A study for the Women's Nutritional Advisory Service (WNAS) found that more than eight out of 10 PMS sufferers feel violent and aggressive for up to two weeks before their periods.

She said: "It seems bizarre in the extreme to think that at a time when we can send women to the moon and clone new organs, the only thing conventional medicine has to offer would result in either a permanent state of zombyism or having a premature menopause and the increased risks of osteoporosis and heart disease accompanying that scenario."

The WNAS offers a programme that claims to alleviate the symptoms of PMS by changes in diet, nutritional supplements and an exercise and relaxation regime.

Symptoms

As well as psychological symptoms, PMS is associated with a range of physical symptoms including: bloating, breast tenderness, swelling of feet and ankles, fluid retention and weight gain, headaches, food cravings, acne, low energy, palpitations, dizziness, and backaches or muscle pain.

Many researchers believe that PMS symptoms are related to cyclic fluctuations in the level of the female sex hormones during the menstrual cycle.

However, other researchers have suggested that PMS may be related to hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood sugar), hypothyroidism (abnormally low levels of thyroid hormones) or a dietary deficiency of B vitamins, calcium or magnesium.