The non-hormonal treatment consists of Vitamin B6, to enable the formation of neurotransmitters, and capsules of evening primrose oil, containing gammalinoleinic acid, which provide essential fatty acids. Hormonal treatment prevents estrogen from functioning and balances the effects of estrogen. As it happens, estrogen starts to rise after menstruation and peaks around ovulation. It then rapidly drops only to slowly rise and then fall again just before menstruation. Estrogen holds fluid and with increasing estrogen comes fluid retention.
Many women report weight gains of five pounds premenstrually.
Estrogen also has a central neurologic effect. It can lead to increased brain activity and seizures. It can also contribute to retention of salt and a drop in blood sugar. Apart from hormonal treatments, Dr. Degwekar also speaks in favour of exercise as a means of reducing stress, elevating mood, improving blood circulation and enhancing a sense of well being. Simultaneously, proper stress control is extremely important.