PMS

PMS: A Hormonal Imbalance

Premenstrual Syndrome describes a wide range of conditions, all of which have the characteristic of occurring cyclically with the menstrual cycle. The symptoms of PMS are usually worse immediately before the period. The hormone imbalance that underlies PMS can result in a range of symptoms, from ovarian pain to migraine headaches to irritability and mood instability. Additionally, some women experience these symptoms a few days before their period; some women have only a few good days/month, and feel out of sorts the majority of the time; occasionally women experience their symptoms only at ovulation or at some other time of the month.

In every true case of PMS, the symptoms are caused by a hormonal imbalance, which means the body is not properly regulating estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, testosterone, and the other hormones whose levels change continually throughout the month.

If you’ve been reading about PMS, you have probably heard a great deal about hormone imbalances, specifically about estrogen dominance, and very likely you’ve read about various tests that can be done for these hormones, as well as ways of treating PMS with “natural” hormone creams or pills.

Is Testing Your Hormones Necessary?

With very few exceptions, such testing and treatment is unnecessary. Treating with hormones overrides the body’s natural self-regulation, and assumes that your body’s self-regulation mechanism is damaged beyond repair (which is false) and that the practitioner/doctor/laboratory/pharmacy is better able to manage your hormones than your own body is. This is as true of the birth control pill as it is of progesterone creams and the like – none are able to bring your body and hormones into balance in the same way as your own natural self-regulation.

PMS and Hormonal Imbalance: Naturopathic Hope and Help

PMS can be treated with natural remedies such as western and Chinese herbs, classical homeopathy, nutritional supplementation, dietary changes, stress reduction, and acupuncture, all of which restore the body’s natural ability to self-regulate its hormones. It is this loss of self-regulation that results in PMS symptoms.

Other hormonal conditions such as painful periods (dysmenorrhea); ovarian cysts; uterine fibroids; endometriosis; irregular periods and excessive uterine bleeding, and others, can also be treated naturally, with the modalities mentioned above, restoring your body’s own self-healing and self-regulating capacity, without resorting to hormone treatment.

Most cases of PMS resolve quickly with natural treatment – most women experience nearly complete relief of symptoms within a few months, with a relatively simple regimen. Women who are experiencing problems directly related to the reproductive organs, such as fibroids or endometriosis also usually respond well, though the treatment can take somewhat longer to have the desired effect. Please explore the rest of this website, to learn more about the general philosophy and practice of naturopathic medicine. Of course, I am happy to meet with you to discuss your particular situation, and to explore with you how I can help you feel your best.