Other Treatment

Although premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can't be cured, you do have a number of lifestyle, medicine, and other treatment choices that can reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Although most of the therapies listed below are not considered standard treatment for PMS, you may find one or more of them helpful in relieving some of your symptoms. In general, these treatments are safe and well tolerated.

Complementary or alternative therapies

These therapies may help relieve symptoms in some women.

• Relaxation methods, including relaxation exercises, roll breathing, yoga, and massage therapy.
• Bright light therapy. Bright light therapy with cool-white fluorescent light in the mornings and evenings on days when PMS symptoms are present may help relieve symptoms.

Vitamin and mineral supplements often recommended for home treatment of PMS and PMDD

These supplements are commonly recommended for PMS home treatment:

• Calcium. This mineral affects the hormone-producing endocrine system. Calcium may help relieve PMS symptoms. A high level of calcium intake, broken up into three doses per day, may improve your negative moods and reduce fluid retention and pain. Calcium has the added advantage of reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
• Magnesium. Some women take magnesium supplements to help with certain symptoms of PMS. But these supplements might not help everyone.
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). This vitamin affects the endocrine system and helps the body use magnesium. Vitamin B6 might help improve PMS depression and physical symptoms. Take no more than 100 mg daily to avoid toxic effects on the nervous system.
• Vitamin E. Some women take vitamin E supplements to help with breast tenderness related to PMS. But these supplements might not help everyone.

Other mineral or herbal therapies sometimes used for PMS

• Zinc. Zinc may help improve PMS-related acne.
• Vitex (agnus-castus, or chasteberry). Although vitex's action on the body isn't well understood, it does seem to change hormone levels that affect ovulation and estrogen production. Vitex might help relieve irritability, anger, breast tenderness, bloating, cramping, and headaches. But possible side effects include nausea, gastrointestinal upset, and malaise.
• Ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo may reduce breast tenderness, bloating, and weight gain. But it is not known if ginkgo helps relieve PMS symptoms.
• Black cohosh. Black cohosh is sometimes used to relieve menopause symptoms and it might help relieve symptoms of PMS. But this therapy might not work for everyone. If you plan to take black cohosh, talk to your doctor about how to take it safely.
• Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis). The oil of evening primrose is a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid, and may offer mild relief of breast tenderness. But it is not known if evening primrose can relieve PMS symptoms.

What to think about

Before you start taking a vitamin, herb, or mineral supplement, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. He or she can find out if it might interfere with other medicines you are taking.

You can buy vitamin and mineral supplements and herbal remedies in drugstores, grocery stores, or health food stores.

When trying an alternative therapy for PMS or PMDD, first try those that are most known to be effective. Try a therapy for two to three menstrual cycles: to be helpful, some therapies may require use for more than one cycle.

As with all supplements, it is important to follow the directions on the supplement label. Do not exceed the maximum dose. If you are trying to become pregnant but want some relief from your PMS symptoms, discuss using nutritional supplements and herbal remedies with your health professional. Certain supplements and remedies have side effects that should be avoided if you are trying to become pregnant.