PMS (Pre-menstrual syndrome) - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS is a set of symptoms that can be seen a week prior to your period. Its symptoms can be bloating, sore breasts, or sadness and irritability, or all at once. These symptoms can make your day-to-day tasks harder. It can be treated with lifestyle modifications and some medications. About 90% of all menstruating women experience PMS, and among them, about 25% have severe PMS, which can affect their daily routine.
What is premenstrual syndrome?
Pre-menstrual syndrome is a combination of physical and emotional symptoms like mood swings, bloating, etc., which happens 5-11 days before the period. It can happen due to hormonal changes taking place in the body, and it can be an indicator that your period is going to start. About 50% of women have more than one symptom of PMS. Once the period starts, the symptoms of PMS go away on their own and come back before the next period.
In Ayurveda, premenstrual syndrome is seen as a psycho-neuroendocrine disorder and called Rituvyateetakala Vyadhi, which happens due to an imbalance in the three doshas, primarily the Vata dosha, and causes symptoms like fatigue, irritation, bloating, and anxiety. Ayurveda focuses on balancing dosha through diet changes, herbs, and lifestyle modification.
Causes of premenstrual syndrome
According to Ayurveda, the premenstrual syndrome is caused by the imbalance in doshas and other factors like-
- Vata imbalance- This causes pain, mood swings, anxiety, and trouble getting asleep (insomnia).
- Pitta imbalance- This causes irritation, anger, acne, tender breasts, and flashes of heat.
- Kapha imbalance- This causes weight gain, water retention, and fatigue.
- Other conditions- Other causes include improper diet, lack of exercise, accumulation of Ama (toxins), and stress.
According to modern medicine, there is no confirmed cause for premenstrual syndrome, and it can be caused by hormonal changes that take place in the body before the menstrual cycle starts. At the time of ovulation, estrogen and progesterone hormone levels rise, and after the period starts, the levels of the hormones go down in a few days, and just before the next period, their levels rise again. These hormonal changes can cause premenstrual syndrome and are different for different people.
Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome vary from person to person and can be divided into two groups: physical symptoms and emotional symptoms.
Physical symptoms-
Common physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome are-
- Pain in the pelvis
- Bloating
- Acne on the face
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Fatigue
- Tender breasts
- Headache
Emotional symptoms
Emotional symptoms that indicate PMS are-
- Irritation
- Mood swings
- Food cravings
- Insomnia
- Ups and downs in sex drive
- Concentration issues
- Feeling sad, angry, anxious, or like crying
These are all the symptoms that indicate that you may have premenstrual syndrome. Before moving to treatment, you should first consult a health care provider and get diagnosed.
Diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome
To diagnose premenstrual syndrome, doctors may ask a number of questions about your period and the symptoms, such as “How severe are the symptoms?” “When do they happen?” and “When do they fade?”Etc. They may also ask about your medical history and medications you are taking to see if you have anything other than premenstrual syndrome. They will also ask about your family’s medical history.
In Ayurveda, the diagnosis of PMS takes place by the following methods-
- Health care providers will ask questions about your menstrual cycle, the occurrence and severity of the symptoms, your diet, and lifestyle habits.
- Diagnosis also takes place by Nadi parikshan, which helps determine the specific dosha that is causing PMS.
- Checking for blockages in the Artava vaha srota or reproductive channels also helps in diagnosing PMS.
>After diagnosis, the doctors will suggest treatment according to your symptoms and their severity.
Treatment of premenstrual syndrome
Treatment of PMS primarily includes medication, diet, lifestyle changes, and herbal medication. In Ayurveda, treatment is focused on balancing the three doshas, removing Ama, and improving Agni.
In Ayurveda
Ayurveda’s holistic approach is focused on treating the disease from the root cause and bringing overall balance to the body and mind. Treatment is done through various Ayurvedic therapies, herbs, formulations, diet changes, and lifestyle changes.
- Therapies- Therapies include panchkarma, shirodhara, and thalam-
- Panchkarma therapy includes treatments like Virechana (purgation) and Basti (medicated enema), which remove accumulated toxins (Ama) from the reproductive channels (srotas).
- Shirodhara involves rhythmic pouring of a liquid containing Brahmi Siddha Ksheer on the forehead. This therapy aims to improve mood and reduce anxiety.
- Thalam- This is a process in which medicated paste is applied to the forehead(crown of head not forehead) to treat neurological symptoms.
- Herbal Formulations- Key herbal formulations used in the treatment are Ashoka, which acts as a uterine tonic and helps maintain menstrual flow, Drakshadi kashayam, which helps in treating pitta-related disorders, and Kalayanaka kashayam, which is used in the treatment of emotional and psychological symptoms.
- Medication- Herbal medications like Brahmi, Dashmoola tea, and Ashwagandha help in the treatment of anxiety, mood swings, headache, and insomnia. Medications like Sukumara ghritam, Aloe vera gel, and Shatvari help in the treatment of Acne, irritation, hot flashes, and anger. Cherries and Trikatu help in the treatment of bloating, weight gain, depression, and low energy levels.
- Diet and lifestyle changes- Eating warm, freshly cooked food that is easily digestible helps in recovery. Foods that contain caffeine, alcohol, excess salt, and spicy and processed foods should be avoided. Incorporating spices like cumin, coriander, and fennel helps in digestion and reduces bloating. Daily exercise, yoga, and self-massage also help overcome the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
In modern medicine
Most cases of PMS have mild symptoms which can be treated with some OTC (over the counter) medication, but some severe symptoms need medications like-
- NSAIDs- It stands for Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which help reduce menstrual cramps and breast pain.
- Birth control medication- Hormonal birth control stops the process of ovulation, and some physical symptoms disappear.
- Anti-anxiety medicine- These medications help in the treatment of emotional symptoms of PMS.
Along with these, medication, diet, and lifestyle changes are also necessary as they work well with treatments. At Gynocci, you can find every Ayurvedic treatment for all the diseases related to female reproductive health and fertility issues. Doctors at Gynocci give personalized suggestions for treatment and self-care. All the treatments here are based on Ayurveda therapies and herbs.
FAQs
How long does PMS last before your period?
The symptoms of PMS start showing up 1-2 weeks before the period starts and can fade after 3-4 days after ovulation. It peaks around 2 days before the period, and symptoms and severity may vary from person to person.
How to reduce PMS mood swings immediately?
To reduce mood swings, you can-
- change your diet by eliminating high sugar, salt, caffeine, and alcohol, and replacing them with carbohydrates and proteins.
- Do daily exercise and yoga to calm your mind.
- Meditate
What foods are good for PMS?
You should add magnesium, carbohydrates, proteins, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, which you can get from fish, fresh green leafy vegetables, seeds, and nuts.
Is PMS a serious problem?
Pre-menstrual syndrome is quite common, and it affects every 3 out of 4 menstruating women. It is a treatable condition, but if the symptoms are severe, it can disrupt daily routine and work.
