Oriental medicine and PMS
High winds don't last all morning
a look at PMS from the Oriental medical perspective
by Al Stone L.Ac.
For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has been treating the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome. In the modern world, many women have found, especially in the area of gynecology, that conventional modern Western medicine offers few answers, little relief, and no treatments other than harsh chemicals with potentially unpleasant side effects.
PMS is a reasonably simple syndrome to treat with Chinese medicine. Acupuncture and herbs can provide enormous relief from PMS, however the underlying cause of PMS is often times due to one's lifestyle, or the way in which one relates with the world. Methods such as meditation, relaxation techniques and exercises that require mental focus, can be employed to treat the root causes of PMS.
According to Chinese medical theory, PMS is mostly indicative of a disharmony in the Liver. Organs in traditional Chinese medicine theory are very different from the organs as we know them according to modern Western science. That's why organs are capitalized in this article, to denote the Chinese concept for the organs, not the Western.
The Liver initiates the menstrual cycle and the Spleen controls the creation of the blood in the body. When there is any disharmony in the Liver, symptoms arise such as the mood swings that we often associate with PMS, including periods of depression, sadness, irritability, crying, and anger. When the Spleen is also involved, a woman can develop symptoms such as a foggy sense of clumsiness, IBS, or anemia.
PMS comes about when the Liver's function is impaired. In Chinese medicine, all of the body's functions are regulated and energized by what the Chinese call "Qi." That's pronounced "chee", sometimes spelled "chi". It could translate to anything from bioelectric energy to cellular metabolism. For our purposes, calling it simply "energy" is probably best.
Among the jobs that the Liver is expected to do in the body, according to Chinese medicine, is maintain the free flow of this Qi energy. When the Qi is moving well, we feel flexible, flowing and graceful within our bodies as well as within life. When there is a problem in the Liver, its function of circulating the Qi is compromised and one manifestation of this Qi stagnation is what we call PMS.
Chinese medicine is based on Taoism. This philosophy teaches that health comes from a balance between the masculine and feminine principles (or "Yin" and "Yang") within everything. For instance, the Yang nature of the Liver makes us want to move forward and succeed, but this must be balanced with the Liver's Yin aspect which represents the ability to move backwards, to be flexible, and to respond to conditions in new and spontaneous ways. Where there is a lack of Liver Yin, we tend to become angry or frustrated. When there is no Liver Yang, we can become overly timid.
When the Yin element of the Liver is deficient we can become violently angry when we encounter barriers to what we want, obstacles to our future, or any shortcoming to our expectations in life. Another typical Liver disharmony that comes from excessive attachments to goals is the lack of free flow of Qi energy within the body.
PMS is what a woman feels when the Qi's free flow is compromised. Disharmonies of the Liver will have two effects on the menstrual cycle. One is Liver Qi stagnation which causes moodiness and unexpectedly intense emotions. The other problem that comes from Liver disharmony is a painful period. It is said that anger makes the Qi rise to the head. That's why our eyes get red, we get headaches, dizziness, and even nosebleeds when we're very angry. However, for the menstrual flow to begin the Qi must be descending. Without the free descending flow of Qi at the onset of the menses, there is pain.
PMS doesn't always have to mean that there is anger at the root of the condition. However, anger is part of the symptomatic picture because of the Liver's involvement.
There can be various other symptoms along with moodiness and pain in PMS. Sometimes, the Liver gets so angry that it lashes out at the Spleen. This causes the Spleen's functions to be compromised. Symptoms associated with this portion of PMS include: cravings (especially for sweets), water retention, fatigue, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness with possible lumps, and of course, pain, especially toward the end of the period.
Complications of PMS
When the Liver is angry, the Qi stops flowing smoothly. When there is stagnation of this Qi energy, other things get stopped up behind it. Qi Stagnation can lead to Blood stagnation which can lead to lumps, cysts, lesions, and even cancerous tumors in the breasts and uterus.
Treatments for PMS
Acupuncture will gently break free the stagnation of the Qi in the body. This also has the effect of easing the emotions and pain associated with menstruation. As with many menstrual problems, it may take a few menstrual periods to regulate the cycle completely, although some improvement can often be seen after the first month, or even after the first treatment.
There is a special Chinese herbal formula which is often used for PMS called Xiao Yao Wan (sometimes spelled Hsiao Yao Wan), pronounced "shao yao wan". Confusing, isn't it? Ironic too, since it translates to "Free and Easy Pill." Many know of individual herbs such as Dang Gui that are effective for women's health, but this herb is rarely used alone. Chinese herbal formulas are created with balance and harmony in mind. Xiao Yao Wan has Dang Gui as well as many other ingredients to relieve Qi stagnation, nourish the Blood, strengthen the Spleen, sedate the Liver and relieve pain. They all support each other to increase their various functions.
Tai Chi or Qi Gong (breathing exercises to amplify and invigorate the Qi energy) helps at the root of the problem. Even meditation will have this same effect. Pulling the consciousness into "The Now" makes the Liver less attached to preplanned goals. With this added flexibility, we can become more able to accept obstacles in life which allows us to find appropriate and creative solutions consistent with the needs of the moment.
There are also many lifestyle changes that can be incorporated into your life to help control PMS at its root level.
Taoism would suggest that you live in accordance with nature. Many suggest that this includes a vegetarian diet, living off the land, going to bed with the stars, and getting up with the sun, but in the middle of the city in the 20th century, this is very difficult. Instead, it would be wise to become sensitive to the nature within yourself. If you're doing something you don't feel comfortable doing, don't do it anymore.
The 20th century brings with it levels of stress and pain that have never been encountered in the past. However, because of the unique multi-cultural interactions available within modern society, we can also benefit from incredible ancient treatments such as Chinese medicine for these contemporary disorders.
