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An Integrative Approach to Treating PMS
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a complex collection of symptoms which effect millions of women each month. Symptoms of PMS can include (but are not limited to): bloating, cramping, breast tenderness, fatigue, headache, emotional upset, and constipation. It is believed that up to 80% of women of reproductive age experience some symptoms of PMS. Most women in this country look at the symptoms of PMS as an inherent part of their menstrual cycle. From a holistic and integrative perspective, it is quite possible - some would say it is a woman’s birthright - to have a menstrual cycle that is smooth and easy. From an integrative perspective, there are many different
approaches to tending women with PMS symptoms. Acupuncture, herbs
and nutritional supplements, massage, and chiropractic have all been
shown to be effective in treating women suffering from PMS symptoms. In November, 1997, NIH’s Office of Alternative
Medicine issued a consensus statement that reported that acupuncture
is effective in the treatment of menstrual cramps, and some of the
other symptoms of PMS. How can acupuncture help with the symptoms
of PMS? Acupuncture works by helping to balance the circulation of
energy (qi) in a person’s body, through the insertion of
tiny
needles into acupuncture points. Acupuncture, therefore, can benefit
any symptom that arises from a blockage or deficiency of energy. Many
of the symptoms associated with PMS (breast tenderness, irritability,
cramps, headaches), from a Chinese medical perspective, are symptoms
of blocked energy. A blockage of energy causes pressure, and pressure
can manifest as emotional pressure (frustration, irritability, excessive
sadness) or physical pressure (cramps, swelling, tenderness). If the
pressure can be relieved, then the symptoms will usually lessen or
resolve completely. A woman’s menstrual cycle is all about circulation,
so when it is not happening smoothly, then it will create a blockage.
Acupuncture can help free up the blockage, and allow the woman’s
natural circulation to be restored. When this happens, the symptoms
of pressure and blockage (PMS symptoms) will be relieved. Physical modalities such a chiropractic, yoga, massage, and craniosacral therapy can be very helpful in relieving menstrual cramping. They accomplish this by aligning body structure, helping body fluids to circulate, and relieving nerve pressure. Also, all of these modalities help to relieve pent-up stress, and often that lessens physical and emotional pressure, thereby helping to relieve many PMS symptoms. While the above treatments can all help with the symptoms of PMS, because they are holistic methods, they do not seek to just remove symptoms without looking more deeply at the underlying issues that may be contributing to the discomfort. A holistic practitioner of one of the above modalities will explore with the woman the stresses in her life that may be giving rise to the structural or energy blockage (which, in turn, gives rise to the premenstrual symptoms). These stresses could include improper diet, insufficient or excessive exercise, emotional stress, past traumas that are still affecting the woman, etc… Working in partnership with the holistic practitioner, the woman can be supported in making some of the changes that would bring her life more into balance. These affirming life style changes, in combination with support from the treatment (which can help in supporting the woman to actually make these changes!), will often affect profound changes in the woman’s health. Often times, not only the main symptoms of PMS improve, but other symptoms resolve and the woman begins to feel greater energy, spirits, and vitality. Kisma Stepanich, author of Sister Moon Lodge: The Power & Mystery of Menstruation, states that menses is a period of healing and regeneration. She says that bleeding is a release and women are instinctively more inward, quiet, gentle, and slower during this time. She advocates that women eat a clean diet, low in fats and sugars, drink lots of fluids, indulge in gentle outdoor exercise like walking, and practice meditation during their periods. Is it possible that for some women, their PMS symptoms are a calling for them to slow down, pay closer attention to their diet, and become more reflective during the time of their menses? I would venture to say that for some women the answer is yes. Integrative medicine, including all of the above modalities
and philosophies, is a powerful way to address the underlying imbalances
that give rise to the symptoms of PMS. -- Jeff Millison
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