IMPORTANT
Unless otherwise stated on the package, most supplements and herbal remedies aren’t suitable for children under 12.
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Pre Menstrual Syndrome

Any woman who has had pre-menstrual syndrome will know what a nightmare this condition can be – and it’s particularly disrupting and upsetting for young women and girls who are facing exams, pressures at school, boyfriend problems and all the other challenges that go with adolescence.

Because it’s a syndrome – a collection of symptoms specific to each individual, rather than a clearly defined medical condition – many doctors don’t have the time to look at each patient closely and see which treatments are best for them. In too many cases they hand out anti-depressants, which control the situation rather than treat it.

But this is one condition likely to benefit much more from natural treatments than conventional remedies.

You should advise the young patient to:

Eat little and often – five or six small meals a day instead of three larger ones
Never go for more than two hours without food
Eat lots of complex carbohydrates – wholemeal bread, rice, pasta, root vegetables, beans
Add sensible proteins like fish, eggs, cheese, poultry and lean meat
If she craves sweet flavours, go for fruit like mangoes and pineapples rather than bars of chocolate and crisps
Eat lots of dark green leafy vegetables, lean red meat, poultry, offal and wholemeal bread for their vitamin B6 content
Use extra virgin olive oil, eggs, nuts and seeds for their Vitamin E
Eat oysters, other shellfish and pumpkin seeds for Zinc
Have all the oily fish for their omega-3 fatty acids
Cut down on salt, caffeine and alcohol

Herbs which may help include:

Agnus Castus
Helonias
Dang gui
Herbal teas made from equal amounts of St. John’s wort, Raspberry Leaf and vervain

The Homoeopathic remedies Lilium tigrinum, Pulsatilla and Lachesis could also be useful.

And there are many aromatherapy oils which are worth trying until you find one which is right for you. They are:

Fennel
Rose
Ylang ylang
Lavender
Neroli
Sandalwood
Vetivert
Jasmine
Roman Chamomile
Bergamot

Once you know you have a tendency to PMS, the following supplements could help:

vitamin B6
Evening Primrose Oil
Cod liver oil

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This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk).
The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.