| Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the most common | | | | ability to regulate itself. Bupleurum and Rehmannia are |
| disorder for women during their reproductive years, | | | | two traditional Chinese herbs which have clinically |
| but it doesn't have to be. Asian cultures have been | | | | tested and proven liver tonifying properties. |
| using Chinese herbs as medicines to treat menstrual | | | | A recent study of 549 women in Australia |
| cycle related symptoms for centuries. Traditional | | | | documented results that the occurrence and severity |
| Chinese medicine addresses the imbalance of Qi in | | | | of PMS can be effectively reduced by the use of |
| the reproductive and other related organs and helps | | | | Chinese herbs. By restoring the imbalance in the |
| to re-establish the flow of Qi and bring a balance to | | | | reproductive system, Chinese herbal medicinals can |
| the body. This allows the body to function optimally | | | | prevent monthly menstrual cramps, depression, PMS, |
| without drugs or hormone pills such as a birth control. | | | | and abdominal pain. If you can remove the causes of |
| Often the underlying problem with PMS is the | | | | an over-active uterus and you can reduce the |
| hormonal imbalance. Estrogen levels are commonly | | | | monthly menstrual pain and PMS. NSAIDS only cover |
| too high in relation to progesterone levels. What's | | | | up your pain and can cause more harm to your liver |
| causing this imbalance? The most common cause is | | | | function. Chinese herbs work at the root of the |
| our diets. Hormones are sensitive and overeating and | | | | disharmony. |
| obesity often lead to conversion of androgens to | | | | To sum it up, keeping a healthy hormone balance is |
| estrogen by aromatase. | | | | essential throughout life and will undoubtedly also help |
| High fat diets, refined sugars and carbohydrates, | | | | PMS symptoms. Be in control of your body and how |
| processed foods and artificial sweeteners, dairy | | | | it functions. Give yourself healthy foods and plant |
| products and even commercially raised livestock are | | | | based medicinals like Chinese herbs and you'll naturally |
| all a source of estrogen exposure. Limiting our | | | | balance your body's energy and restore your body's |
| exposure of so called artificial or xeno-estrogens is | | | | natural balance. |
| not difficult, when eating a balanced healthy diet and | | | | Notes: "When the balance of Omega 3 and 6 fatty |
| hormone free meat Not surprising, exercise helps | | | | acids are off, it causes an inability of conversion from |
| keep the balance, whereas alcohol and constipation | | | | linoleic acid to GLA resulting in increasing the risk of |
| both disrupt the balance. | | | | over production of PGE2 and premenstrual pain and |
| Regulating hormone levels is a key component to | | | | cramps. |
| combating PMS and Chinese herbs can help maintain a | | | | REFERENCES |
| hormone balance through several methods. Many | | | | 1. Chinese herbal medicine for premenstrual syndrome |
| Chinese herbs have hormone enhancing properties. | | | | , Jing Z, Yang X, Ismail KMK, Chen X, Wu T, |
| One such herb is dang gui. Many studies have | | | | 2 Dijsselbloem N, Vanden Berghe W, De Naeyer A, |
| examined dang gui with a combination of herbs also | | | | Haegeman G. Soy isoflavonephyto-pharmaceuticals in |
| called herbal formulas, however, when studying a | | | | interleukin-6 affections. Multi-purpose nutraceuticals at |
| formula it difficult to determine which herbal | | | | the crossroad of hormone replacement, anti-cancer |
| ingredient causes certain effects. Yet, we know the | | | | and anti-inflammatory therapy.Biochem Pharmacol. |
| formulas or combination of herbs are very effective. | | | | 2004;68(6):1171-1185. estrogen disruptors induce |
| This root is also known as the "women's ginseng" an | | | | precocious puberty? Minerva Pediatr. 2006;58(3) |
| is indispensable for the reproductive system. Although | | | | 3. Lee JM, Appugliese D, Kaciroti N, Corwyn RF, |
| contradicting literature has been published on the | | | | Bradley RH, Lumeng JC. Weight statusin young girls |
| phytoestrogen content in dang gui, it does have a | | | | and the onset of puberty. Pediatrics. |
| plethora of well established and proven actions. In | | | | 2007;119(3):e624-e630. |
| TCM it is a blood tonic and has warming and | | | | 4.Steingraber S. Living Downstream: An Ecologist |
| dispersing actions. As an essential oil it's effective in | | | | Looks at Cancer and the Environment. Boston, Mass: |
| relieving menstrual pain. Numerous studies prove it's | | | | Addison Wesley Publishing Co; 1997. |
| blood nourishing and invigorating properties. Weakness | | | | 5. Wiksten-Almstromer M, Hirschberg AL, Hagenfeldt |
| due to monthly blood loss does take a toll on women | | | | K. Menstrual disorders and associated factors among |
| over time, so a healthy diet is imperative to | | | | adolescent girls visiting a youth clinic. Acta Obstet |
| replenishing blood that is lost each month. | | | | GynecolScand. 2007;86(1):65-72. |
| Chinese herbs and medicinal herbs containing a high | | | | 6. Halbreich U, Borenstein J, Pearlstein T, Kahn LS. |
| degrees of essential fatty acids also help maintain the | | | | The prevalence, impairment,impact, and burden of |
| natural hormonal balance within us. Some do this by | | | | premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMS |
| improving liver functions. It's imperative to help the | | | | PMDD).Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2003;28 Suppl |
| liver regulate the production of prostaglandins | | | | 3:1-23. |
| hormones and strengthen the livers ability to | | | | 7. Medical Herbology & Pharmacology by John K. |
| synthesize proteins and fat. This facilitates the bodies | | | | Chen, Tina T. |