Premenstrual syndrome remedies

The possibility that mental illness may be alleviated by biogenic amine precursors is an appealing one (SEDA-4, 18). Tryptophan is a naturally-occurring essential amino acid, which has been advocated as an innocuous health food for the treatment of depression, insomnia, stress, behavioral disorders, and premenstrual syndrome. The availability of amino acids in health food stores and a contemporary interest in natural remedies led to reported widespread use of tryptophan to treat depression. It was estimated in 1976 that up to that time several hundred patients with affective disorders had been studied, with results reported in at least 21 papers (1). However, the results of clinical trials with L-tryptophan in the treatment of depressive disorders are inconsistent (2). 

Singh BB, Berman BM, Simpson RL, et al. Incidence of premenstrual syndrome and remedy usage A national probability sample study. Altem Ther Health Med 1998 4 75-79. 

Surprises also await a curious mind in the world of homeopathic remedies that have effects proven by placebo controlled, randomized, clinical double blind studies. Plant-derived products containing a mother tinctme or a solution of D1 poten-tization often feature detectable amounts of active ingredients. Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) is used in both homeopathic and conventional (allopathic) medicines. The two different kinds of products contain just about the same amount of the same active ingredient (called casticin Fig. 3.14 shows analysis results) and their therapeutic recommendation is identical (managing the premenstrual stress syndrome). 

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