Is acupuncture an effective remedy for PMS? Let’s take a look!
PMS or premenstrual syndrome, is a term most women are familiar with. However, many are confused about just what it means to have PMS.
What are the symptoms of PMS?
- headaches
- migraines
- irritability
- mood swings
- anger
- anxiety
- depression
- food cravings
- bloating
- breast swelling and pain
- cramping
- acne
- fatigue
- achy muscles, joints or low back
You may have only a couple of these symptoms or many of them. You may have some one month and others the next month. If you have one or two of the above symptoms and they are mild enough not to cause any real disruption in your life then you probably don’t have PMS. If you have more than one or two and your symptoms are moderate to severe, especially if they are bad enough to disrupt your life, then you have PMS.
What causes PMS?
From a medical standpoint PMS is believed to be related to the fluctuating levels of hormones in the time between ovulation and your menstrual period. For some women PMS starts just after ovulation, extending to the first day of the period. Others experience it for a week to a few days prior to the menses.
Acupuncture has a track record of helping women to balance hormones, reduce the stress hormonal fluctuations place on our bodies, eliminate headache pain, alleviate irritability and depression. Herbs are effective treatments for all of these including correcting acne and many other symptoms.
Can acupuncture help as a remedy for PMS? In my experience the answer is Yes!