Pre-menstrual tension (PMT)

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[UPDATED JUNE 2023]

Green Mother - families fit for the future

With Michelle McCullagh, I have written a whole book about this issues. See Our Book Green Mother - families fit for the future

Introduction

Seeing a regular period is, from an evolutionary point of view, an unusual state of affairs. In primitive society, women would miss a period because:

  • They were too young
  • They were too old
  • They were pregnant
  • They were breast feeding
  • They were starving
  • They were diseased
  • There was major social unrest (stress will stop the periods)

World wide, starvation and breast feeding are the commonest forms of contraception. During breast feeding and pregnancy, hormone levels are constant and therefore the women do not suffer from "wobbly hormones". See Wobbly hormones - a cause of irregular vaginal bleeding and PMT

It is falling levels of progesterone just prior to a period which allows a woman to know that she is pre-menstrual. These symptoms are inevitable but may be very subtle such as sugar or chocolate craving, fluid retention and weight gain, irritability and mood swings, breast tenderness, poor night's sleep etc. Hormone levels should drop in a crisp clear way so these symptoms are short-lived. It is when hormone levels do not drop quickly that symptoms may become severe and drag on.

If hormone levels wobble at other times, then these symptoms will appear at other times to a greater or lesser extent.

Treatment of PMT (in order of importance)

See The general approach to maintaining and restoring good health.

  • Identify the cause of wobbly hormones.

This is most likely to be poor diet. Remember a regular menstrual cycle is the best indictor of good nutritional status. Eat the PK diet - see The Paleo Ketogenic Diet - this is a diet which we all should follow

  • Take nutritional supplements

A multivitamin, mineral, essential fatty acids and vitamin C. See Poor nutritional status as a cause of gynaecological problems Take this package - nutritional supplements and consider adding in high dose vitamin B6 100-200mgs daily (the active form is pyridoxal 5 phosphate 50-100mgs daily).

  • Get your thyroid checked.

See Thyroid profile: free T3, free T4 and TSH and if treatment is indicated, see Conducting the CFS orchestra How to put yourself in charge, Hypothyroidism - diagnosis of and Hypothyroidism - A Common Hormonal Problem in CFS. Consider also buying My Book - The Underactive Thyroid - Do it yourself because your doctor won't for the Full Monty!

  • Keep the toxic stress down.

Everything in moderation especially caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, drugs. Also check for heavy metals - see Comprehensive Urine element Profile and detox where necessary - see Detoxification - an overview

  • Exercise more to allow you to eat more!

See Exercise - the right sort and if you have CFS/ME, please see Exercise - the right sort in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

  • Stress management - too much stress or too little can be a problem

Make sure you sleep well and get enough of it - see Sleep is vital for good health - especially in CFS

  • Don't take the Pill or HRT .

This is just covering up the problem, not sorting it out. Furthermore the Pill and HRT bring even more problems. See The serious complications of taking the Pill and HRT

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