PMS

PMS is a collection of symptoms which are related to a women's menstrual cycle. It is a syndrome which means it has "different causes". PMS is a natural state, some women just suffer more than others. You should also be aware that many diseases and psychological conditions can get worse around the time leading up to and during your period, and that stress can make PMS worse, which must make diagnosis and treatment very difficult.

Symptoms can occur from the time of ovulation right up to the end of your period. As long as they occur with the same regularity every month, then there is a good chance you have PMS. Keeping monthly charts will help you identify this. 
A list of symptoms that can be attributed to PMS:

psychological symptoms
 irritability
 nervousness
 lack of control
 agitation
 anger
 insomnia
 difficulty in concentrating
 lethargy
 depression
 severe fatigue
 anxiety
 confusion
 forgetfulness
 decreased self-image
 paranoia
 emotional hypersensitivity
 crying spells
 moodiness
 sleep disturbances

fluid retention
 edema (swelling of the ankles, hands, and feet)
 periodic weight gain
 oliguria (diminished urine formation)
 breast fullness and pain

respiratory problems
 allergies
 infections

eye complaints
 visual disturbances
 conjunctivitis
gastrointestinal symptoms
 abdominal cramps
 bloating
 constipation
 nausea
 vomiting
 pelvic heaviness or pressure
 backache

skin problems
 acne
 neurodermatitis (skin inflammation with itching)
 aggravation of other skin disorders, including cold sores

neurological and vascular symptoms
 headache
 vertigo
 syncope (fainting)
 numbness, prickling, tingling, or heightened sensitivity of arms and/or legs
 easy bruising
 heart palpitations
 muscle spasms

other
 decreased coordination
 painful menstruation
 diminished libido (sex drive)
 appetite changes
 food cravings
 hot flashes

You may find this questionnaire useful:

__ Do you have a stressful lifestyle?
__ Are you having relationship difficulties with your spouse, family members, or coworkers?
__ Would those who live or work with you say you have PMS?
__ Are you getting enough sleep (do you awake feeling refreshed?)?
__ Do you have regular eating habits and a balanced diet?
__ Do you get 20 minutes of aerobic exercise 3-4 times per week?
__ Do you smoke?
__ Do you drink alcoholic beverages?
__ Do you have more than two 8-ounce caffeinated beverages per day?
__ Is your diet high in red meat, salty foods or sugar?
__ Do you have food cravings in the 10 days before your period?
__ Do you have mood swings or crying jags in the 10 days before your period?
__ Do you feel bloated before your period?
__ Do you actually gain weight the few days before your period (that goes away when you’ve finished)?
__ Are you on birth control pills?


A lot of websites make unfactual claims about the causes of PMS and the efficacy of treatments, the true cause isn't known. Treatments seem to vary in effectiveness for different women, perhaps indicating that there are multiple causes. Maybe this is why it's so difficult to 'cure'. PMDD is another story, and PMDD is unlikely to respond to alternative treatments and dietary interventions. 

photo credit: pixel pro photography south africa via photopin cc