If you're running chilly around your period (the immune system takes a dip during this time) you may want to try an Ayurvedic technique of massaging yourself in toasted sesame oil before your shower. Let it soak in for 10 minutes, and then loofa off with a salt scrub. Its a great way to stimulate your immune system and get your circulation going (which can help cramping).
Read more about comforting your body during 'that time of the month' in last week's blog: PMS Eastern vs Western Viewpoints
“Stress wouldn’t be so hard to take if it were chocolate covered.” - Anonymous
Premenstrual syndrome affects approximately 40% of women. This article explores Eastern medicine versus Western viewpoints on the causes and treatment options for PMS.
Western medicine recognizes that PMS may be caused by Progesterone deficiency, B12 deficiency, elevated Prolactin levels, and changes in prostaglandins and aldosterone. In Eastern medicine, we call most PMS and its related symptoms Liver Qi Stagnation.
In Western medicine, the liver is our first interface with our physical stressors. In Chinese medicine, the liver is our first interface with our emotional stressors. In both instances, when the liver is overtaxed through alcohol consumption, stress or other factors, it can result in mood and menstrual changes.
PMS and mood
Western medicine recognizes the relationship between the emotions and the body as governed by the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPO), which controls most hormonal changes. Chinese medicine recognizes that the emotions have a direct impact on our physiology through meridian systems that connect the uterus to the brain. These systems begin to explain the feedback relationship between emotional disruption and the menstrual cycle.
Although PMS represents an imbalance, it isn't generally something to get concerned about in terms of needing major medical intervention. However, the symptoms that proceed your menstruation do provide an opportunity to assess how your lifestyle activities are manifesting in your body. These symptoms can be a gauge for developing stress management techniques and introducing nutritional or other lifestyle choices that can improve your symptoms and overall sense of wellbeing.
What science says:
In the 2005 research paper "Evaluation of clinical therapeutic effects and safety of acupuncture treatment for premenstrual syndrome" (Zhongguo Zhen Jiu, Guang' anmen Hospital, China Academy of TCM, Beijing), seven out of eight controlled studies showed that "therapeutic effects of acupuncture were superior to other methods." As a conclusion, the study was found to show that acupuncture can effectively treat PMS.
More information about this study
Some recommendations from Western medicine for managing your PMS include:
Some Eastern medicine strategies include:
The ins and outs of making a baby
The most important part of the baby-making journey is to determine when exactly(ish), ovulation occurs during the monthly menstrual cycle. Modern reproductive science has a lot of fancy ways of pinpointing ovulation’s big moment and coming up with general guidelines around the timing. But the truth is, ovulation is a very unique and individual experience for each woman. Ovulation – like our moods – can vary wildly, not just from woman to woman, but from month to month.
How to predict ovulation:
To learn more about your personal ovulation patterns, an ovulation predictor kit is a good start, but both Western and Chinese medicine also take into account more subtle signs such as cervical mucus (which thickens to an egg white consistency and becomes more noticeable around the time of ovulation). One of the first things I recommend for my fertility patients is that they take their basal body temperature every single day with a special thermometer that’s calibrated to notice subtle temperature swings. (You can download a BBT chart from my clinic, Acupuncture Kitchen. You can get a BBT thermometer here too, or at any drugstore)
Taking it one step further, you can get an ultrasound through a fertility clinic (if you’re actively pursuing that route) or your OBGYN. This will confirm, with little doubt, the timing of your ovulation.
I recommend trying a combination of all these methods to see how they add up.
What science says:
In the 2004 article “Mucus observations in the fertile window: a better predictor of conception than timing of intercourse” by Bigelow JL et al., researchers found that “Intercourse results in a pregnancy essentially only if it occurs during the 6-day fertile interval ending on the day of ovulation.” Cervical mucus observation is cited as one of the most accurate ways to predict this 6-day fertile window. The summary of this European study states that: “To maximize the likelihood of conception, intercourse should occur on days with optimal mucus quality, as observed in vaginal discharge, regardless of the exact timing relative to ovulation.” Read full Study
Basically, science says, listening to your body is the way to go!
Timing intercourse:
As always, make love when it feels right for you. If you happen to feel inclined to shoot for optimal fertility times, these are some general guidelines.
Pinpointing ovulation is just the first step in timing sexual intercourse. Because the path from sex to actual fertilization doesn’t happen in an instant, the truth is, fertilization occurs in a window around ovulation, and implantation 7-10 days after that, not just in a moment. This concept can take the pressure off timing your sexual acts around this elusive scientific moment. Give yourself permission to have fun, be spontaneous, and keep the romance alive.
Caylie See is a Licensed Acupuncturist with an innovative and passionate approach to fertility care. She is the founder of San Francisco's Acupuncture Kitchen and Laurel Fertility Care's Mind-Body Passport Program. Caylie comes from a long line of chocolatiers, and Caylie’s own mixing bowl contains a foundation in Chinese and western medicine and the desire to effectively mingle the two to create collaborative fertility treatment for men and women. She extends her expertise into supporting you throughout your pregnancy. For more information about Caylie See, visit Acupuncture Kitchen's web site.
