Can Acupuncture and Herbs Get Rid of PMS?

Let's face it, as women we have all at some point in our lives experienced PMS, or premenstrual syndrome. If it is a mild case it can be unpleasant, but if severe it can be debilitating. Some of the symptoms of PMS are:

• bloating
• breast tenderness
• irritability
• moodiness
• depression
• anxiety
  
• headache or migraine

You may have suffered one or two or more of these. In some cases a symptom such as depression can be severe enough to be disabling and sometimes a migraine can last for days. For these women a monthly period is something indeed to dread! Often women with these symptoms also have severe menstrual cramping making the menstrual week and the week leading up to it a pretty miserable experience. Often women are put on birth control pills to control their symptoms regardless of whether they are sexually active or not.

For the women who would rather not use birth control (and for those who currently do) there is an answer to your pain and suffering.


In using Chinese Medicine we look to the root cause of the problem in order to correct it and alleviate symptoms. We do this by balancing the organs systems, removing blockages and supplementing where needed. Often in PMS we might say the women has qi stagnation, although other imbalances could also be present such as blood deficiency or blood stagnation. There are many possible imbalances as each person is a unique individual. We consider all of the variables in making our assessment. This is the way in which we get to the root of the problem to eliminate the symptoms.


When a woman comes to my office with menstrual problems I do a complete evaluation of her health and arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan. I usually treat the person with acupuncture and a custom herbal formula that is specific for that person, as no two people with PMS are alike in their constitution. Once the woman is taking the herbs and receiving acupuncture for one or two months she will notice a big improvement in her symptoms. Sometimes the PMS will go away with the first menstrual period, sometimes the second. Sometimes it may take a little longer, but it does improve. And the best part, with proper care it is an improvement that can last a lifetime.

For more information or a free phone consultation call: (310)367-1564