working when it comes to PMS.
Related topics about PMS Remedies
One Woman's Battle With PMDD Symptoms
To treat the woman's symptoms, the doctor may prescribe mood stabilizing drugs like fluoxetine (Prozac/Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil) or sertraline (Zoloft). However, it was recently discovered that nearly half the patients taking Zoloft saw their PMDD symptoms return within six to eight months of stopping their medication. These medications work by preventing the reuptake of seratonin -- the "happy" chemical in the body -- and enabling women to experience more natural joy.
Understanding The Symptoms Of PMS
There are more than 200 symptoms related to PMS, which range in severity from person to person and from month to month. Physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome are commonly associated with the very act of menstruating. For instance, most women report that they feel "bloated," have tender breasts and suffer from frequent headaches.
What Is PMS?
What is PMS but an imbalance of your body's hormones and chemicals? As you know, diet contributes significantly to how we think, act and feel. Doctors recommend limiting salt, as sodium contributes to water retention, bloating and weight gain. To keep your blood sugar levels (and moods) stable, you should eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day and limit your sugar intake.