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From: amanita on 21 Jul 2008 11:31
Somewhere in another recent thread, mention was made of the benefit of
taking potassium supplements for PMS. I came across the following study,
which might be of help to anyone wanting to know more:

http://www.orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1998/articles/1998-v13n04-p215.shtml
The Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol. 13, 4th Quarter 1998

Article

Potassium: A New Treatment forPremenstrual Syndrome

Beckie E. Takacs, M.S.

Abstract

A pilot study was conducted using potassium to successfully treat
premenstrual syndrome in seven women with severe symptoms. After
following a specific protocol all subjects found their symptoms
gradually decreasing in intensity and duration until all were free of
PMS. In addition, most found their overall health and energy levels
improve. PMS frequently occurs or worsens after situations which are
known to deplete potassium. Many PMS symptoms, aside from their unique
timing, are the same as many known potassium deficiency symptoms. Serum
potassium levels have been proven not to be an accurate indicator of
total body content, allowing a mild to moderate deficiency to go undetected.
From: Dee on 21 Jul 2008 20:08
amanita, that's really interesting. I have pms; but it's not as bad as it
used to be before I went gluten-free (at least to my recollection). Put it
this way, it seems to have diminished ever-so-slightly over the years.

And coincidentally, I had my potassium levels tested back in April and my
results were: 4.2 with the ref. range being 3.6 - 5.2 mmol/L. So, possibly
my potassium levels have risen over the years. Although, I still have
symptoms of pms - irritability, bloating, cramping, etc.; just not as
severe, I don't feel. Some months worse than others.

Dee

"amanita" <tiredofspam(a)ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:QZ1hk.14812$%F3.1947(a)newsfe27.ams2...
> Somewhere in another recent thread, mention was made of the benefit of
> taking potassium supplements for PMS. I came across the following study,
> which might be of help to anyone wanting to know more:
>
> http://www.orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1998/articles/1998-v13n04-p215.shtml
> The Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol. 13, 4th Quarter 1998
>
> Article
>
> Potassium: A New Treatment forPremenstrual Syndrome
>
> Beckie E. Takacs, M.S.
>
> Abstract
>
> A pilot study was conducted using potassium to successfully treat
> premenstrual syndrome in seven women with severe symptoms. After following
> a specific protocol all subjects found their symptoms gradually decreasing
> in intensity and duration until all were free of PMS. In addition, most
> found their overall health and energy levels improve. PMS frequently
> occurs or worsens after situations which are known to deplete potassium.
> Many PMS symptoms, aside from their unique timing, are the same as many
> known potassium deficiency symptoms. Serum potassium levels have been
> proven not to be an accurate indicator of total body content, allowing a
> mild to moderate deficiency to go undetected.


From: kgrhoads on 25 Jul 2008 12:12
On Jul 21, 3:31 pm, amanita <tiredofs...(a)ntlworld.com> wrote:
> Somewhere in another recent thread, mention was made of the benefit of
> taking potassium supplements forPMS. I came across the following study,
> which might be of help to anyone wanting to know more:
>
> http://www.orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1998/articles/1998-v13n04-p...
> The Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol. 13, 4th Quarter 1998
>
> Article
>
> Potassium: A New Treatment forPremenstrual Syndrome
>
> Beckie E. Takacs, M.S.
>
> Abstract
>
> A pilot study was conducted using potassium to successfully treat
> premenstrual syndrome in seven women with severe symptoms. After
> following a specific protocol all subjects found their symptoms
> gradually decreasing in intensity and duration until all were free ofPMS. In addition, most found their overall health and energy levels
> improve.PMSfrequently occurs or worsens after situations which are
> known to deplete potassium. ManyPMSsymptoms, aside from their unique
> timing, are the same as many known potassium deficiency symptoms. Serum
> potassium levels have been proven not to be an accurate indicator of
> total body content, allowing a mild to moderate deficiency to go undetected.

"A NEW treatment ..." published in 1998 -- Well I know that "Maggie's
Woman's Book"
mentions potassium for PMS. That book was published in 1980:
Maggie's Woman's Book : Her Personal Plan for Health and Fitness for
Women of Every Age
by Maggie Lettvin
November 1980, Paperback

SO 18 years later the medical community finds out about this? What
took so long?

DOCTORS! Can't without them. Can't live with 'em. <sigh>
From: Elizabeth on 25 Jul 2008 21:08
Amanita,

Whoa, this is something I MUST try. After reading the whole article, I am
not sure whether magnesium is also recommended. I suppose I will try the
potassium first. I was considering trying magnesium, but this sounds very
convincing. Do you know anything more about magnesium?

E.

"amanita" <tiredofspam(a)ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:QZ1hk.14812$%F3.1947(a)newsfe27.ams2...
> Somewhere in another recent thread, mention was made of the benefit of
> taking potassium supplements for PMS. I came across the following study,
> which might be of help to anyone wanting to know more:
>
> http://www.orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1998/articles/1998-v13n04-p215.shtml
> The Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol. 13, 4th Quarter 1998
>
> Article
>
> Potassium: A New Treatment forPremenstrual Syndrome
>
> Beckie E. Takacs, M.S.
>
> Abstract
>
> A pilot study was conducted using potassium to successfully treat
> premenstrual syndrome in seven women with severe symptoms. After following
> a specific protocol all subjects found their symptoms gradually decreasing
> in intensity and duration until all were free of PMS. In addition, most
> found their overall health and energy levels improve. PMS frequently
> occurs or worsens after situations which are known to deplete potassium.
> Many PMS symptoms, aside from their unique timing, are the same as many
> known potassium deficiency symptoms. Serum potassium levels have been
> proven not to be an accurate indicator of total body content, allowing a
> mild to moderate deficiency to go undetected.


From: amanita on 26 Jul 2008 08:26
Elizabeth wrote:
> Whoa, this is something I MUST try. After reading the whole article, I am
> not sure whether magnesium is also recommended. I suppose I will try the
> potassium first. I was considering trying magnesium, but this sounds very
> convincing. Do you know anything more about magnesium?

Elizabeth, magnesium used to be talked about a lot in relation to PMS. I
remember a friend of mine used to swear by it for her PMS. I don't know
of any studies that prove or disprove this though. It seems that
magnesium deficiency is becoming more common and can give rise to quite
a few bewildering symptoms, especially in undiagnosed / undermedicated
hypoTs, so I think it would certainly be worth a try.

As I understand it, taking magnesium is quite safe - generally the worst
that might happen if you take too much is diarrhoea. In which case, you
just cut the dose back a little. (This is known as taking it to 'bowel
tolerance'). It's important to make sure you take it well away from your
thyroid meds though, as it may block apsorption. I try to take mine with
my meals (lunch and evening meal), as those are usually furthest away
from when I take my throxine. I once tried taking it by transdermal
absorption - a foot soak in a bowl of water with epsom salts. That sent
me to the bathroom quite rapidly! These days I take 150 - 200mg of
Magnesium Citrate tablets by mouth and have no problems :-)
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