Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Different doctors classify various PMS symptoms in different ways. There are about 150 symptoms that can be reasonably divided into seven categories by the areas they affect.

Emotional: mood changes, irritation, uneasiness, the feel of panic, depression, crying too often

Behavior changes: apathetic or aggressive bearing, unwillingness to do usual activities, impulsive decisions without any substantiation

Autonomic: rapid pulse, sickness or constipation, increased perspiration, shiver, hot flushes, weak eyesight

Fluid accumulation: edemas, gain in weight, upper and lower extremities swelling

Skin Problems: rashes, herpes, hypersecretion of sebaceous glands, papules and increased allergic reactions

Cognitive: memory problems, absent-mindedness, low attentiveness, problems with intellectual activities.

Physical Pain: frequent headaches, severe muscle pains, neck and joint aches, breast discomfort and increased sensitivity

The aforementioned symptoms are the most frequent displays of PMS. All of them are caused by hormonal disbalance during the second part of menstrual cycle (the period after ovulation). They are experienced from two weeks to one day before periods, and after it begins, the symptoms are significantly relieved or totally disappear. The general picture of symptoms can change from time to time, or they can stay stable each month. As PMS depends on hormonal changes, there are some phases when it can be especially severe. These are pubertal period, post-pregnancy period, menopause, birth control pills intake, the period after surgical procedures like hysterectomy or tubal ligation. The hormonal balance of women’ organism can be affected by stresses or emotional shocks that also intensifies PMS syndrome.

Acupuncture is Helpful PMS Therapy?
Acupuncture is a natural therapy that doesn’t require any chemical medicines and has almost no side effects. The research results posted in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics journal in 2002 showed that the effectiveness of acupuncture procedures for treating PMS syndrome was 77.8%, while the same result in placebo control group was only 5.9%. These numbers show that acupuncture is an effective non-medicament way of treating PMS symptoms. Its action mechanism is stimulating various acupuncture points responsible for normalizing the endocrine system operation and producing hormones for required balance. In such a way the amount of progesterone and estrogen is increased, that neutralizes the affect of high estrogen concentration during the luteal phase – the main cause of PMS symptoms. Acupuncture therapy provides with stable hormone balance during each cycle.

How long is the course of treatment?
As a rule the human organism reacts on acupuncture very fast, especially when this therapy is combine with traditional Chinese herbal medicine. PMS symptoms are relieved after the first month of therapy, and the progress continues during the next cycles. It is recommended one session per week during the first menstrual cycle with further reducing the number of sessions in accordance with patient’s condition. A doctor can use herbal medicine treatment together with acupuncture for better effect if needed.

What else can I do to make my treatment maximally effective?
While acupuncture and herbal medicines can effectively relief PMS symptoms, it is very important to support the organism by proper changes in lifestyle and diet habits. Some food can increase the display of PMS symptoms due to the influence on endocrine system. These are alcohol drinks, the excess of sugar in ration, soya products. This doesn’t mean that women struggling from PMS should avoid the intake of these foods, the point is reasonable ration planning, oriented at healthy food and stop overeating. All body systems operation depends directly on what we eat. To provide your organism with all it needs for proper functioning, make sure you get enough vitamins of A, B, C groups and necessary minerals from food. Exercises also influence positively. Chinese medicine admits that physical exercises stimulate the qi energy moving. When its move is stuck, we feel various pains, depressions, discomfort and PMS of course. You should ask a doctor’s advice to make proper changes in your lifestyle to stimulate PMS relief.