Natural Alternative Solutions

Congnitive - Attentional: This cluster refers to the degree to which PMS interferes with your thinking, attentiveness, concentration, ability to plan ahead, and ability to reason in stressful situations. Premenstrually women may have tendenicies to misperceive and distort information, to be easily distracted and to be forgetful. You may notice that during the days prior to your period you feel less focused and more easily districted. You may "lose your place" while reading, writing, or even driving. Women who have severe PMS aften become unable to make important decisions. If you have mild PMS, you may not even become cognizant of of changes in your thinking patterns. This can contribute to a tendency to overreact to minor events.

Heightened Emotionality: This cluster of symptoms refers to the impact of PMS on emotional sensitivity. During the luteal (later half of the menstrual cycle) phase of your cycle you may experience a number of emotional shifts, such as becoming irritable, feeling tense much of the time, and being depressed. Research indicates that exercise can significantly reduce the symptoms of many women with moderate to high premenstrual discomfort in this area.

Physical Complaints: The symptoms in this cluster come from the physiological changes that occur naturally during your menstrual cycle. Symptoms such as bodily aches and pains, lower backaches, cramping, clumsiness, leg pain are common physical changes associated with PMS. During the premenstrual phase you may expect to have general aches and pains, headaches, and lower backache, for example.

Sexual Behavior and Feelings: Your menstrual cycle is directly related to both sexual desire and arousal. This cluster refers to increases and decreases in interest in sex and actual changes in sexual activity that are often reported in conjunction with PMS. Many women report an increase in sexual desire but are often less sexually active during their luteal phases.

Eating Behavior/Water Retention: This cluster refers to increases in eating and drinking, water retention, bloating, and breast tenderness -- all symptoms commonly assoiciated with PMS. Weight gain, bingeing and craving for sweets and salty foods often are also part of the premenstrual experience.