Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
By Dr. Daxa Vaishnav
http://www.drvaishnav.com/Mrs. ABC, 35 years old, came
to me complaining of extreme swings in her mood, introspection and suicidal thoughts. What
perturbed her was that these symptoms were recurrent and appeared seven to ten days before
her menses and she would be normal two to three weeks after her periods.Mrs. XYZ consulted me with a
fear that she had a cancer of the breasts- she had pain and swelling in the breasts about a
week before the menses.Ms. PQRS, a young girl of
eighteen, feels so miserable due to her pimples that she refuses to go to college a few days
prior to her menses.What is common to all these
three patients is a syndrome that is present before the menses, called the Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) or Pre-Menstrual Tension. One can
label a person as suffering from PMS if a group of symptoms recurs in the same fashion and
is relieved with the appearance of the menses. Its onset varies from just a few hours before
menses to six to ten days before the periods.What is the cause?
This is apparently caused by water retention in the body. The other factor that is thought to
be responsible for this condition is extreme sensitiveness to the
fluctuations in the hormonal
levels which are in turn sensitive to psychological conditions like anxiety,
emotional instability, and domestic stress to name a few.What are the symptoms?
The patient can have physical as
well as psychological symptoms.The physical symptoms can
be varied:Migraine headaches
Sinusitis and upper respiratory tract infections
Painful swelling of the breasts
Acne
Abdominal distension
Constipation
Pelvic discomfort
Frequent urination
Gain in weightThe psychological symptoms
are manifested as:Lassitude, malaise and tiredness
Extreme moodiness and touchiness
Irritability
Emotional outbursts
Sleep disturbances
Depression
Suicidal and homicidal tendenciesHow can it be controlled?
Adopting a healthy lifestyle that
includes regular exercise and a proper diet will help control the symptoms.What are the changes required in the diet?
Low in salt and sugar, esp. before the menses
High in fiber content
Intake of Soya bean preparations
Restriction of caffeine- coffee, tea, cola drinks, etc.
Calcium supplements to reduce the cramps during the menses
Vitamins E and the B complexHow can homeopathy help?
Constitutional treatment by a good
and qualified homeopath will surely help in PMS. This will require a detailed history,
followed by the prescription of a remedy that would be based not only on the patient’s
physical symptoms but also on her life situation and mental state.Below are some of the
homeopathic remedies useful in PMS:Calcarea carbonica is a pale, fat,
flabby person who cannot tolerate the cold. She sweats easily from the slightest exertion.
Her symptoms may be the result of emotions, worries, and vexations. She is mentally tired
and full of anxiety. She is worried that others would observe her mental weakness and that
people look at her with suspicion. She is also full of fears that something sad or terrible
would happen. She craves eggs and sweets. Her menses are early, profuse and long lasting (an
internal examination may reveal fibroids or polyps of the uterus). She has pains in the
breast, leucorrhoea, chilliness and headache before the menses. There is a sensation of a
weight on the top of the head, with nausea and cold hands and feet.Graphites is useful in persons who are
morbidly fat with a tendency towards constipation and delayed menses. She is in extreme
mental depression, which is made worse by listening to music. She is indecisive and her
moods change constantly. She recalls the events of her youth, but recent events are
forgotten. She has a great aversion to sweets in her diet. Her menses are late or irregular,
pale and scanty. Sometimes she has leucorrhoea instead of menses. Her premenstrual symptoms
are varied- colds and cough, hoarseness of the voice, headaches, nausea, itching of the
vulva, weight gain and edema of the feet, and leucorrhoea.Kali carbonicum is a whimsical and
irritable person. She appears to be quarrelsome- quarrels with her family and with people at
work. She is extremely anxious and fearful. She cannot remain alone. This person is
sensitive to every atmospheric change and cannot tolerate cold weather. Weakness, sweating
and backache best describe her physical troubles. She has profuse menses and there is often
a continuous flow of blood till the next cycle. Before the periods she feels very sad and is
very hot and uncomfortable.Pulsatilla is a mild, gentle and yielding
person. She is extremely touchy and weeps easily. She likes fuss and caresses and is
relieved by sympathy and consolation. All her symptoms have appeared since she first started
menstruating. She is thirst less, though her lips and mouth are dry. She dislikes and cannot
tolerate food that is rich and full of fats. Her menses are irregular and lend to be
delayed. The flow is thick, scanty, dark, clotted, intermittent and changeable. She will
complain of pain in the breast before, and diarrhea during and after the menses.Lac caninum is very forgetful. She makes
mistakes in writing. She is sad and believes her disease is incurable. The menses are too
early and are profuse and in gushes. The breasts swell up before the menses and are very
painful. They cannot tolerate the slightest jar and she must support them with her hands
while walking. She also has a headache before menstruation with a blurred vision, nausea and
vomiting at the height of the attack. Sore throat and cough often accompany menstruation.
The pains are erratic and symptoms have a tendency to alternate sides.Conium is a remedy for spinsters, widows
and old maids. There is a history of repressed sexual desire or overindulgence. She is
depressed, timid and has an aversion to meeting people. Every excitement causes mental
depression. She takes no interest in anything, be it business or study. Her menses are
delayed and scanty, and the parts are sensitive. The breasts enlarge and become painful
before and during the menses. There are stitching pains in the nipples and she wants to
press the breast hard with her hand.
Dr. Vijay
& Daxa Vaishnav 4 Indra Dhanush North Avenue, Santa
Cruz (West) Mumbai, 400054
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