Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Also known as Premenstrual Tension (PMT), PMS is a syndrome many women are familiar with and often occurs between 7 and 14 days before menstruation. Some see it as a right of passage through womanhood and others feel so debilitated by their symptoms, they find it difficult and sometimes impossible to operate 'normally'. Homeopathy is an ideal treatment because it treats every women as an individual. You may share similar symptoms with female friends or relatives, but each woman experiences these symptoms differently, individually.

Some women may become more emotional, experiencing crying spells, food cravings for sweets or have outbursts of anger. There are some 200 symptoms recorded including depression, anxiety, fatigue, bloating, headaches and breast pain. 10% of women experience symptoms so severe it interferes with their every day to day life and they become unable to function during this time.

Why do some women suffer and others don't?

This is considered mystery, but why should it be so? Every woman is an individual therefore wouldn't you expect everyone to have different experiences? It is believed that it is caused by an imbalance of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone during the second half of their menstrual cycle, following ovulation. Too much oestrogen and too little progesterone may be connected with changes in the balance of the brain chemicals that control mood and pain thus resulting in mood changes and carbohydrate cravings. Increased levels of the hormone prolactin results in tender breasts and prevents the liver from clearing excess oestrogen from the body as efficiently as it should.

It is also considered that due to low serotonin, (a brain chemical that sends signals between nerve cells) can effect PMS. Some women notice a difference when undergoing treatment designed to return serotonin levels to normal which helps lift depressive states.

Useful Nutrients

Vitamin B6 assists the liver in processing oestrogen and increasing progesterone levels and helps the brain make serotonin.

Evening Primrose Oil conatain essential fatty acids which may ease breast tenderness and help control carb cravings.

Magnesium supplements can help some women who discover they are deficient in this mineral.

Homeopathic Remedies include:

Sepia - Irritability – worse for stress; depression; indifference; agoraphobia; weepiness; difficulty in concentrating; wanting to get away from everyone; emotionally flat; suicidal; fits of screaming; possible violence; anger; hair falling out; headaches in general; pressure on top of the head; chronic sinusitis; greasy facial skin; hot flushes on face; sore throat with numbness; desire for sweets and salty things; tenderness, dragging, bearing down pains in lower abdomen; anal fissure; burning pain in vagina; yellow, burning, offensive vaginal discharge; itching of vagina caused by discharge; discharge after intercourse with tendency to thrush – worse after childbirth; aversion to sexual intercourse or just reduced sex drive; prolapse of the womb; may have endometriosis; pain in vagina on intercourse, symptoms worse at menopause; sore nipples; palpitations.

Generalities: muscular tension – worse between 3 and 5pm; trembling weakness and weariness in morning. Symptoms worse after periods.

Lachesis - Irritability; difficulty in concentrating; aversion to company; suspicious and mistrustful; detached feeling; suicidal; violent; indecisive; symptoms worse for stress; dizziness; hair falling out; headache before periods; sore throat worse on left side; bloated abdomen; tenderness in abdomen; constipation; anal fissure; irritable bowel syndrome; menopause; burning, vaginal discharge; PMS worse since pregnancy; tender nipples; palpitations; backache; clumsiness; swollen ankles; aching pains in hips; swollen hands; sleeplessness.

Generalities: symptoms better at beginning of period; weakness and heaviness in morning – worse after periods are over.

Natrum Mur Depression; indifference; lack of self-confidence; weepiness; definite aversion to company; detached feeling; anxiety; suicidal; violent; fearful in a crowed; symptoms worse for stress; hair falling out; headaches before periods; pressure on top of head; greasy facial skin; nausea; desires salty and sweet things; anal fissure; irritable bowel syndrome; burning pain in vagina; itching from vaginal discharge; tendency to thrush; aversion to intercourse or reduced sex drive; pain in vagina on intercourse; swollen tender breasts; palpitations.

Generalities: weakness; muscular tension; trembling; weariness in morning; fluid retention.

For more information on treating PMS with homeopathy contact Helen Lee 07773983739

helen@oxleecedar.fsnet.co.uk.