In this article, I share with you some information concerning treatment for Premenstrual Syndrome and hormonal imbalance, how it affects women and how I work in practice to help clients suffering from the symptoms of this condition.
Treatment for Premenstrual Syndrome – What is PMS
PMS / Premenstrual Syndrome is the name given to the range of symptoms that can affect a woman up to 2 weeks before the start of her period. PMS affects most women at one point in their life and for some can be extremely painful; physically, emotionally and mentally. According to the NHS 1 in 20 women experience symptoms that are severe enough to stop them living their normal lives.
Treatment for Premenstrual Syndrome – The effects of PMS / Hormonal imbalance
The effects of PMS can be acute for some women and will vary from person to person some of the more common symptoms include;
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Depression
- Abdominal pain
- Leg pain
- Water retention
- Breast pain
- Food cravings
N.B This list is by no means exhaustive!
Self-help tips to PMS and Hormonal imbalance
Some self-help tips that may help with chronic pain include;
- Start practising meditation and or mindfulness
- Do some gentle stretching and or Yoga
- Practice the constructive rest position daily to lengthen your Psoas muscle
- Gently massage your K1 and K27 points to balance your Kidney energy
- Consider supplementation of specific vitamins and minerals such as specific B vitamins and Magnesium.
For more information on self-help tips have a look at my website or drop me an email.
Treatment for Premenstrual Syndrome – How I can help with PMS
I have worked with many women experiencing PMS and varying degrees of hormonal imbalance over the years. What I have found is that certain Bowen procedures combined with lifestyle changes and some nutritional tweaks can make a significant difference to the symptoms these woman experience. I share below some specific procedures that I have used successfully in practice to treat PMS.
Treatment for Premenstrual Syndrome – The Bowen Pelvic procedure:
One of the procedures that I have found to be hugely beneficial for women struggling with pain and the associated problems during the time of their period is The Pelvic Procedure. This helps the whole pelvis stabilise and balance and usually done over several weeks can and will result in lasting balance in the pelvic structure. Often the muscles supporting the pelvis are very tight and can be contracted in women struggling with cramping. Releasing these along with the fascial trains connected to them will bring deep relaxation and will often alleviate painful symptoms.
Treatment for Premenstrual Syndrome – The Bowen Kidney procedure:
This procedure can address the Kidneys directly at a physical level to treat problems in this area. It will also work on a subtle level addressing the Kidney meridian. This procedure is often very important when treating PMS and hormonal imbalance as Kidney energy is often depleted in individuals struggling. In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) our kidneys are where we store our vital energy and general vitality. The balance of kidney energy is crucial and essential to good overall health and balance. When the kidneys are well the qi or energy in a person is balanced and well and this qi / energy can be distributed as it is needed. When the kidneys are damaged this ability to distribute qi / energy becomes impaired.
Treatment for Premenstrual Syndrome – The Bowen Psoas procedure:
The Psoas pronounced (so-as) is a deep core muscle approximately 16 inches long, it directly links the ribcage to the trunk and legs on both sides of the body. The Psoas has many functions to perform and when it is contracted and not fully lengthened or engaged it can have a de-stabilising effect on the pelvic structure. This is turn can have significant implications for women experiencing PMS. In Bowen, I can either apply the Psoas procedure directly or work gently with the Psoas via applying the Pelvic and Kidney procedure. Balancing this muscle has helped many women become free of cramping and pain around the time of their menses. The balancing effect that this procedure has on the body as a whole will have a much deeper impact upon an individual. Often people feel a deep sense of relaxation and peace once the Psoas is balanced.
In practice
I treat everyone holistically and individually. I will take a detailed consultation from you before we start with a course of treatment. Whilst I mostly always use The Bowen Technique to treat clients these days I will also use my Kinesiology training to offer advice on remedies or nutritional and other lifestyle changes that may help with whatever you are struggling with. It may also be applicable to treat with Kinesiology where there are significant emotional or other issues to be dealt with. You will also probably have some homework to do which will support what we do in the treatment!