|
Natural
Treatments for PMS
A new set of guidelines recently
released by the American College of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists reported that as many as 85% of
women suffer from one or more symptoms of premenstrual
syndrome (PMS). The most common complaints seem to
center around mood symptoms such as irritability,
anxiety, or depression that occur in the week or two
before menstruation.
Many women suddenly find themselves
weeping while others find themselves screaming with
anger or feeling unusually tense with no real cause.
Though the exact causes for PMS are not fully understood,
researchers suspect they are the result of a hormonal
imbalance and an increased sensitivity to the imbalanced
hormones.
The end result of the hormone imbalance
is a lowered level of a brain chemical transmitter
known as serotonin. Some studies indicate that in
women with PMS, the ratio of estrogen to progesterone
tends to be higher than in women who are free of PMS
symptoms. Certain lifestyle changes-such as decreasing
caffeine intake and increasing exercise levels-are
recommended for all women who suffer PMS.
Data is beginning to accumulate
on the value of using certain supplements as effective
treatments for PMS. For years, doctors have observed
one interesting association that has not been understood.
Women who later developed osteoporosis had a much
higher risk of having PMS when they were younger.
 |
 |
|
