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.

PMS can be relieved by some natural remedies, as they are most attuned to the women’s nature since the dawn of history. Nevertheless, some of them are not thoroughly studied and might have side effects. Below is a short list of the natural remedies:

1. Chaste Tree Berry

The berry of chaste tree (also known as Vitex agnus-castus) has been one of the popular herbs helping fight PMS for a long time in Europe. The British Medical Journal published the results of a study involving two hundred women having PMS. They found out that chaste tree berry can considerably reduce premenstrual syndrome as soon as over 3 menstrual cycles. Those women who took chaste tree showed big improvements in depression, breast tenderness and headaches.

However, the chaste tree berry might have some side effects, the most common of which are headache, nausea, menstrual disorders and itching. Pregnant or nursing women shouldn’t take it, and its safety in children and people having liver or kidney diseases has not been established. Chaste tree berry may also theoretically affect the pituitary gland.

2. Calcium
There has been a study carried out to discover that women with PMS have low level of calcium and its supplementation can help reduce the symptoms severity. The research was looking at a thousand women with PMS and two thousand women without. The results showed that women, taking the greatest amount of calcium from natural sources experienced the least PMS symptoms. It also proved that taking calcium carbonate in the amount of 300 mg 4 times per day can considerably reduce pain, depression, bloating, mood changes and food cravings.

3. Magnesium
Magnesium is the mineral that can be found both in supplements and in natural food, which shows great preliminary results regarding relieving PMS. The study, examining the impact of magnesium in thirty women having PMS, revealed that 360 mg of magnesium taken 3 times per day, from 15th day to the start of the menstrual period, can considerably improve mood swings during PMS. One more study showed that 200 mg of magnesium used for 2 menstrual cycles can significantly lower the abdominal bloating, weight gain and breast tenderness.

Diarrhea and upset stomach might come as side effects of excess magnesium, as well as low blood pressure, nausea, slowed heart rate, confusion, coma, and even death. Magnesium shouldn’t be taken by people having kidney or heart disease without permission of their doctor. Magnesium can only be taken under medical supervision if together with antibiotics, diabetic medications, digoxin, blood pressure medications, tiludronate and levothyroxine, as it can interact with them.

4. Acupuncture
Acupuncture, alongside with breathing exercises, is recommended by Chinese practitioners as a good way to ease liver stagnation, although there is no scientific evidence behind it. Traditional Chinese medicine considers liver as the part of a body which is particularly affected by stress or frustration. Such PMS symptoms as bloating, cramping and breast tenderness may be the result of liver energy (“qi”) stagnation, resulted from spicy and fatty foods or alcohol.

5. Relaxation
Yoga, aromatherapy, breathing exercises and meditation are natural methods to get rid of stress and gain relaxation. Most women are more attuned to their needs weeks before menstruation, which can be used at a profit by spending your time to relax, meeting all your needs.

6. Evening Primrose Oil
This is natural plant oil, containing gamma-linolenic acid, which is considered to be an omega-six essential fatty acid. It is engaged into metabolism of prostaglandins (the hormone-like substances) regulating inflammation and pain in the human body.
However, the 2 most well-designed out of 7 studies on this remedy for premenstrual syndrome didn’t show any effects.

7. Exercise
Regular exercise like swimming, cycling, brisk walking or jogging will most likely ease PMS symptoms. The study revealed the impact of not the intensity but frequency of exercise on a relieved PMS symptoms.

8. Diet
Some suggestions related to diet might be helpful for PMS as well. Reducing caffeine, alcohol, fatty foods, red meat, salt and sugar intake will relieve depression, bloating, dizziness and breast tenderness. Eat more fish, beans, fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables (especially broccoli) as they are rich in potassium and vital vitamins. Try to eat not much portions, but frequently in order to stabilize blood sugar.

9. Many more
There are quite a few other natural remedies, which can help PMS, like Reflexology, Chiropractic, Vitamin E, Ginkgo, Royal jelly, Wild yam, Uva ursi, Progesterone cream and Dandelion.