Premenstrual Syndrome, often referred to its acronym PMS, is a series of debilitating symptoms that occur leading up to the days of a person’s menstrual cycle. It is caused by the rising and falling of hormones, like estrogen and progesterone, within the body that occurs during this phase of a person’s reproductive cycle. PMS symptoms can differ from person to person. While some people may not experience any PMS symptoms, others can experience a variety of symptoms all at once.
PMS symptoms can bring interfere with daily life and negatively reduce quality of life. These symptoms can also lead to other health issues like heightened levels of stress, weight gain, and sleep issues. Due to debilitating symptoms and potential developed issues as the result of PMS, many people who actively experience PMS symptoms are looking for a way to reduce the severity and frequency of these symptoms. While there are a number of effective treatments that help people living with PMS symptoms, one of the most successful and relied upon is acupuncture.
There are a number of available treatment options for PMS. In many cases, common symptoms of PMS can be reduced or even completely relieved with simple lifestyle choices like dietary changes, exercising, and mindfulness techniques including meditation. However, making these changes doesn’t help everyone. Other types of treatments can include over-the-counter medications, using a heating pad, and diuretics. Prescription treatments can include birth control, which can work by halting the production of hormones that induce ovulation which can mean that people are able to skip their menstruation cycles altogether. However, many people may not respond well to birth control or may be trying to conceive, which they would not be good candidates for prescription birth control.
Unlike prescription or over the counter medications to deal with the symptoms of PMS, acupuncture works by addressing the underlying reasons that PMS symptoms occur. Acupuncture can actually help to balance hormones, which can ease the severity of PMS related symptoms like cramping, bloating, headaches, and more. Furthermore, many symptoms of PMS are due to inflammation which results in pain. Acupuncture works to reduce inflammation which can in turn reduce the painful symptoms of PMS like cramping, muscle pains, and more.
If you are struggling with PMS and you feel like you’ve tried everything to ease the debilitating symptoms, it may be time to consider acupuncture. Acupuncture sessions are non-invasive and don’t require the use of side-effect-inducing medications. And, they can help to improve PMS symptoms in the long term, meaning that they will work to provide relief long after sessions have been completed.
Acupuncture Zen is an acupuncture clinic in Delray Beach, FL that offers acupuncture techniques in order to treat symptoms of a variety of conditions, including PMS. Find out more about our acupuncture specialties and reach out for more information by calling 561-633-3537.
PMS can offer an overwhelming number of symptoms, but some of the most common include:
