Premenstrual Syndrome, Chinese Medicine, and Natural Options

Lourdes González, A.P., M.A, L.Ac., M.M.Q.

Certified Specialist – National Board of Acupuncture

If you experience discomfort ranging from mood changes to debilitating pain before your menstrual cycle, you are one of the many women affected by the well-known premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

The term “premenstrual syndrome” is used to describe a series of symptoms and discomforts that thousands of women experience monthly before their period begins. It is estimated that at least one-third of the female population is affected by this syndrome. Some common symptoms include:

Category	Symptoms
Mood & Emotions	Depression, Irritability, Aggressiveness, Anxiety, Mood swings, Lethargy
Physical Discomfort	Breast tenderness, Back and leg pain, Abdominal pain, Bloating
Head & Nervous System	Headaches, Migraines, Insomnia, Lack of concentration
Digestive System	Constipation, Diarrhea, Changes in appetite, Bloating, Flatulence
Skin & Appearance	Skin eruptions
Body Temperature & Energy	Changes in body temperature, Fatigue
Sexual & Hormonal	Changes in libido

While in the Western approach these discomforts are often considered “normal” and treated with medications to manage the symptoms, Chinese Medicine views them differently. According to Chinese Medicine, when a woman’s body is in balance, the menstrual cycle should be smooth and without discomfort. Chinese Medicine identifies three main patterns involving deficiencies, blockages, or accumulation of energy, phlegm, and blood in the Liver, Spleen, or Heart meridians.

For over 2,000 years, Chinese Medicine has effectively treated this syndrome naturally using acupuncture, nutrition, and herbal medicine (phytotherapy), with herbs such as vitex, black cohosh, angelica, evening primrose oil, and ginkgo biloba, among others.

Several factors contribute to PMS, including:

• Hormonal imbalances

• A processed diet high in flours, dairy, sugars, and excessive animal protein

• Imbalance between rest and movement (either overactivity or a sedentary lifestyle)

• A fast-paced, stressful, and anxiety-filled life, which over time can lead to exhaustion, frustration, and feeling unwell

You can actively participate in your healing process, as there is much you can do to improve. The following tips, combined with guidance from a certified natural medicine professional, may help manage PMS:

1. Practice some form of physical activity at least three times per week.

2. Consume a plant-based diet that includes a variety of fresh foods such as vegetables, leafy greens, fruits, nuts, roots, and whole grains. This ensures you get essential nutrients like calcium, B and D vitamins, magnesium, and iron, which help prevent or reduce PMS.

3. Avoid processed foods, dairy, and excessive animal protein.

4. Aim for about eight hours of sleep each night.

5. Avoid smoking and limit intake of caffeine, alcohol, salt, and sugar, as these have been associated with increased premenstrual symptoms.

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