Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a health condition that affects menstruating women around the world. PMS symptoms start days before the onset of menstruation and generally end with menstruation. Symptoms include nervousness, irritability, anxiety, depression, water retention, swollen breasts, headaches and acne. An imbalance of the hormones estrogen and progesterone is thought to be the cause of PMS.

A healthy menstrual cycle follows the 28 day cycle of the moon. The menstrual cycle is divided into two phases, the follicular and luteal. A women’s ovaries contain follicles, each of which has the potential to mature into an ovum that when fertilized has the potential to mature into a child. The follicular phase generally is from day 3 to day 14 of a woman’s monthly cycle, and starts with the pituitary gland in the brain signaling the ovaries with follicle stimulating hormone. During the follicular phase the lining of the uterus also responds to hormonal stimulation and grows thicker in preparation for supporting a fertilized ovum. At days 12 to 14 of a women’s menstrual cycle the pituitary gland secretes leutinizing hormone which signals the ovaries to release the mature ovum, which will then travel down a fallopian tube to the uterus. Ovulation is the transition event leading to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. During the luteal phase, which generally runs from day 14 to day 25 of the menstrual cycle, the same follicle that released the ovum will produce the hormone progesterone. Progesterone has several functions, including stimulation of the cells lining of the uterus to mature in preparation for accepting a fertilized ovum. Without a fertilized ovum, and with the follicles reducing their progesterone production around day 25 to day 28, the lining of the uterus starts to clear and is released with the monthly menstrual blood flow.

In our modern world we all face problems with nutrition, pollution, and emotional stress. Refined and prepackaged foods fail to support normal hormonal functioning. Petrochemical residues, pesticides, farming hormones, and other pollutants indirectly and directly interfere with women’s hormones. Emotional stress interferes with both hormonal production and balance.

PMS occurs near the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle because the corpus luteum is unable to produce adequate proesterone to smoothly transition into the menstrual cycle.
The natural medical support for PMS will sustain the follicular transition, with nutritional, herbal, and homeopathic preparations.

Important nutritional support comes from Vitamin B 6, zinc, magnesium, and borage oil. Important herbal support comes from Dioscorea villosa, Uncaria gambir, Silybum marianum, and Medicago sativa. Homeopathic remedies include Folliculinum, Sepia, and Pulsatilla.

PMS is a monthly ordeal for some women and their families. By understanding her hormonal cycle and supporting it with nutrition, herbal, and homeopathic preparations, a woman suffering from PMS can re-establish hormonal balance and regain her health.