Let’s dig out more from PMS:What signals our body wants to tell?
PMS: premenstrual syndrome, stands for a big group of symptoms which come along with the period every month.
HOW I COMPLETELY ELIMINATED MY PMS by Mary Vance
Common symptoms
Mood swings: Emotional changes such as irritability, moodiness, depression, anxiety, or increased sensitivity.
Fatigue: Feeling tired, low energy levels, or a general sense of lethargy.
Breast tenderness: Sensitivity or discomfort in the breasts.
Bloating: Abdominal bloating or water retention, causing a feeling of fullness or swelling.
Headaches: Tension headaches or migraines.
Food cravings: Strong desire for certain types of food, especially sweets or salty snacks.
Changes in appetite: Increased or decreased appetite.
Sleep disturbances: Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or experiencing excessive sleepiness.
Muscle aches and joint pain: Body aches or discomfort in the muscles and joints.
Acne: Skin breakouts or worsening of existing acne.
And MORE…
If you also have PMS, have you ever questioned WHY? Besides a warning sign of “my period is coming”, anything else that the body wants you to know?
First thing first, PMS could be a way that the body is asking for help: there’s some imbalance here, I need you!
In TCM, we found that there are mainly 2 types of imbalances which will cause PMS.
No.1 Deficiency: lacking Qi and Blood
Kidney Deficiency: The kidneys in TCM are responsible for maintaining hormonal balance and nourishing the reproductive system. Kidney deficiency can contribute to fatigue, low energy levels, and decreased libido, which are commonly seen in PMS.
Spleen Qi Deficiency: The spleen in TCM is responsible for transforming and transporting nutrients in the body. When the spleen Qi is weak, it can lead to symptoms like bloating, food cravings, and digestive issues.
No.2 Stagnation: something blocking the Qi flow and blood circulation
Liver Qi Stagnation: The liver plays a crucial role in regulating the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body. When liver Qi becomes stagnant or blocked, it can lead to emotional symptoms such as irritability, mood swings, and breast tenderness.
Blood Stasis: Blood stasis refers to a condition where blood circulation is sluggish or obstructed. It can lead to symptoms like abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, and pain. Blood stasis is often associated with menstrual cramps and dark or clotted menstrual blood.
Most of the time, deficiency and stagnation could exist together, especially for mood swings, bloating, sleep disturbances.
Allright, all the symptoms are linked to certain causes now, but: why does it ONLY appear before the period?
Now we need to gain a deeper understanding of the events leading up to menstruation. Essentially, the premenstrual phase is a preparatory process during which the body directs more Qi and blood towards the uterus. This causes a downward shift in energy throughout the body. Under normal circumstances, this monthly shift goes unnoticed if the body is well-balanced. However, if there exists an internal imbalance, this downward shift can become a significant issue, prompting the body to express itself through various symptoms. Then, when the period arrives, the energy movements gradually return to their normal state, and all PMS symptoms subside until the next cycle.
Have you ever noticed that PMS is a result of an underlying imbalance that is more noticeable before the period but disappears afterwards? I must say, we are fortunate to have this alarm system within women's bodies. Although the symptoms can be quite distressing, they actually help us identify the underlying disharmony before it escalates. Moreover, it consistently provides a warning signal every month, precisely timed to address the imbalances. You see, our bodies are intelligent. We just need to correctly interpret its signals.
Next: True story sharing: using TCM to help with PMS.
