Premenstrual
tension, more commonly known as Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), is
known to be the bane of the lives of many busy women. It
doesn’t have to be that way. Differing approaches can make
naturally occuring processes in the body more tolerable if we take
the time to see what our bodies are telling us. Our bodies
are not machines, but organic entities that require nutritional
consideration and, at times of disease, actions that can bring our
bodies back into balance.
PMS:
More Than Just a Nuisance
PMS
is known to be associated in some extreme cases with increased
incidences of anti-social behavior, accidents, illnesses, and
psychiatric crises. Drops in standards at school,
forgetfulness and decreased punctuality are also known to occur.
Aggressive behavior and inexplicable mood swings resulting from
PMS can affect relations with family and friends. Temporary
agoraphobia (fear of open or public places), panic attacks, phobias, a feeling
of detachment and feelings of suspicion are also manifestations of
extreme cases of pre-menstrual syndrome (Lockie & Geddes p.66,
67).
When
looking at our lifestyles, we must include patterns of food
consumption as possible contributory factors. Researchers
have found that PMS patients consume 62% more refined
carbohydrates, 275% more sugar, 79% more dairy products, 78% more
sodium, 77% less manganese, 53% less iron and 52% less zinc than
women who are free of symptoms (Lockie & Geddes p.68).
The increased consumption of meat, poultry and their products that
have been nurtured on hormones creates accummulative deposits
within our bodies. Those hormones include the sex hormones
progesterone, testosterone and estrogen. Introduced this way
into our bodies they can lead to obesity, infertility, diabetes,
dwarfism, gigantism, kidney disease, hypertension, early puberty,
hypoglycemia, the masculinzation of females and cancer. They
can also cause abortions, change the menstrual cycle and cause
excessive breast and uterus tenderness (Colbin p.163,164).
One
woman who visited nutritionist Annemarie Colbin complained of
painful swelling of the breasts due to PMS. Annemarie
recommended that the woman cease taking her daily quart of milk.
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Patterns
of food consumption must be taken into consideration
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After
a month there was a difference. After five months the
soreness had stopped and only returned after the woman had eaten
some cheese and ice cream. Annemarie Colbin recommends
that
women with problems of the reproductive system should avoid all
foodstuffs that relate to the reproductive system of animals or
contains natural or artificial hormones i.e milk and milk
products, eggs, and the meat of animals raised on estrogen (Colbin
p.153, 283).
For
those of us who might find the task more difficult, there are
self-help approaches that can be made. As a step towards
eliminating the causes, naturopaths recommend a high fiber diet,
low fat, increased vegetable proteins, fruit and whole grains.
They also recommend a diet high in calcium and iodine as that
found in beans, leafy greens, alfalfa and kelp (Stein p.256, 257).
A
Natural Remedy for an Age-Long Malady
A
medicinal tree renowned of old for helping women through the
menopause is the chaste tree also known as Vitex Agnus or in
Arabic as bengenkusht, kef maryam or habb el-faqad (Manniche
p.155). Recent studies have found it to be effective in PMS
and even in reducing acne associated with PMS. The dark
berries imitate the action of the female hormones estrogen and
progesterone. It acts on the pituitary gland and balances the
ovarian hormones by increasing the level of progesterone in
relation to estrogen. Consequentially, this regulates the
menstrual cycle thus alleviating PMS symptoms.
A
recent German study found chaste tree to be more effective than
Vitamin B6 supplements in PMS. This double-blind study
involved 175 women who were followed over a period of 3 menstrual
cycles. The women took either chaste tree together with a placebo,
or Vitamin B6 supplements. When chaste tree was taken,
milder symptoms of abdominal bloating, breast tenderness and
irritability occurred. There were improvements in 77% of the
women who took chaste tree and 61% of the women who took B6
supplements (New Straits p.1).
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Chaste
tree is known to reduce symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
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In
the 1987 trials of Exeter University and Gerard House (UK) led by
statistician Susan Turner, 600 women who had a suitable range of
symptoms were selected (Mills p.32). Utilizing the
double-blind method, there were good results for 3 categories of
PMS sufferers:-
a)
PMT-H – fluid retention, breast tenderness, abdominal bloating,
weight gain.
b)
PMT-A – irritability, nervous tension, mood swings, anxiety.
c) PMT-D
– depression, crying, confusion, forgetfulness and
insomnia (Mills p.39).
In
the German authorities’ listing of chaste tree (Bundesanzeiger
Nummer 90, vomm 15,05,85) no contraindications are listed.
However, under ‘Side-Effects’ chaste tree occasionally causes
menstruation to start earlier after childbirth due to its action
on the pituitary gland (Mills p.34).
An
infusion can be taken by pouring a cup of boiling hot water on 1
teaspoon of the ripe berries. Leave to infuse for 10-15
minutes. Drink 3 times daily. It is also available as a
tincture whereby 1-2 ml can be taken 3 times daily (Hoffman
p.185). Health and well-being expert Alix Kirsta recommends more
sleep and relaxation exercises for PMS sufferers. Wearing
loose clothes also helps to allow the body to relax (Kirsta
p.174).
Sources:
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Colbin.
Annemarie. “Food & Healing”. US. Ballantine
Books. 1986.
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Hoffman.
David. “The Holistic Herbal”. Britain. Element
Books. 1988.
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Kirsta. Alix.
“The Book of Stress Survival”. Britain. Unwin
Paperbacks. 1988.
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Lockie.
Andrew & Geddes. Nicola. “The Women’s Guide to
Homeopathy”. Britain. Hammish Hamilton. 1992.
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Manniche.
Lisa “An Ancient Egyptian Herbal” Britain. British
Museum Publ. Ltd. 1989.
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Mills. Simon.
Woman Medicine: Vitex Agnus-Castus”. Britain.
Amberwood Publishing Ltd. 1992.
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Stein. Diane.
“The Natural Remedy Book for Women”. US. Cassandra
Press. 1992.
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New
Straits Times-Management Times. “Herbs Alleviate Symptoms of
PMS”. 1-2. Asia WorldSources Inc. 1-2. Healthy News. Health
World Online. 09/03/01. http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates/news.asp?Id=2994
