Chinese Herbal Remedies For PMS

Premenstrual Syndrome ( PMS ) affects more then 90% of women during menstruation. (1). Before menstruation estrogen levels in the body are reduced, this change in hormones in most cases leads to PMS. PMS can affect your body physically as well as mentally such as showing symptoms such as:

• Mood swings, irritability, anxiety and stress 
• Difference in the appearance of skin e.g acne 
• Feeling more tired than usual 
• Headaches, migraines, trouble sleeping
• Indigestion, bloating, gas, cramps, breast tenderness 
• Changes in apppetite and sex drive

Chinese Medicine’s View On PMS 

“According to Chinese Medicine PMS symptoms are caused due to imbalances and deficiencies in the Liver”

How Is Liver Linked With PMS? 

In Chinese Medicine, emotions you and your body exhibit are connected with a particular organ in your body. PMS symptoms arise due to imbalances in the Liver. The Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of energy (Qi) and blood in the body along with regulating the menstrual cycle. It is when this flow of Qi, specifically Liver Qi is obstructed or it becomes stagnant PMS symptoms arise. 

Relationship between Liver and Homones

Chinese Medicine takes a different view in comparison to Western Medicine. In Chinese Medicine, ‘Liver’, ‘Qi’, ‘Yang’, ‘Yin’ and ‘Blood’ are considered part of the natural source for hormone activity. The liver takes a centre stage as Liver is vital to keep Qi free-flowing in the body and removing any excess toxins from the body. 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine Liver regulates the balance of sex hormones, especially estrogen and testosterone, thyroid hormones, cortisone and other adrenal hormones. If the Liver function is in imbalance, this will cause stagnation of vital Qi and toxin can become accumulated, thus causing PMS symptoms to arise. 

How Does Chinese Medicine Get To the Bottom Of PMS ? 

Traditional Chinese Medicine aims to provide relief from PMS by getting to the root cause of the issue. To help address this natural therapies such as acupuncture, cupping, Chinese massage, or natural herbal supplement and herbal tea are used. To enhance the effect of this it is recommended to make changes in your diet and exercise along with the natural methods mentioned. 

The aim of these treatments is to: 

• Smooth Liver Qi, remove any stagnation in the Liver Qi, speed up Liver Qi activity
• Unblock Meridian (energy channel) and promote the flow of vital Qi 
• Eliminating excess toxins that are accumulated from emotions, or inflammation or blood clotting. Detoxing methods such as cupping are used for this. 
• Nourishing Liver Yin and Blood, eliminating excessive toxic Liver heat due to excessive Liver Qi or Liver Yin deficiency.

How Exactly Do The Treatment Methods Work? 

Acupuncture:

Acupuncture works to provide relief from overall PMS condition by stimulating nerves, muscles, lymphatic and blood vessels. Following this method will allow for an effective long term relief.

Cupping

Cupping focuses on detoxing, it works to clear meridian and promote Liver Qi activity. It is fast and highly effective with many people noticing immediate tension release and reducing PMS symptoms. 

Chinese Massage:

Chinese Massage follows the similar pressure points used in Acupuncture. It works on the entire Liver meridian area. This method will start to work immediately promote vital Qi flow, calm and smooth Liver Qi.

How does PMS arising from Liver deficiencies lead to other health problems? 

Liver Meridian (energy channel) is a crucial path for transporting vital Qi (energy) to support Liver and other body organs so they can function effectively. There are three reasons that could explain why PMS caused by Liver deficiencies may lead to other health problems: 

• Liver Meridian (energy channel) is wildly connected throughout the body, from side of the head, breast, side of the abdomen, all the way to fertility organs. This wide network is also linked with other organs. They function effectively together by supporting each other, so if there is an obstruction in one which leads to illness, this can easily be spread throughout the body. So PMS symptoms resulting from is an unhealthy Liver could lead to multiple health problems if left untreated. 

• Liver regulates Qi activity and promotes Qi and blood circulation. When Liver Qi becomes stagnant this could result in blood stasis and meridian being blocked, causing accumulation of blood clotting, toxins as well as inflammation-causing other problems to arise. 

• Meridian is crucial path for vital Qi, the vital Qi is Chinese Medicine provides the entire body with nutrition. If Liver Qi stagnant and/ or Blood stasis, or Liver Yin and Blood deficiency exist, Liver meridian could be blocked, narrowed, or function could be slowed down, thus causing body to be nutrition deficient.  This results in overall body function to slow down.

• Liver is in charge of emotion PMS tends to start from emotional imbalance with mood being up and down leading to development of  other health issues.

Top 5 Herbs for PMS:

Chinese Herbal Remedies For PMS

There are many herbal ingredients that can help ease PMS symptoms and provide long term relief. Our recommendation for top 5 herbs for PMS relief include:

• Cordyceps: is best luxury ingredients to increasing Liver Yin, keeping Liver Qi in the smooth and easily occupation, staying calm and relaxing.

CURIOUS ABOUT WHY CORDYCEPS IS SO EXPENSIVE? CLICK HERE.

• Chai Hu (Bupleurum) : is a famous herbal ingredient which can be incorporated in your day to day routine. It is also found in most Chinese herbal formulas. It works to smooth Liver Qi, promote positive thinking.

• Dang Shen (Codonopsis): is a great ingredient which works to reduce  and promotion Qi flow, increasing blood vessels strength.

• Bai Shao (White Peony): Work on the Liver Yin and controls Liver Qi, along with eliminating any Qi stagnation. 

• Zhi Qiao ( Bitter orange): work to assist Qi flow in the right direction, it also removes any type of stagnation, such as Qi stagnation, or Blood stagnation.