Also known as premenstrual syndrome, Here's how to deal with the physical, psychological and emotional symptoms that occur 10 days prior to your period

Eyes peeled, heart racing, he sits before the TV set. It's a tense moment. Then, right out of nowhere, with no warning at all, his wife's hips eclipse the screen. "Have I gained weight?" she asks, visibly upset. "You're beautiful," he says, as politely as he can manage under the circumstance, "But please honey... I'm watching the big game." She retreats. Seconds later what emerges from the corner of the room bears no resemblance to the gentle woman that bore his children -- in a flash, the hideous monster charges, ripping his head off. A man in a white coat cautions: "Yes men, we've all seen it, we all fear it. PMS aka Prehistoric Monster Syndrome."
That YouTube video on the Internet sure made us laugh, but when Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) strikes, it's not that funny. In fact, there's nothing remotely amusing about those drastic mood-swings, the irritability, the aching breasts and throbbing migraines. And it's not just the women who suffer. Men, whose partners suffer from extreme symptoms, have genuine reason to dread those 10 to 14 days every month -- a sizeable chunk of one's life.



So, while it might be best to seek a gynaecologist's advice in cases of severe hormonal imbalances, most women are likely to benefit by following the guidelines issued by the Indian Women's Health website (http://www.indianwomenshealth.com/). Get sufficient sleep and exercise, drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine as well as foods that are too salty or sugary, are some of the tips suggested on the site. Plus, here are four more simple tricks you can try:

Get your Vitamin E
Vitamin E supplements and Vitamin E-rich foods such as whole wheat, olive oil, peanuts and broccoli are believed to regulate hormone levels and therefore, reduce mood-swings.u00a0 Dr Peter Schmidt of the National Institute of Mental Health conducted a study (published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1998) involving 1,000 women, half of whom were administered 1,200 mgs of calcium a day, for three months.
The results of the study showed that the intake of calcium carbonate reduced overall PMS symptoms by more than 50%. Make sure to consult a doctor before you take any vitamin or dietary supplements.

Sip on ginger tea
Indian herbalists recommend sipping a concoction of one teaspoon of haldi (turmeric) and a cup of warm water or drinking a cup of ginger tea to relax the uterine muscles, which help relieve cramps. Dandelion tea reduces the physical discomfort associated with PMS, such as water retention, muscle spasms, swollen breasts and bloating. Packed with Vitamin A, Vitamin C and iron, the tea was traditionally used by the Chinese as well as by Native Americans to treat digestive disorders. Two cups a day during your PMS patch can actually work wonders.