American women are so deficient in vitamin B6 that it was discovered back in the early 1940’s. The process of refining flour eliminates the B vitamins altogether, B6 is destroyed in cooking and canning, and when foods are packaged. Pregnancy and birth-control pills also cause a B6 deficiency. To prevent PMS increased intake of B6 is essential.

Vitamin B6 reduces blood estrogen and increases progesterone. Therefore, B6 deficiency will cause decreased liver metabolism of estrogen, causing an excess of estrogen, this results in “estrogen dominance.” Increased intake of vitamin B6 is vital in preventing the onset of PMS.

The only positive method of diagnosis is the simple method of recording the symptoms and the dates of menstruation on a menstrual chart for a three month period. Symptoms scattered about the chart with no discernable pattern indicate that factors other than PMS are affecting the woman. Symptoms clustered before menstruation indicate PMS, however, most women know intuitively when they have PMS

Every woman with PMS suffers a different set of physical and emotional symptoms. Symptoms and their intensity vary from woman to woman, and from month to month, making each PMS sufferer unique. Major physical symptoms include; weight gain, headaches, water retention. Major emotional symptoms include; anxiety, fatigue, and depression.

Most researchers agree that PMS is a “biopsychosocial” phenomenon with a complex etiology. Certain physical and psychological symptoms recur regularly at the same phase of each menstrual cycle. PMS symptoms begin after ovulation,  often intensifying as menstruation approaches. Symptoms cease with the onset of menstruation, or bleeding.

The placebo effect is a measurable, or felt improvement in health when in fact there is none. The “placebo effect” can be very powerful. People want to believe what they are taking or using is really working, even when the product isn’t. All progesterone creams are not the same. Most of the progesterone creams sold on the internet do not contain USP prescription grade progesterone.

Progesterone’s role in countering estrogen dominance is now widely known and understood. But many women don’t realize the many other positive effects of progesterone, which include returning blood pressure to normal, burning body fat for energy, safeguarding cell membrane functions, and protecting against hypertension.

Niacin, better known as vitamin B3, has been shown in clinical trials to be effective in relieving certain PMS symptoms. Taken every every two to three hours in 100 mg. doses it is 88% effective at relieving menstrual cramps during the menstrual period.

Vitamin C improves the permeability of the capillaries, thus making the vasodilating effect of the niacin more effective. In most cases, niacin was not effective unless it had been taken seven to ten days before the onset of the menstrual flow. Vitamin C increases the effectiveness of niacin in the treatment of PMS cramps.

In 70% of the women tested, vitamin E helped to relieve menstrual discomfort within two menstrual cycles. When taking Vitamin E pain severity was lower, and the duration of pain was shorter. Higher does of Vitamin E provide many other benefits to women than just relieving PMS symptoms. Higher does of E also relieve cyclic breast pain, raises HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) levels, and has many antioxidant properties.