I was listening to a talk radio show the other day that had some great tips and information on how to naturally handle the symptoms of PMS (Pre Menstrual Syndrome). First, remember that every woman is going to be different and what works for one, may not be the best course of action for another. You should always consult a doctor before taking any medication or herbal products. Remember! Even though a product is labelled as natural does not mean that it can’t or won’t cause you harm. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before adding any medication, drug, or herbal product to your daily regime.

Here are the top five tips from the show:

Calcium and Magnesium: By taking 1000-1200 mg of Calcium and 200-400 mg of Magnesium every day helps to reduce the risk of mood swings, bloating, headaches and other such symptoms of PMS.

Healthy Eating: Eating a balanced diet that is low in fat, high in fibre, and contains lots of those good fruits and vegetables helps to maintain and even improve hormone metabolism.

Exercise: Even when you don’t feel like moving, exercise will help to alleviate your symptoms.

Vitex: The Naturopathic doctor recommended taking 20 mg of this concentrated herbal extract for up to three months to help you balance your hormones. It is also recommended for helping with symptoms such as heavy menstruations, acne related to your cycle, cramping, and headaches.

Vitamin B6: This vitamin was recommended to be taken at a level of 100-200 mg per day in order to reduce your overall symptoms.

The other types of remedies that were suggested as being useful were as follows:

Black Cohosh: This is actually approved in Germany for the treatment of PMS, though there are no current medical trials to indicate its usefulness.

Ginkgo Biloba extract can be helpful as well when you take 80 mg twice a day from day 16 of one menstrual cycle to day 5 of the next cycle.

A trial reported that 300 IU of Vitamin E daily can help decrease your symptoms.

Another trial that studied women with severe PMS found that most participants completely resolved their PMS symptoms within 4 cycles by taking 400 mg of Potassium Gluconate and 200 mg of Potassium chloride for two cycles, then 600 mg of Potassium Gluconate daily.

There are other things that you can do, or avoid doing, that will also help to alleviate your symptoms without taking any type of supplement or drug.

Try reducing the amount of sugar you consume over the course of several months. Although there haven’t been any clinical trials as of yet, some doctors do believe that this can help with some women’s symptoms.

Alcohol is another consideration for those suffering from PMS. Because alcohol can affect hormone metabolism, high levels of alcohol can increase the symptoms you feel.

In China, a study was conducted on women who increased their consumption of tea and found that the more of the caffeinated drink they consumed, the higher prevalence of symptoms.