PMS is one of the most common disorders of premenopausal women. it is defined as a recurrent, cyclical set of physical and behavioral symptoms that occur 7 to 14 days before the menstrual cycle and are troublesome enough to interfere with some aspect of a woman's life. A severe form of PMS is called PMDD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

PMS alternative treatment
Reduce simple carbohydrates
Reduce caffeine intake
Exercise frequently
Try yoga for wellbeing
Consider eating more cold water fish or take fish oil capsules
Take a little extra B12, B6 or pyridoxal-5-phosphate
Vit E may be helpful
Calcium carbonate is promising (reduces cramping and moodiness) -- some patients with PMS have difficulty with balancing calcium levels.
Magnesium oxide (may help with headache, fluid retention and mood).
5-HTP stabilizes serotonin levels
St. john’s wort may improve mood. You can buy St-Johns-Wort here.
Vitex agnus castus extract (Chaste Berry) has been shown to improve mood while reducing anger, headache, and breast fullness. Bloating remained unchanged.
Evening primrose oil has not been shown to be effective.

Calcium and vitamin D for PMS symptoms
Calcium and vitamin D intake and risk of incident premenstrual syndrome.
Arch Intern Med. 2005 Jun 13. Bertone-Johnson ER, Hankinson SE, Bendich A, Johnson SR, Willett WC, Manson JE.
Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003-9304, USA.
Studies suggest that blood calcium and vitamin D levels are lower in women with PMS and that calcium supplementation may reduce symptom severity, but it is unknown whether these nutrients may prevent the initial development of PMS. We conducted a case-control study nested within the prospective Nurses' Health Study II cohort. A high intake of calcium and vitamin D may reduce the risk of PMS. Large-scale clinical trials addressing this issue are warranted. Given that calcium and vitamin D may also reduce the risk of osteoporosis and some cancers, clinicians may consider recommending these nutrients even for younger women.

Soy isoflavones for PMS
Intake of dietary soy isoflavones in relation to perimenstrual symptoms of Korean women living in the USA.
Nurs Health Sci. 2006 Jun;8(2):108-13. Department of Nursing, School of Medicine, Kwandong University, Gangneung city, Gangwon-do, Korea.
This study was conducted to identify the potential relationship between the dietary intake level of soy isoflavones and PMS symptoms. The sample was made up of 84 Korean women living in the USA, aged 28-40 years. The Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) and the Food Frequency Questionnaire were used as measurement tools. The soy isoflavone intake was significantly correlated with MDQ scores in the menstrual phase. In conclusion, the beneficial effect of dietary soy isoflavones on certain PMS symptoms was established, suggesting that soy isoflavones could be one of the dietary factors related to the complexity of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Symptoms of PMS
Headache, mood changes, anxiety, irritability, overeating and food cravings, insomnia or hypersomnia (oversleeping), breast tenderness, bloating.

Standard Medical options
Pharmaceutical drugs that may help PMS: naproxen for cramps, and spironolactone, perhaps SSRIs.
Progesterone has not been found to be effective.

Paxil for PMS symptoms
In women who suffer from a severe form of PMS known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), taking the antidepressant Paxil only when symptoms are at a peak reduces irritability and improves social functioning. One wonders if 5-HTP, a serotonin precursor, would have similar effects.

PMS symptom relief with natural herbs and supplements
Q. I am believed to have PMDD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder. My normal mood before and after my cycle tends to be upward and optimistic. 1-2 weeks before my cycle, I become agitated, have breast tenderness, irritable, and quick to anger. The day my cycle arrives, all of my symptoms go away. Can I take Sam-E supplement starting only up to when my cycle starts and then resume one week after taking perhaps 50mg doses? From reading, I understand it accumulates over time within the body. I don't need much on a normal basis to make me happy. I'm not depressed. Not even in my PMDD syndrome. My issues seems to magnify in my PMDD stage.
   A. It is difficult to predict in any one individual the dosage or ideal timing in using a SAM-e supplement, 5-HTP, or PMS herbs with the hope of reducing premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Nutritional research for PMS symptoms and using alternative therapy for this condition is still in its early stages. Premenstrual syndrome natural treatment could include SAM-e, but one has to careful since it is easy to overload with this mood lifter and get side effects of insomnia even on 100 mg in women who are sensitive to medications.

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