Pre-Menstrual Syndrome

Sometimes this common experience for many women can last for more than half of the monthly cycle. However, despite its prevalence it is far from inevitable, and there are positive actions that can be taken to improve quality of life. 

Symptoms can be varied, and the renowned American gynaecologist Guy Abraham identified four separate patterns:

PMT-A: Anxiety & nervous tension with raised oestrogen & low progesterone.
PMT-D: Depression, confusion and forgetfulness with raised progesterone, or lead toxicity.
PMT-C: Headache, cravings & hypoglycaemia with low RBC Magnesium & low PGE1.
PMT-H: Fluid weight gain and bloating due to salt & water retention.

More recently there has also been added:

PMT-P: Pain – cramps, low back pain, nausea & vomiting.

The suggestions offered below are designed to be of help with all the above definitions of PMT.

Before you start, you may wish to consider our Detox Formula which will cleanse your body and aide your gut's ability to absorb the nutrients within the PMS program. It will also help replenish the intestinal tract with healthy flora and enhance your overall health and wellbeing. 

Table of Beneficial Nutritional Supplements 
This information is offered as an introduction to supplements, herbs, foods and substances that are known to help with Pre-Menstrual Syndrome. This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and it is suggested that sound advice is taken by an appropriately qualified practitioner. 

If you experience Mastalgia (painful breasts), you may wish to add Vitamin E, which is known to alleviate this condition.

Dietary Recommendations

Positive Foods

Cereal grains oats, short-grain brown rice and other whole grains.
Vegetables broccoli, spinach, celery leaves.
Fruits apples, ripe bananas, avocado.
Legumes soya bean tofu.
Teas, Herbs & Spices camomile tea, ginseng, feverfew.
Nuts & Seeds soaked flax seeds, walnuts. 
Fungi Shitake mushrooms.
Fish tuna, halibut & organic salmon.
Meats organic chicken, organic liver.
Dairy three to four potions of organic live yoghurt per week.
Additional Foods organic honey.

Negative Foods

Refined carbohydrates, hydrogenated fats, battery chicken & hens’ eggs, white sugar (sucrose), artificial sweeteners, coffee, chocolate, alcohol, cheese, salami, pickled foods, most nuts, foods with additives.

Dairy foods (except organic yoghurt), all pork products.

Possible irritants include high intake of dietary fats, caffeine drinks, alcohol, chocolate, eggs, cheese, red meat and salty foods.

Coffee, tea, tobacco and alcohol all tend to aggravate symptoms.

Additional Comment

It is important that attention is paid to the balance between acid-forming and alkali-forming foods. The optimum balance is around 60% alkali-formingto acid-forming. See Acid Forming and Alkali Forming guidelines. 

Take plenty of fresh water. Good quality still mineral water from a glass container is the superior form; though a good tap filter is also satisfactory. 

Homeopathy has been found to be of value with PMS. 

MSM supplements are claimed to help reduce headaches associated with some forms of PMS according to several anecdotal reports. 

Candida Albicans is a proliferation of undesirable intestinal fungal yeast, and is known to exacerbate PMS. It is estimated that over 30% of people consuming a western diet experience over-proliferation of candida albicans. 

Additional Help & Support

Women who lead active lives and exercise regularly experience less PMS than those who lead sedentary lifestyles. Therefore, increasing the level of physical activity may help.

Plenty of natural sunlight and fresh air can also be beneficial; couple this with exercise and start walking two or three times a week.