by JLGerardo
Do you go haywire on some days in a month for no apparent reason? Chances are, you do. And you are not alone. Every month, many women like you experience an onslaught of varied symptoms a week or so before menstruation. You feel miserable during this period. You writhe in pain, toss to and fro in bed, feel flushed and show restlessness throughout the day. After a few days, the symptoms disappear and you’re back in your old happy self once again.

Symptoms of PMS

Premenstrual syndrome inflicts various symptoms, but the most common ones are the following:

• a sudden rash of acne break out in the face
• breast swelling
• insomnia
• feeling weak and tired with no reason at all
• headaches, backaches, stomachaches, and other body pains
• muscle and joint pains
• irritability or abrupt mood changes
• loss of concentration
• unexplained anxiety

Causes of Premenstrual Syndrome

While there is not yet a definite finding on the cause of PMS, researchers charge premenstrual syndrome to the woman’s hormonal changes during their menstrual cycle. Since each woman has varying amount of hormone, this explains why some women experience severe symptoms while others don’t.

Ayurveda believes the symptoms of ailments, like pre-menstrual syndrome, are results of imbalance in body’s metabolism. During PMS, a woman experiences severe mental anguish because of excess wind element or vata. Treatment should therefore involve restoring this imbalance.

On the other hand, if she feels hot and flushed during her premenstrual days, ayurveda treats it as a mounting of pitta. This imbalance causes restlessness and mood swings.

For those women who display more earthly elements imbalance or kapha during their PMS, they’d feel weak, and get tired easily at the slightest physical efforts. These women feel heavy and succumb to prolonged sleeping hours.

Ayurvedic Treatment for PMS

Because there is an imbalance, Ayurveda treats PMS by restoring balance according to the particular features of symptoms.

• For those who are more vata or suffer from anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia, find a quiet corner and meditate in total silence. Turn off the radio and the TV, as well as your cell phone. Keep all distractions away. Meditation restores imbalance by relaxing the nerves and help people get the needed self. Meditation does wonders to your troubled mind. If you like, you can perform some yoga exercises. These yoga poses relax your body and your mind and help restore balance in your system. To further relax your body and induce you to sleep, drink some calming herbal teas. You can usually find these types of teas in your local herbal stores. If you don’t have these teas available, drinking a glass of warm milk will do.
• The pitta type should eat cooler fruits like ripe melons, mangoes, and papayas as well as vegetables to dissipate excess body heat. Drink lots of water. Stay away from hamburgers, hotdogs, or sandwiches stuffed with eggs or cheese. These Western meat and dairy foods will further compound the imbalance in your system. Opt for health foods instead. You can also do some breathing exercise which can significantly ease up your PMS symptoms.
• For the kapha imbalance, engage in activities that will lighten your system. Do some light stretches or simple calisthenics. If you are up to it, pop a slow jazz CD in your stereo and perform some light warm-ups or dance steps to combat your body’s heaviness. Doing Pilates also helps. So does going ballroom dancing with your friends. The aim is to keep your body moving.

Above all, maintain a positive outlook in life. Don’t overwhelm yourself with the pressures of work and other temporary concerns that could lead to undue stress. Take a breath of fresh air. Walk with your pet dog in the park. Nod and smile to people. Keeping a happy disposition in life goes a long way in minimizing PMS

What To Avoid

• Avoid stressful situation because this aggravates PMS.
• Avoid salty, oily, or sugary foods, especially junk foods.
• Don’t smoke.
• Avoid coffee and any alcoholic drinks during PMS.
• Eating meat and dairy products cause excess female hormones that could lead to PMS. Select dosher meats and organic foods instead.
• Don’t sit alone in one corner. Go out, visit your friends and relatives, and bond with them through wholesome activities like cooking or gardening.