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 is called PMDD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is characterized by recurrent, moderate-to-severe affective, physical, and behavioral symptoms that develop during the luteal menstrual cycle and disappear within a few days of menstruation. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe and disabling condition that can affect personal relationships and occupational activities. PMS occurs in 30-40% of reproductive-age females; PMDD affects 3-8% of this population. Although the etiology of PMS is unclear, several theories suggest increased sensitivity to normal hormonal changes and neurotransmitter abnormalities.

Natural PMS Remedy with diet and supplements, vitamins, herbs
PMS treatment varies between each woman. Each woman 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.

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. Most doctors recommend SSRI drugs such as Paxil or Prozac, or Zoloft, which help mood by influencing serotonin levels in the brain.
Inositol should be considered premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
St. john’s wort herb improves some symptoms of this condition. The dosage is usually one capsule daily, in the morning, a week or two before periods.
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. A 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.
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.
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.

Complement Ther Med. 2014. Effect of Royal Jelly on premenstrual syndrome among Iranian medical sciences students: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study. The study population comprised 110 medical sciences student with PMS, whom were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. Each participant in the intervention group took one Royal jelly capsule orally per day, starting on the first day of menstruation and continued the same treatment daily throughout two consecutive menstrual cycles, while participants in the intervention group took placebo capsules as same method. The results of the study have demonstrated that 2 months consumption of Royal Jelly was effective in reducing PMS.

I was wondering if St. John's wort herbal extract would help pms symptoms and if I should not take it with Passion Rx.
    St. John's wort may improve some symptoms of this condition but it should not be taken the same day as the sexual enhancing product.

Do you think St. Johns Wort, Sam-E or 5htp works best for pms and anxiety?
    Each person reacts differently to the supplements so it is difficult to predict, however SAM-e supplements can cause anxiety in high dosages and thus should be used with caution.

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

PMS Symptoms
Headache, mood changes, anxiety, irritability, overeating and food cravings, insomnia or hypersomnia (oversleeping), breast tenderness, and bloating. Over 100 PMS symptoms have been reported. Some of these 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 used as antidepressants. SSRIs are sometimes effective in reducing the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, whether taken in the luteal phase only or continuously. Adverse effects are relatively frequent, the most common being nausea and asthenia (lack or loss of strength). Adverse effects are dose-dependent.
Progesterone has not been found to be effective.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for premenstrual syndrome. SSRIs are effective in reducing the symptoms of PMS, whether taken in the luteal phase only or continuously. Adverse effects are relatively frequent, the most common being nausea and asthenia. Adverse effects are dose-dependent.

Brain nerve / serotonin cause
PLoS One. 2016. Women with Premenstrual Dysphoria Lack the Seemingly Normal Premenstrual Right-Sided Relative Dominance of 5-HTP-Derived Serotonergic Activity in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortices - A Possible Cause of Disabling Mood Symptoms. Absence of increased premenstrual right-sided relative 5-HTP-derived activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortices was found to strongly correlate to premenstrual irritability.

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

Would Mind Power Rx help?
   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.

After several mis-diagnoses by many doctors over a number of PAINFUL YEARS and WRONG meds! I figured it out by myself how to treat my PMDD. I take 50 mg 5htp in the morning and 50 mg every night. My dreams are very vivid, fascinating and creative.