Homeopathy Remedies for P.M.S ( Pre Menstrual Syndrome)
Pre Menstrual syndrome (PMS) is the term used to describe a group of physical or behavioral changes that some women go through before their menstrual periods begin every month. PMS can produce discomfort in different parts of the body and cause unpleasant emotional feelings.
PMS is a recurrent set of physical and/or behavioural symptoms that occurs 7-14 days before a period and negatively impacts some aspect of a woman’s life
There have been over 150 (seriously!) symptoms of PMS identified. Some of the most common include:
Symptoms-
·
For reasons that remain unclear, these physical
discomforts or mood changes begin at various times near the end of the menstrual
cycle and usually disappear after a woman has begun her menstrual period. They
reappear at about the same time each month.
·
The
degree of discomfort from PMS varies with each individual.
Most women with PMS have symptoms that cause a mild or moderate degree of
distress. In about 10 percent of all women with PMS, symptoms may be severe.
·
PMS can have a major impact on a woman's life.
On the job or at home, a woman may not be able to function as well when
symptoms occur. Problems caused by PMS may trigger marital and family
conflicts. A woman may become less outgoing socially and avoid friends when
symptoms occur.
Low energy
Mood changes – anger, crying, irritability, anxiety, depression, bitchiness
Food cravings
Headache
Low sex drive
Breast tenderness
Digestive upset – constipation, bloating, diarrhea, gas
Difficulty sleeping
Low energy
Mood changes – anger, crying, irritability, anxiety, depression, bitchiness
Food cravings
Headache
Low sex drive
Breast tenderness
Digestive upset – constipation, bloating, diarrhea, gas
Difficulty sleeping
·
Women who have PMS can be helped. Education is
the most important step in understanding this condition. Certain treatments can
be useful in some women. A number of changes that cause various degrees of
discomfort have been found in women with PMS:
·
Physical Changes - bloating, weight gain, breast
soreness, abdominal swelling, headache, clumsiness, constipation, swollen hands
and feet, and fatigue.
Estrogen is produced throughout the month by the ovaries, adrenal glands and fat cells. It main action is growth – growth of breast tissue in puberty, and growth of the endometrial lining in the uterus during menstrual cycles.
Progesterone is produced during the second half of the menstrual cycle – after ovulation – by the ovaries. Progesterone helps to balance the effects of estrogen and prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy.
A too high estrogen level, or a too low progesterone level is thought to be the most likely cause of PMS symptoms in most women. This state, commonly called “estrogen dominance” is the most common hormone imbalance in women between the ages of 15 and 50. Estrogen dominance is becoming more common in North America due to increasing exposure to xenoestrogens (chemicals in our environment that mimic estrogen), high rates of obesity, decreased ability of our livers to detoxify and overwhelming amounts of stress.
The important thing to remember with PMS and hormone balance is that it is the relationship and balance of estrogen and progesterone that leads to symptoms. You may have normal levels of estrogen, but if your progesterone is low you will still experience symptoms. Progesterone levels are low in women who do not ovulate, and in those with significant stress (your body will convert progesterone into cortisol, leaving you deficient in much-needed progesterone)
Remedies-Hormone Imbalances in PMS
The relationship between estrogen and progesterone is one of the most important hormone balances in a woman’s body. Imbalance in estrogen and progesterone levels is thought to be the primary cause of PMS.Estrogen is produced throughout the month by the ovaries, adrenal glands and fat cells. It main action is growth – growth of breast tissue in puberty, and growth of the endometrial lining in the uterus during menstrual cycles.
Progesterone is produced during the second half of the menstrual cycle – after ovulation – by the ovaries. Progesterone helps to balance the effects of estrogen and prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy.
A too high estrogen level, or a too low progesterone level is thought to be the most likely cause of PMS symptoms in most women. This state, commonly called “estrogen dominance” is the most common hormone imbalance in women between the ages of 15 and 50. Estrogen dominance is becoming more common in North America due to increasing exposure to xenoestrogens (chemicals in our environment that mimic estrogen), high rates of obesity, decreased ability of our livers to detoxify and overwhelming amounts of stress.
