What they do all agree on is that a regular menstrual cycle is a sign of good health. Isn't that special? Doesn't help to know you're healthy if you are in pain or having mood swings that cause you to have to make the decision to stay home for a day rather than risk the chance of having to call your best friend for bail money.

Well, conventional medicine can offer pain pills, water pills, and hormonal therapy, but alternatives to these forms of comfort can be more relaxing and have fewer side effects. And while I for one am not going to "run with the wolves", I would like to achieve some sort of balance between seeing cramps as a medical "problem" and a "gift of mother earth." Give me a break, I just want to not cry or punch out people at the drop of a hat for a week out of each month. Let's explore those options:

Acupuncture relieves pain and stress, and can leave you feeling so relaxed that you're feeling too good to punch anyone out. Same goes for massage, and your massage therapist can show you self massage to do on your lower abdomen any time you need to relax cramps. No medicine is involved, and both of these alternative therapies are non-invasive.

Chinese medicinal herbs are used in concocting teas and poultices for the relief of PMS symptoms. These include Kava Kava Chai and ginseng teas. The top recommended teas are made from Viburnum and help with cramping, irritability, and swelling. Dandelion helps with swollen breasts, muscle spasms, and acne. Your herbalist can recommend the appropriate combination of herbs for your individual symptoms, as well as bath soaks and foot rubs.

Osteopathy is an alternative medicine that can help with internal organ ailments and fight osteoporosis. The women's health center at Oklahoma State University (founded by the Osteopath society) sponsors the "Take Charge" program, which sponsors health education and alternative therapy forums for women across the country.

Chakra and crystal healing energy is used in a wide variety of ways to increase blood flow which (ironically, if you think about it) lessens headache and tension symptoms of PMS. This appears to work, but is a little touchy feely crystal dolphin wacko for me; I prefer yoga and herbal teas, pragmatic and to the point.

Although not considered alternative therapy, per se, exercise is a great way to relieve symptoms and lessen fatigue. One form of exercise which could be considered alternative is yoga. The slow stretching movements and low impact cardio of yoga is very good for menstrual symptoms.

Hypnosis is fast becoming the alternative medicine of choice for PMS sufferers. Hypnosis is geared toward finding out the causes and conditions of symptoms, therefore relieving the pain holistically, that is to say, removing the root cause of irritability and stress. While it is obviously hormonal in nature, the mood swings of PMS can be brought under control with light hypnosis which focuses on teaching the patient that the moodiness is temporary, and not to be taken to heart. Now I don't know about you, but I am much more likely to believe a hypnotist when she says "It will be okay, you will get through this, it is temporary," than I am to believe my husband, who says" Are you on your period? That explains it…"

You see why it's important to save up bail money if you're not using alternative medicine?