Premenstrual syndrome, otherwise known as PMS, is a condition that affects over 90% of women menstruating. When women are experiencing this, they can undergo changes to their emotions, physical health, and even behaviour. Just as every woman has a unique menstrual cycle, the symptoms of PMS also affect every woman differently. Its symptoms can range from causing slight discomfort, to debilitating. The symptoms of PMS include:
- abdominal bloating
- abdominal pain
- sore breasts
- food cravings, especially for sweets
- changes in sleep patterns
- anxiety
- depression
- sadness
- emotional outbursts
- constipation
- diarrhea
- headaches
- sensitivity to light or sound
- fatigue
- Irritability
From the perspective of Eastern medicine, it occurs when your flow of internal energy, known as Qi, and blood, is disrupted. Oftentimes, it’s related to an imbalance or stagnation of your liver Qi. This is because one of your liver’s primary responsibilities is to manage your Qi circulation. So how does liver Qi stagnation occur? Stress, as well as emotional and mental instability, can all contribute to liver Qi stagnation. These factors can also disrupt your general flow of Qi, and when your body is out of balance, health problems can occur.
Luckily, acupuncture can be used to both restore balance and bring your body back to homeostasis, and to regulate your emotions to combat liver Qi stagnation before it occurs, or help relax your emotions when they are already running high due to PMS. Acupuncture practitioners have a deep understanding of your internal Qi system, and by inserting acupuncture needles into specific points of your body, they can regulate your Qi to treat PMS. Furthermore, one of the other benefits of acupuncture is how incredibly relaxed you may feel post-treatment. As emotional instability is a factor that increases the likelihood of PMS developing, the relaxing benefits of acupuncture can stop PMS before it becomes an issue. However, if you are already experiencing symptoms of PMS which include irritability and emotional outbursts, acupuncture can help you calm your mind to make the symptoms of PMS more manageable.
Whether you estimate you will experience PMS in the near future, or you have been experiencing it regularly, acupuncture can help you avoid experiencing the symptoms altogether, or make them more manageable. If you would like to learn more on how acupuncture can treat PMS, contact us today!
