How Chinese Herbs Help PMS – The Modern World Plague

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the most common disorder for women during their reproductive years, but it doesn’t have to be. Asian cultures have been using Chinese herbs as medicines to treat menstrual cycle related symptoms for centuries. Traditional Chinese medicine addresses the imbalance of Qi in the reproductive and other related organs and helps to re-establish the flow of Qi and bring a balance to the body. This allows the body to function optimally without drugs or hormone pills such as a birth control.

Often the underlying problem with PMS is the hormonal imbalance. Estrogen levels are commonly too high in relation to progesterone levels. What’s causing this imbalance? The most common cause is our diets. Hormones are sensitive and overeating and obesity often lead to conversion of androgens to estrogen by aromatase.

High fat diets, refined sugars and carbohydrates, processed foods and artificial sweeteners, dairy products and even commercially raised livestock are all a source of estrogen exposure. Limiting our exposure of so called artificial or xeno-estrogens is not difficult, when eating a balanced healthy diet and hormone free meat Not surprising, exercise helps keep the balance, whereas alcohol and constipation both disrupt the balance.

Regulating hormone levels is a key component to combating PMS and Chinese herbs can help maintain a hormone balance through several methods. Many Chinese herbs have hormone enhancing properties. One such herb is dang gui. Many studies have examined dang gui with a combination of herbs also called herbal formulas, however, when studying a formula it difficult to determine which herbal ingredient causes certain effects. Yet, we know the formulas or combination of herbs are very effective. This root is also known as the “women’s ginseng” an is indispensable for the reproductive system. Although contradicting literature has been published on the phytoestrogen content in dang gui, it does have a plethora of well established and proven actions. In TCM it is a blood tonic and has warming and dispersing actions. As an essential oil it’s effective in relieving menstrual pain. Numerous studies prove it’s blood nourishing and invigorating properties. Weakness due to monthly blood loss does take a toll on women over time, so a healthy diet is imperative to replenishing blood that is lost each month.

Chinese herbs and medicinal herbs containing a high degrees of essential fatty acids also help maintain the natural hormonal balance within us. Some do this by improving liver functions. It’s imperative to help the liver regulate the production of prostaglandins hormones and strengthen the livers ability to synthesize proteins and fat. This facilitates the bodies ability to regulate itself. Bupleurum and Rehmannia are two traditional Chinese herbs which have clinically tested and proven liver tonifying properties.

A recent study of 549 women in Australia documented results that the occurrence and severity of PMS can be effectively reduced by the use of Chinese herbs. By restoring the imbalance in the reproductive system, Chinese herbal medicinals can prevent monthly menstrual cramps, depression, PMS, and abdominal pain. If you can remove the causes of an over-active uterus and you can reduce the monthly menstrual pain and PMS. NSAIDS only cover up your pain and can cause more harm to your liver function. Chinese herbs work at the root of the disharmony.

To sum it up, keeping a healthy hormone balance is essential throughout life and will undoubtedly also help PMS symptoms. Be in control of your body and how it functions. Give yourself healthy foods and plant based medicinals like Chinese herbs and you’ll naturally balance your body’s energy and restore your body’s natural balance.

Notes: “When the balance of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are off, it causes an inability of conversion from linoleic acid to GLA resulting in increasing the risk of over production of PGE2 and premenstrual pain and cramps.

REFERENCES

1. Chinese herbal medicine for premenstrual syndrome , Jing Z, Yang X, Ismail KMK, Chen X, Wu T,

2 Dijsselbloem N, Vanden Berghe W, De Naeyer A, Haegeman G. Soy isoflavonephyto-pharmaceuticals in interleukin-6 affections. Multi-purpose nutraceuticals at the crossroad of hormone replacement, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory therapy.Biochem Pharmacol. 2004;68(6):1171-1185. estrogen disruptors induce precocious puberty? Minerva Pediatr. 2006;58(3)

3. Lee JM, Appugliese D, Kaciroti N, Corwyn RF, Bradley RH, Lumeng JC. Weight statusin young girls and the onset of puberty. Pediatrics. 2007;119(3):e624-e630.

4.Steingraber S. Living Downstream: An Ecologist Looks at Cancer and the Environment. Boston, Mass: Addison Wesley Publishing Co; 1997.

5. Wiksten-Almstromer M, Hirschberg AL, Hagenfeldt K. Menstrual disorders and associated factors among adolescent girls visiting a youth clinic. Acta Obstet GynecolScand. 2007;86(1):65-72.

6. Halbreich U, Borenstein J, Pearlstein T, Kahn LS. The prevalence, impairment,impact, and burden of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMS/PMDD).Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2003;28 Suppl 3:1-23.

7. Medical Herbology & Pharmacology by John K. Chen, Tina T. Chen Art of Medicine Press, 2004

Cathy Margolin is a Licensed Acupuncturist in CA and has been certified as a Diplomat in Oriental Medicine from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She has specialized in Chinese Herbs and her company http://www.pacherbs.com caries high potency herbal products sold in individual packets which preserves potency. She has visited herb manufacturers in both China and Taiwan and has extensively researched Chinese herb processing. You have full permission to reprint this article provided this box is kept unchanged.

Technorati Tags: chinese medicine herb

Tags: chinese medicine herb