Conditions A-Z
Acupuncture Clinic
Find an Acupuncturist
Herbal Remedies
Diet & Nutrition
Chi Gong &Tai Chi
Chinese Medicine Basics
Patient Testimonials
Animal Acupuncture
Store

Syndromes A-Z
AcuPoint Locator
Herbology
Practice Building
CEUs/Events
Employment
Study Acupuncture
Acupuncture Schools
Research
Reference Library
Laws & Regulations
Practitioner Store

Points Newsletter
Catalog Requests
Contact Us
About Acupuncture.Com
Privacy Policy

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Acupuncture.Com accepts article contributions. Email submissions to contact@acupuncture.com

FIND AN ACUPUNCTURIST

Subscribe

Pre-Menstrual Tension Syndrome, or PMS

Key Diagnostic Points:

1. Pre-menstrual syndrome includes a series of symptoms which appears before the menstruation.

2. These may include depression, sadness, irritability, crying, propensity toward outburst of anger, distention and pain in the abdomen and breasts, headache and dizziness, restlessness and insomnia, distention in sternocostal region, edema, diarrhea, general malaise.

Differential Diagnosis:

1. Stagnation of Liver Qi
Abdominal and breast distention and pain before the period, irritability, clumsiness, moodiness, depression, hypochondriac pain and distention, dizziness, headache, tendency to anger.

Tongue: Dark red (Dark red, purple suggest stagnation)
Pulse: Wiry

2. Phlegm fire harassing upwards Agitation, depression, slightly manic behavior, aggressiveness, a feeling of oppression of the chest, a red face, blood shot eyes.

Tongue: Red with greasy yellow coat.
Pulse: Slippery and rapid

3. Deficiency of Heart and Spleen Premenstrual palpitations, restless sleep, lack of vitality with general weakness, cold limbs, excessive thin clear leukorrhea.

Tongue: Pale with white coat
Pulse: Deep and thready

4. Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency Slight breast distention and irritability before the period, sore back and knees, dizziness, blurred vision, poor memory, insomnia, dry eyes and throat, five center heat.

Tongue: Red without coat
Pulse: Thready

5. Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Slight premenstrual tension with depression, slight abdominal and breast distention, premenstrual edema in the face and limbs, dizziness, listlessness, drowsiness, loss of appetite, loose stool, lassitude in the loins and legs.

Tongue: Pale and swollen with teeth marks, moist white coat
Pulse: Deep and thready

Treatment Principle:

1. Stagnation of Liver Qi
Soothe the Liver, eliminate stagnation, remove obstruction in the channels to promote blood circulation.

2. Phlegm fire harassing upwards
Resolve phlegm, clear heat, calm the mind.

3. Deficiency of Heart and Spleen
Nourish the Heart to calm the mind, reinforce the Spleen to remove dampness.

4. Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency
Nourish the Liver and Kidney Yin

5. Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Strengthen the Spleen and warm the Kidney

Point and Technique Prescription:

1. Stagnation of Liver Qi

SJ 5, GB 41, Liv 3
All these points soothe the Liver and eliminate stagnation.

GB 34 He sea point of the GB, specifically treats the hypochondrial region.
Sp 6 Helps the soothe the Liver Qi and strengthen Spleen

2. Phlegm fire harassing upwards

Ren 6, Ren 12, St 25
The four doors to resolve phlegm.

Sp 9 Removes damp to help resolve the phlegm
St 40 To resolve phlegm

PC 7 Yuan source point of the PC channel, calms Shen.
Du 24 Calms Shen

St 8 Resolves phlegm from the head, calms Shen.

L.I. 11 Clears heat.

Sp 4 and PC 6 A pair of confluent points which regulate the Chong channel.

3. Deficiency of Heart and Spleen

UB 15 Heart Shu Nourishes Heart
Ht 7 Yuan source point of Heart Channel to calm Shen.

UB 20 Spleen Shu Nourishes the Spleen
Sp 6 Strengthens Spleen
St 36 Strengthens Spleen
Sp 9 Removes dampness

4. Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency

Kid 3 Yuan source to nourish Kidney Yin
Liv 3 Yuan source to nourish Liver Yin
Lu 7 Nourishes Yin
Kid 6 Nourishes Yin
Sp 6 Nourishes Yin

5. Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency

UB 23 Moxa to tonify and warm Kidney Yang
Ren 4 Moxa to tonify and warm Kidney Yang
Du 4 Moxa to tonify and warm Kidney Yang

UB 20 Strengthens Spleen
St 36 Strengthens Spleen
Sp 6 Strengthens Spleen

For more on PMS, please see: http://acupuncture.com/Acup/Winds.htm

More from Dr. Ma at: Acuherbsonline.com

Menstruation Formula

Balances Menstrual Cycle & Relieves Pain

Women's Wellness

Supports Women's Unique Health Needs

Passages PMS & Menopause Capsules

A Special Formula to Help Balance and Fortify a Woman's Body

Blood Builder / Fatigue

Nourishes the Blood & Increases Energy

Enduring Youth  Tablets

A Special Formula that Nourishes and Balances the Body

Feminine Desire Yin/Yang Tonic

Libido Enhancement for Women

Self-Healing Chi Gong

Strengthen & Balance the Mind and Body

Creative Feminine Balance Tea

A Delicate Herbal Tea Blend that Nourishes and Balances the Body