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You Don't Have To Suffer With PMS
Loretta Lanphier
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.
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. A
teacher, educator and seminar speaker, she counsels Oasis
Advanced Wellness clients on the aspects of getting the body
healthy and keeping the body healthy. As a cancer survivor, she
is able to relate extensively, both as a patient and a
practitioner, to clients suffering from disease. She is also
involved in researching new alternative disease treatments and
products. Dr. Lanphier is Editor and contributor to the worldwide
E-newsletter Advanced Health & Wellness. To receive a free
subscription go to: www.oasisadvancedwellness.com. Be sure and
visit our hormonal balancing site at
www.menopause-pms-progesterone.org
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