Premenstrual syndrome - PMS -- 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.

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

Natural PMS Remedy with diet and supplements, vitamins, herbs
PMS treatment varies between each woman. Each person with PMS is unique, and sometimes it is nearly impossible to predict who will respond to which nutrient, and in what dosage and timing. But, these natural herbs and supplements are worth a try as you discuss these options with your physician. I will update this natural PMS remedy page as more information becomes available.

Reduce simple carbohydrates such as sugar, fructose, donuts, cakes, pies, cookies, etc. These simple steps are part of a natural PMS remedy.
Reduce caffeine intake, switch to non-caffeinated herbal teas
Exercise frequently, or at least a half hour walk a day.
Vitamin D and Calcium -- Among thousands of 27- to 44-year-old women involved in the ongoing Nurses' Health Study II, those who consumed the most vitamin D and calcium -rich foods had the lowest risk of PMS. Calcium reduces cramping and moodiness -- some patients with PMS have difficulty balancing calcium levels.
Chaste Berry has been shown to improve mood while reducing anger, headache, and breast fullness. Chasteberry is thought to work through balancing prolactin levels. See vitex for more information regarding the role of vitex agnus and natural PMS treatment.
Consider eating more cold water fish or take fish oil capsules, 3 to 5 in the morning before breakfast, or krill oil.
Take some B vitamins such as B12, B6 or pyridoxal-5-phosphate, once daily in the morning
SAM-e may help some women with PMS. SAM-e is a powerful mood lifter. SAM-e supplement would only be used during a few days a month when PMS symptoms are at their worst.
Kava could be used occasionally. Kava would most likely be helpful in women whose PMS symptoms comprise mostly of feelings of stress and anxiety. Kava is the root of a tree from the South Pacific used to induce calmness. Kava would only be used a few days a month.
5-HTP stabilizes serotonin levels and can be used for PMS as needed. Sometimes it works very quickly, within hours. Since 5-HTP is quick acting, it is worth a try to see whether it reduces PMS symptoms.
St. john’s wort may improve mood, usually one capsule daily, in the morning, a week or two before periods
Magnesium (may help women with PMS who have mostly headache, fluid retention and low mood.
Vitamin E may be offer very mild PMS relief but is not as potent as some of the other supplements listed above.
Saffron spice may influence serotonin levels and could be beneficial to women with PMS symptoms.
Try yoga, it helps with PMS symptoms, particularly with anxiety and mood reduction.

Subscribe to a FREE Supplement Research Update newsletter at Physician Formulas. Twice a month you will receive an email with a review of several studies on various supplements and natural medicine topics, including natural treatment of PMS symptoms, and their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Not recommended as natural PMS treatment
Evening primrose oil has not been shown to be an effective PMS treatment.

PMS Symptoms
Over 100 PMS symptoms have been reported. Some of these PMS symptoms include anxiety, headache, fatigue, a feeling of being out of control, depression, and uncontrollable crying spells. PMS symptoms may vary from month to month and there may even be symptom-free months. No women present with all the PMS symptoms at all times. PMS symptoms may be both physical and emotional. Additional PMS symptoms include fluid retention, constipation, painful joints, backache, abdominal cramping, heart palpitations and weight gain. Often there is decreased work or social performance and altered libido.
       
Standard Medical PMS Treatment
Pharmaceutical drugs that may help PMS include: naproxen for cramps, and spironolactone, perhaps SSRIs.
Progesterone has not been found to be effective in PMS.

PMS natural treatment emails
Q. Turns out SAM-e supplement works well for me to reduce my PMS symptoms.

Q. Would Mind Power Rx help with PMS symptoms?
   A. We have not had feedback from users of MInd Power Rx whether this formula has helped with PMS symptoms.

Q. I take Juice Plus ( as well as distribute Juice Plus) and love it for it's nutritional contribution to my diet. However, I do suffer from PMS, which is like having depression for two weeks out of the month. I get migraines, extremely irritable, increased sex drive (not a bad thing), and constipated (absolutely terrible thing). In fact, I exhibit all the symptoms of IBS during this time. I don't recall the medicine my Doctor prescribed for the IBS, but he said it was sometimes used for depression but found effective for IBS. I believe this was due to decreased levels of serotonin. I can't recall all the information, but there was clearly a connection, from what I gathered, between hormones levels in the body, depression, IBS, and PMS. I never had the prescription filled because I really don't like taking medications unless absolutely necessary, which I believe I need to be taking something, I just don't know what.  At any rate, I know you can not give recommendations, medical advice etc., but I was just wondering if you have had any feedback from anyone with PMS trying 5HTP?
   A. I have had some positive feedback regarding 5htp and pms treatment.

I am taking diuretics for ankle edema especially before my period. I need an herbal or nutritional substitute that will help with that problem.
    I am not aware of a natural diuretic that works for this purpose but I have not looked into this topic to a great extent.