PMS
Orient Medicine Acupuncture & Massage Clinic
at Downtown Calgary Tower Professional Centre
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PMS
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Located downtown Calgary. Registered Acupuncturist. Member of Alberta Association of Traditional Chinese Medical Doctors.
Please pardon our Chinese English,
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What is PMS?Premenstrual syndrome is a
constellation of symptoms that occurs prior to menstruation and is severe enough
to interfere significantly with the patient’s life. DSM-IV diagnosis is
premenstrual dysmorphic disorder when the dominant symptoms are emotional. PMS was regarded as a
psychological problem in the past, but researchers now believe it is an organic
disorder, although they are uncertain as to what triggers it. Common PMS symptoms are depressed
mood, mood swings, irritability, difficult concentrating, fatigue, edema, breast
tenderness, headaches, abdominal bloating, cramps, constipation, joint and/or
muscle pain, food craving especially for salt and sweet & sleep
disturbances. Other non-common symptoms may include acne, palpitations, urinary
frequency, increased thirst... PMS disappears after menopause
and may continue after hysterectomy. Back to Top
What causes PMS?Unknown to western medicine. It is presumed hormonal imbalance perhaps interacting with neurotransmitters. In traditional Chinese medicine, it may be a manifestation of underlying conditions from emotional disturbance, improper modern life style & diet or congenital constitutional deficiency. Back to Top
Who is at risk of PMS?
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Self-Management tips for PMS.
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How does acupuncture work on PMS?Different studies have shown acupuncture effects on regulating hormone secretion, neurotransmitter activities & metabolism functions. It may be the possible mechanism behind this ancient remedy since we do not fully understand it yet. Back to Top
Researches on acupuncture treating
PMS.
There are numerous experiments and researches done through out the decade. Recent research published November 2002, in the "Archive of Obstetrics and Gynecology", concluded that 77.8% women receiving acupuncture for symptoms of PMS (including anxiety, phobic disorders, premenstrual headache, mastalgia, insomnia, nausea and gastrointestinal problems) had a significant success rate, whereas only 5.9% in the placebo group benefited from treatment. PMID: 12410369 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Back to Top
Does it work for me?There are a lot of people benefited from acupuncture treatment for PMS in North America, Europe & China. World Health Organization (WHO) also recognizes PMS is treatable by acupuncture. It is certainly a reasonable natural modality that has its potential to help especially for those who do not respond well to pharmaceutical drugs. However, like pharmaceutical drugs, “It works for many” doesn’t exactly mean “it works for you”. As for you, there is only one way to find out... Back to Top
How many sessions would I need? How much does it cost?Although pain relief sometimes
can be obtained right after the session, it is more realistic to expect a
long-term process to make a more permanent resolution if the condition has been
chronic. A thorough modification of life style and diet would certainly reduce
the number of treatment. We charge $60 per acupuncture session. It is covered by most of the company group benefit but not by Alberta Health Care Insurance. There is a $15 initial consultation fee at the first time of visit. All fees above are subject to change without notice. Please call 233-0498 for current rate. Back to Top
Does acupuncture hurt?Most of the acupuncture points don’t hurt because the needles used in acupuncture are hair-fine needles. Patients will have a mosquito bite feelings instead. This sensation is subtle for most people. There are some points tend to be more sensitive than the others. We would do it carefully to avoid any discomforts. Back to Top
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