The important thing to remember with PMS and hormone balance is that it is the relationship and balance of estrogen and progesterone that leads to symptoms. You may have normal levels of estrogen, but if your progesterone is low you will still experience symptoms. Progesterone levels are low in women who do not ovulate, and in those with significant stress (your body will convert progesterone into cortisol, leaving you deficient in much-needed progesterone)
1. Lachesis
[Lach]
Intense hot flashes with red or
purplish flushing, palpitations, and feelings of pressure, congestion, and
constriction may indicate a need for this remedy. Tight clothing around the
neck and waist may be impossible to tolerate. A woman needing Lachesis
is often very talkative, with strong emotions (often including jealousy and
suspicion) a "pressure-cooker" needing an outlet both physically and
emotionally.
2. Lilium
tigrinum [Lil Tig]
A woman likely to respond to this
remedy feels hurried, anxious, and very emotional with a tendency to fly into
rages and make other people "walk on eggs." She often has a sensation
of tightness in her chest, and a feeling as if her pelvic organs are pressing
out, which can make her feel a need to sit a lot or cross her legs.
3. Natrum
muriaticum [Nat Mur]
A woman who needs this remedy may
seem reserved, but has strong emotions that she keeps inside. She often feels
deep grief and may dwell on the loss of happy times from the past or brood
about hurts and disappointments. During PMS, she can have mood swings
accompanied by backaches or migraines. A person who needs this remedy usually
craves salt, and feels worse from being in the sun.
4. Pulsatilla
[Puls]
A person who needs this remedy is
usually soft and emotional, with changeable moods and a tendency toward tears.
Women are very attached to their families and find it hard to bear the thought
of the children growing up and leaving home. They usually feel deeply insecure
about getting older. A fondness for desserts and butter can often lead to
weight problems. Changeable moods, irregular periods, queasy feelings,
alternating heat and chills, and lack of thirst are common. Aggravation from
stuffy rooms and improvement in open air may confirm the choice of Pulsatilla.
5. Sepia
[Sep]
This remedy can be helpful if a
woman’s periods are sometimes late and scanty, but heavy and flooding at other
times. Her pelvic organs can feel weak and sagging, and she may have a craving
for vinegar or sour foods. Women who need this remedy usually feel dragged-out
and weary, with an irritable detachment regarding family members, and a loss of
interest in daily tasks. Exercise, especially dancing, may brighten up the
woman’s mood and improve her energy.
6. Ignatia
[Ign]
Ignatia is often helpful for
emotional ups and downs occurring during PMS. The woman will be very sensitive,
but may try to hide her feelings seeming guarded and defensive, moody, or
hysterical. Headaches, muscle spasms, and menstrual cramps can occur, along
with irregular periods. A heavy feeling in the chest, a tendency to sigh and
yawn, and sudden outbursts of tears or laughter are strong indications for Ignatia.
7. Graphites
[Graph]
A woman who is chilly, pale, and
sluggish with trouble concentrating and a tendency toward weight gain during or
after periods is likely to respond to this remedy. Hot flushing and sweats at
night are often seen. A person who needs this remedy may also have a tendency
toward skin problems with oozing cracked eruptions, and be very slow to become
alert when waking in the morning.
8.
Staphysagria [Staph]
A person who needs this remedy
usually seems mild-mannered, shy, and accommodating, but has many suppressed
emotions. Women around the time of PMS may become depressed, or have outbursts
of unaccustomed rage (even throwing or breaking things). Many people needing Staphysagria
have deferred to a spouse for many years, or have experienced abuse in
childhood.
9. Sulphur
[Sulph]
This remedy is often helpful for hot
flashes and flushing during Pre Menstrual syndrome, when the woman
wakes in the early morning hours and throws the covers off. She may be very
anxious, weep a lot, and worry excessively about her health. A person needing Sulphur often is
mentally active (or even eccentric), inclined toward messy habits, and usually
feels worse from warmth.