PreventDisease.com - PMS: Taking The Natural Approach



		PMS: Taking The Natural Approach Excerpt By Colette Bouchez, HealthScoutNews Reporter (HealthScoutNews) -- For some women, each menstrual cycle comes and goes with barely a notice. For others, it's sheer devastation month after month. The reason? PMS -- premenstrual syndrome -- the cycle-related biochemical imbalance that can, at its worst, wreak havoc with a woman's life. "There are huge gradations of what women can experience. For some, it's a brief interruption for a day or two. For others, it's acute symptoms for up to two weeks of the month -- or any combination in-between," says Dr. Michael Silverstein, a gynecologist at New York University Medical Center. Up to 85 percent of all menstruating women experience some form of PMS during their reproductive years, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Symptoms range from physical problems, like headaches, fatigue and breast tenderness, through emotional problems such as mood swings, anxiety or even depression, to behavioral issues, a change in appetite or sleep disorders. And symptoms can appear in any combination, and be mild, moderate or severe. Recently, there has been a flurry of interest surrounding the use of anti-depressants for the treatment of PMS -- particularly for women whose symptoms are severe. However, for most physicians the first line of defense is any one of a number of non-pharmacologic treatments that studies show really do help. Among the newest to cause a stir within the medical profession is the nutrient calcium. A recent study of 500 women conducted at 12 sites around the country found that those with moderate-to-severe symptoms of PMS found relief within three cycles after taking 1,200 milligrams of calcium carbonate daily, along with 400 IUs (international units) of Vitamin D daily. Vitamin D helps the body absorb the calcium. "Our research has shown that the underlying reason for PMS is a simple one -- disregulation [inadequate use] of calcium and vitamin D by the body," says Dr. Susan Thys-Jacobs, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. She's also the lead author of the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Although women with PMS may have totally normal blood levels of calcium, says Jacobs, they appear to have abnormalities in the hormones that tell the body how to properly use calcium. And therein, she says, lies the link to PMS. "When calcium is underutilized, it triggers a chain of biochemical events that ultimately affects levels of brain hormones, including serotonin -- the very same chemical being targeted by the anti-depressant medications," she says. By correcting the calcium imbalance, says Jacobs, "we are addressing the etiology of PMS -- we are correcting the problem, not just treating the symptoms." Psychologist Jean Endicott, director of the PMS Evaluation Center at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, calls Jacobs' research convincing. "Although the women with really severe PMS didn't seem to respond quite as much, there certainly was evidence that the calcium did relieve symptoms," Endicott says. Jacobs adds that by discovering and treating calcium problems during the reproductive years, women may also help reduce their future risk of osteoporosis, or even breast cancer. "There is some evidence both these diseases may be rooted in calcium [utilization] problems. By using PMS as a marker, we can treat the calcium issue, help the immediate symptoms, and maybe change a woman's entire future health profile," Jacobs says. She recommends supplements to reach the target goal of 1,200 milligrams daily, but also urges women to consume calcium-rich foods, including low-fat dairy products like yogurt, ice cream, cheese and skim milk. Althouhg it's clear that what you eat can help combat PMS, what you avoid eating also matters. "I tell my patients to cut out caffeine, cut down on concentrated sweets, and reduce salt intake -- particularly in the 10 or so days preceding the onset of their period," Silverstein says. Doing so, he says, can relieve anxiety and help with bloating, one of the major causes of breast tenderness and other physical symptoms of PMS. ACOG says a diet containing plenty of complex carbohydrates -- foods like whole wheat bread, oatmeal and vegetables -- also can help. So can exercise, at least three times a week. "My first line of defense for patients with PMS is always exercise. It raises levels of endogenous endorphins, so the overall effect can be very soothing, particularly when symptoms include mood swings and depression," says Dr. Adelaide Nardone, a gynecologist at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y. Other treatments that can help include: Magnesium: Recent studies published in the Journal of Women's Health and Gender-Based Medicine found that just 200 milligrams of magnesium daily reduced symptoms associated with water retention, particularly painful breasts. In follow-up reports, 200 milligrams of magnesium paired with 50 milligrams of vitamin B6 helped control anxiety. Vitamin B6: A recent report in the British Medical Journal said 100 milligrams of vitamin B6 daily relieved overall symptoms of PMS better than a placebo, and helped ease bouts of PMS-related depression. It's important to note, however, that taking more than 100 milligrams a day could cause side effects, including numbness and tingling in hands and feet. Natural progesterone: Once thought to be a powerful aid in treating PMS, the natural form of this female hormone had fallen out of favor in the past decade. But a rash of new studies showing impressive effects on other hormone-related problems has renewed interest in progesterone's use for PMS. Dr. H.B. Leonetti, a gynecologist at St. Luke's Hospital Center in Bethlehem, Pa., says rubbing just a small amount of progesterone on the wrists, stomach and breast area daily during the second half of your cycle can offer significant relief from a variety of PMS symptoms. What To Do To be sure your symptoms are PMS-related, doctors say keep a careful health journal for at least two months. If symptoms appear cyclical -- occurring, then disappearing, around the same time within each cycle, that's a sign that PMS is your problem. For more information on natural treatments for PMS click here. Or you can visit the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to read its guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of PMS. Reference Source 101 For more information on how to prevent other diseases, use PreventDisease.com's "Quick Prevention Resources".