It’s that time of the month. How many times have you blamed your raging hormones and insane emotional distress on PMS. Chronic, disabling symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, low libido, acne, hives, cramping, bloating, massive weight fluctuation, severe headaches, body and breast pains, flu-like symptoms, and the list goes on and on and on are all commonly associated with this horrendous 5-12 days prior to a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Sure. That hormonal time of the month, may not be the most enjoyable and comfortable week; however, if you find that people constantly keep their distance from your due to your frantic irritability, you may be allowing PMS to get the best of you and your life. Good news is, there is something you can do! It is NOT normal to experience PMS symptoms so severe that you are required to alter your lifestyle for a week. It’s honestly not normal to experience symptoms at all! Any doctor that is shoving your medications to mask these symptoms, or administering synthetic hormonal balances to adjust your body is probably just making the issue worse and more severe in the long run. Instead of throwing synthetic hormones at my patients then sending them on their way until next month when things are even more messed up, I evaluate the main causes of the problem: Your nervous system, body composition, and dietary intake.

The main cause of PMS is elevated estrogen and lowered progesterone during menses time. When this ratio decreases, the endorphin (feel good chemical) secreted by the brain also decreases; which causes mood swings. Not only does high estrogen make us irritable, but it also makes us depressed by lowering the effects of B-vitamins in the body. High estrogen also increase sodium retaining hormone (aldosterone) which of course makes you retain water in your hands, ankles, and joints. As if this estrogen problem couldn’t get worse, high estrogen causes levels of prolactin to increase making our breast tender, sore, and fibrocystic! So what are women doing? About 50% of women with take OTC medications for symptoms, while others use stronger medical relief with prescription medications and synthetic hormonal replacers.

New research now acknowledges that nutrient deficiences, dietary patterns, and nervous system control are the major players in the intensity of PMS. Which makes me wonder, why aren’t physicians acknowledging this as well, and treating your PMS naturally? Is your diet high in sugar? Caffeine? Alcohol? What is your fiber content? How many animal fats and meats are you consuming on a regular basis? When is the last time you took a really great multivitamin? Do you even know what kinds of natural supplements can help to restore the estrogen to progesterone ratios to normal? Specific dietary supplements have proven PMS reducing properties such as black cohosh, B-vitamins, Vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, and plenty of other things specific to certain symptoms. Symptoms are merely your body screaming at your that something is off balance or just not right.

Chiropractic adjustments and therapy is also extremely beneficial for eliminating PMS by reducing cramping, low back, and muscles aches and pains all over the body. Controlled studies involving PMS sufferers that undergo chiropractic manipulation versus placebo adjustments found substantially significant improvements in the patients’ PMS symptoms for the group that received adjustments and soft tissue therapy. These treatments were done 2-3x in the week prior to menses are done over a year duration. Overall pain rating decreased, as well as overall attitudes and irritability being improved. When spinal dysfunction was looked at through a series of tests, it was found that women with severe PMS have 2-3 times more spinal dysfunction than women that do not get PMS symptoms. Why is this? Your nervous system functions everything in your body, as well as your hormones! So if your nerves are not functioning correctly, then do you really think your estrogen, progesterone, serotonin, thyroid, or insulin are function right either? Probably not. Optimal Chiropractic can help you get back balanced and regain a pain-free “time of the month”. Schedule your appointment today at 219-661-8680 and get back to your optimal health potential. Check out our new patient specials at www.crownpointchiro.com.