PMS or PMT - Pre-menstrual Stress
Some people (usually men) argue that PMS doesn't actually exist - probably not a good comment to make to a PMS sufferer before her period! If you are affected, you will know that it does indeed exist and can produce a whole range of symptoms such as irritability, mood swings, spots, water retention, breast tenderness, sugar cravings, headaches and bowel changes.But did you know that many of the symptoms experienced by women premenstrually are linked to blood sugar changes, and that there are some simple things you can do to help yourself:
- Eat small, regular meals with lots of complex carbohydrates in them such as brown bread and brown rice, and make sure you are getting your 5 fruit and veg per day.
- Take regular exercise - even if its just walking the dog - as research shows that women who exercise regularly report fewer PMS symptoms.
- Drink plenty of water, about 1.5 litres daily, and cut down on tea and coffee if you are prone to breast tenderness.
- Keep salt intake low.
- Watch your stress levels - many women find that their PMS is worse if they feel strung out.
One herb that can really help a wide variety of PMS symptoms is agnus castus (also known as chaste berry or Vitex agnus-castus). Research has shown that it can significantly reduce PMS symptoms, and completely resolve them in a third of cases when taken for at least three months. There was even a research article about it in the British Medical Journal recently (BMJ 2001:322:134-137 Issue 7279).
Resources:
British Medical Journal
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