Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Background

Severe emotional lability and irritability before and around your periods is a common problem. Before and during your menstrual cycle, the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop to very low levels

Low progesterone can cause anxiety and mood shifts as well as poor sleep. PMS is also associated with low levels of special hormones called prostaglandins which can help mood and are increased by certain oils.

Therapy

Add:

1. Fish oil 1-3 teaspoons a day for 3 months then 1 tsp (or 3 capsules) a day.
2. Evening primrose oil (use Efamol or Linus Pauling brands) or borage oil (cheaper) 3,000 mg a day for 3 months, then just in the week before periods.
3. Vitamin B6 at 250 mg a day.
4. Consider a trial of prescription natural progesterone 200 mg at bedtime (called "prometrium" from regular pharmacies, or it can be compounded at Holistic Pharmacies). Take it for the week before your period is expected or when PMS symptoms begin.

If on the birth control pill (let your doctor know you have PMS so they can adjust the brand of pill), and your symptoms hit when you stop the pill for the week each month, ask your doctor if you can take the pill every day without stopping it (safe to just stop it 1 week each 6 months).

It takes 3 months to see the full benefit of the above for PMS (though it often starts working more quickly).