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PMS is characterized by a wide range of symptoms that recur in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and that cease soon after menstruation commences.
PMS is characterized by a wide range of symptoms that recur in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and that cease soon after menstruation commences. Wide ranging affective and somatic symptoms during the 5 days before menses in each of 3 prior menstrual cycles, and relieved within 4 days of menses onset.
Symptoms include:
In Chinese Medicine PMS symptoms are usually due to underlying disharmony causing hormonal imbalance as the result of chronic stress, poor diet, impairment of digestive system, and lifestyle. During the second half of the cycle, qi and blood descend to the Chong and Ren channels (both go through uterus), this descend can create or aggravate existing disharmonies (such as Kidney yin/yang deficiency, liver qi stagnation, blood deficiency and blood stagnation or a combination).
PMS may contribute to infertility, for example a pattern of Qi stagnation may disrupt a smooth ovulation or blood stasis and/or blood deficiency can affect the microcirculation in the endometrium and reduce chances of implantation.
Acupuncture:
Studies show that True Acupuncture is effective in treating both emotional and psychological symptoms of PMS. Acupuncture may promote the release of specific neuropeptides by stimulating the central nervous system, causing important physiological effects, even activating self-repair mechanisms. Acupuncture manipulation or electrical stimulation of fine needles pierced into the skin and muscle activates Aα, β, δ, and cholinergic fibers thereby regulating autonomic nervous system activity. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that “the balance of Yin and Yang” is the key to being health. Acupuncture regulates blood circulation and balances the yin and yang through local stimulation of acupoints.
A complex and close relationship between metabolism and immunity has been shown to be essential in maintaining homeostasis, this has given birth to the concept of “immunometabolism” in modern medicine, this is very similar to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) view. TCM theory believes that the nutrient metabolism in modern medicine belongs to Yin while the immunoinflammatory reaction belongs to “Yang.” The balance of interaction between immunity and metabolism represents the balance of “yin and yang, qi, and blood” to a certain extent, while the acupuncture treatment of traditional Chinese medicine achieves the balance of yin and yang by stimulating local acupoints.
Chinese Herbs for PMS:
A study containing two randomized controlled trial involving 549 women show herbal formula Jingqianping had reduction in their PMS symptoms, Chinese herbal formula also showed to be more effective in treating PMS symptoms compare to Vitamin B6. Another study showed herbal formula Jiao Wei Xiao Yao San to be effective in reducing both physical and emotional symptoms of PMS. It is important to point out for the best result, both Acupuncture points and Herbal formula should be tailored to for patient’s unique diagnosis.
Nutraceuticals:
Functional medicine treats the root cause of PMS by addressing contributing and causative factors such as diet, stress (dysregulation of HPA axis), inflammation, Neurotransmitter sensitivities to hormonal changes, life style and environmental factors and body’s ability to detoxify. A mixture of Botanicals and vitamins and minerals at therapeutic doses have been found effective in treating PMS symptoms.
Dysmenorrhea, “difficult menstruation,” refers to painful menstruation. It is characterized by pelvic discomfort and menstrual cramps of varying intensity, from slightly annoying to debilitating, and is frequently accompanied by additional symptoms. Dysmenorrhea is markedly cyclical, with discomfort occurring just prior to (12 to 24 hours before) or during (first 48 to 72 hours of) the menstrual period. Symptoms include:
From Chinese medicine perspective, the period marks the transformation from the premenstrual fullness of qi and blood within the uterus to the relative emptiness of post menstrual phase. This transition should be smooth and pain free with normal bleeding. If there is pre-existing imbalance in the form of excess or deficiency, this transition will not be smooth and will result in inflammation and pain.
Acupuncture for Dysmenorrhea:
The most common causes of dysmenorrhea in Chinese medicine are liver stagnation and heat, damp heat stagnation, cold and damp stagnation, yang deficiency, qi deficiency, many patients present with a mixture of the few patterns. Multiple studies have shown Acupuncture might reduce menstrual pain and associated symptoms more effectively compared to no treatment or NSAIDs, and the efficacy could be maintained during a short-term follow-up period.
Herbal Medicine for Dysmenorrhea:
Chinese herbal medicine has been used to treat dysmenorrhea for thousands of years with good results, a meta-analysis study has shown Chinese Herbal Medicine to significantly improve pain related to menstrual cramps for up to three months follow up. Acupuncture in combination with Chinese herbal medicine can offer a natural treatment for women who wish not to take NSAID or birth control pills to treat their menstrual cramps.