How to Use Acupuncture to Manage PMS

Suffering from PMS is a real drag. During the luteal phase of a woman's cycle, bloating, irritability and food cravings may make life uncomfortable. This time of imbalance wreaks havoc and disorder on the body and mind. You may be interested to know that alternative methods of treatment exist for PMS. Chinese medicine embraces the idea of shifting energy to manage and mitigate many PMS symptoms.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Acupuncturist

Test Chinese Medicinal Theory to Treat PMS

1. Study Chinese medicine before beginning acupuncture. Develop a firm understanding of acupuncture principles and expectations.

2. Learn about Qi. Acupuncturists believe the body is a vast energy system or Qi.

3. Realize that Chinese medicine holds that the liver is specifically related to the pain of PMS. PMS acupuncture may be used to manage the proper release and direction of blocked energy, specifically in the liver and spleen.

4. Learn about and maintain the energy balance of your organs to prevent PMS pain in other areas.

5. Understand that acupuncture medicinal theory emphasizes that individual organs host a level of energy that flows on the meridian, a specific energy pathway at the surface of the body.

Investigate Acupuncture to Treat PMS

1. Contact your insurance provider to learn whether acupuncture is a covered service under your plan.

2. Visit YinYangHouse.com and research your area to find a licensed acupuncturist (see Resources below).

3. Arrange for a consultation with an acupuncturist in your area. Discuss your symptoms and possible outcomes with the practitioner.

4. Set up a treatment plan. This may involve scheduling multiple sessions. Each session typically lasts for about 1 hour.

Learn What to Expect During Acupuncture Sessions

1. Expect the acupuncturist to use needles as the primary method of treatment. Thin, sterile needles will be set out before treatment.

2. Anticipate the tapping motions that gently direct needles through the skin at the specific points. This process is said to influence the flow of energy.

3. Expect to feel only a minimal amount of pain. Many acupuncturists use a tube guide to manage the insertion of the needles, minimizing discomfort.

4. Relax and use deep-breathing exercises while you are in treatment. Such exercises may help in managing symptoms of anxiety and reducing discomfort.

5. Stay with the treatment for at least 3 months to experience long-term relief from PMS.

Tips & Warnings

• Expect to pay moderate acupuncture fees on a per session basis.

• Never use acupuncture to treat medical emergencies. Call 911 if you are experiencing acute pain.