High winds don't last all morning
a look at PMS from the Oriental medical perspective
by Al Stone L.Ac.
For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has been treating the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome. In the modern world, many women have found, especially in the area of gynecology, that conventional modern Western medicine offers few answers, little relief, and no treatments other than harsh chemicals with potentially unpleasant side effects.
PMS is a reasonably simple syndrome to treat with Chinese medicine. Acupuncture and herbs can provide enormous relief from PMS, however the underlying cause of PMS is often times due to one's lifestyle, or the way in which one relates with the world. Methods such as meditation, relaxation techniques and exercises that require mental focus, can be employed to treat the root causes of PMS.
According to Chinese medical theory, PMS is mostly indicative of a disharmony in the Liver. Organs in traditional Chinese medicine theory are very different from the organs as we know them according to modern Western science. That's why organs are capitalized in this article, to denote the Chinese concept for the organs, not the Western.
The Liver initiates the menstrual cycle and the Spleen controls the creation of the blood in the body. When there is any disharmony in the Liver, symptoms arise such as the mood swings that we often associate with PMS, including periods of depression, sadness, irritability, crying, and anger. When the Spleen is also involved, a woman can develop symptoms such as a foggy sense of clumsiness, IBS, or anemia.
PMS comes about when the Liver's function is impaired. In Chinese medicine, all of the body's functions are regulated and energized by what the Chinese call "Qi." That's pronounced "chee", sometimes spelled "chi". It could translate to anything from bioelectric energy to cellular metabolism. For our purposes, calling it simply "energy" is probably best.
Among the jobs that the Liver is expected to do in the body, according to Chinese medicine, is maintain the free flow of this Qi energy. When the Qi is moving well, we feel flexible, flowing and graceful within our bodies as well as within life. When there is a problem in the Liver, its function of circulating the Qi is compromised and one manifestation of this Qi stagnation is what we call PMS.
Chinese medicine is based on Taoism. This philosophy teaches that health comes from a balance between the masculine and feminine principles (or "Yin" and "Yang") within everything. For instance, the Yang nature of the Liver makes us want to move forward and succeed, but this must be balanced with the Liver's Yin aspect which represents the ability to move backwards, to be flexible, and to respond to conditions in new and spontaneous ways. Where there is a lack of Liver Yin, we tend to become angry or frustrated. When there is no Liver Yang, we can become overly timid.
When the Yin element of the Liver is deficient we can become violently angry when we encounter barriers to what we want, obstacles to our future, or any shortcoming to our expectations in life. Another typical Liver disharmony that comes from excessive attachments to goals is the lack of free flow of Qi energy within the body.
PMS is what a woman feels when the Qi's free flow is compromised. Disharmonies of the Liver will have two effects on the menstrual cycle. One is Liver Qi stagnation which causes moodiness and unexpectedly intense emotions. The other problem that comes from Liver disharmony is a painful period. It is said that anger makes the Qi rise to the head. That's why our eyes get red, we get headaches, dizziness, and even nosebleeds when we're very angry. However, for the menstrual flow to begin the Qi must be descending. Without the free descending flow of Qi at the onset of the menses, there is pain.
PMS doesn't always have to mean that there is anger at the root of the condition. However, anger is part of the symptomatic picture because of the Liver's involvement.
There can be various other symptoms along with moodiness and pain in PMS. Sometimes, the Liver gets so angry that it lashes out at the Spleen. This causes the Spleen's functions to be compromised. Symptoms associated with this portion of PMS include: cravings (especially for sweets), water retention, fatigue, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness with possible lumps, and of course, pain, especially toward the end of the period.
Complications of PMS
When the Liver is angry, the Qi stops flowing smoothly. When there is stagnation of this Qi energy, other things get stopped up behind it. Qi Stagnation can lead to Blood stagnation which can lead to lumps, cysts, lesions, and even cancerous tumors in the breasts and uterus.
Treatments for PMS
Acupuncture will gently break free the stagnation of the Qi in the body. This also has the effect of easing the emotions and pain associated with menstruation. As with many menstrual problems, it may take a few menstrual periods to regulate the cycle completely, although some improvement can often be seen after the first month, or even after the first treatment.
There is a special Chinese herbal formula which is often used for PMS called Xiao Yao Wan (sometimes spelled Hsiao Yao Wan), pronounced "shao yao wan". Confusing, isn't it? Ironic too, since it translates to "Free and Easy Pill." Many know of individual herbs such as Dang Gui that are effective for women's health, but this herb is rarely used alone. Chinese herbal formulas are created with balance and harmony in mind. Xiao Yao Wan has Dang Gui as well as many other ingredients to relieve Qi stagnation, nourish the Blood, strengthen the Spleen, sedate the Liver and relieve pain. They all support each other to increase their various functions.
Tai Chi or Qi Gong (breathing exercises to amplify and invigorate the Qi energy) helps at the root of the problem. Even meditation will have this same effect. Pulling the consciousness into "The Now" makes the Liver less attached to preplanned goals. With this added flexibility, we can become more able to accept obstacles in life which allows us to find appropriate and creative solutions consistent with the needs of the moment.
There are also many lifestyle changes that can be incorporated into your life to help control PMS at its root level.
Taoism would suggest that you live in accordance with nature. Many suggest that this includes a vegetarian diet, living off the land, going to bed with the stars, and getting up with the sun, but in the middle of the city in the 20th century, this is very difficult. Instead, it would be wise to become sensitive to the nature within yourself. If you're doing something you don't feel comfortable doing, don't do it anymore.
The 20th century brings with it levels of stress and pain that have never been encountered in the past. However, because of the unique multi-cultural interactions available within modern society, we can also benefit from incredible ancient treatments such as Chinese medicine for these contemporary disorders.
