PMS and Hormone Balance: What’s the deal?
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is something that most menstruating women have experienced at some point in their lives. While it’s normal to experience mild PMS from time to time, for some women, PMS symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and have a significant negative impact on half or more of each cycle.
When women experience PMS, it’s a clue that something in the body is out of balance.
The list of potential signs and symptoms include:
• Emotional and behavioral symptoms
• Tension or anxiety
• Depressed mood
• Crying spells
• Mood swings and irritability or anger
• Appetite changes and food cravings
• Trouble falling asleep (insomnia)
• Social withdrawal
• Poor concentration
Physical signs and symptoms:
• Joint or muscle pain
• Menstrual cramps
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Fluid retention
• Abdominal bloating
• Breast tenderness
• Acne flare-ups
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Insomnia
What can you do about PMS?
A thorough evaluation and look into your cycle history is where we start. From there, a custom treatmetn plan combining acupuncture, lab testing, herbal medicine, nutrition and lifestyle changes will be prescribed, designed to promote more balanced hormones and reduce stress throughout the month. Hormonal fluctuations are normal, but suffering is not!
