In this article, we will discuss the causes and treatment of PMS headaches.
We will also explain the causes of headaches other than PMS and the use of Chinese medicine, so women who suffer from headaches should refer to it.
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What is PMS headache?
A headache is one of the symptoms of PMS.
PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) is a mental and physical disorder that lasts 3 to 10 days before menstruation and disappears when menstruation begins. The cause of PMS has not been clearly elucidated, but it is believed that fluctuations in female hormones are involved.
Migraine is one of the most common headaches in women, and one of the causes of migraine is said to be the decrease in female hormones that occurs before menstruation .
A decline in female hormones is thought to cause the blood vessels in the head to constrict and dilate, causing headaches. In addition, it is said that water tends to accumulate before menstruation.
Migraines are characterized by severe, throbbing, throbbing pain on one side (sometimes both sides) of the head. It may be accompanied by nausea and an increased sensitivity to light and noise .
Non-headache symptoms of PMS
Other than headaches, PMS symptoms vary from person to person.
Mental disorders include irritability, depression, irritability, anxiety, and drowsiness. Physical disorders include abdominal pain, headache, swelling, bloating, breast pain, stiff shoulders, and slight fever .
About 70-80% of menstruating women have some kind of symptoms before menstruation, and about 5.4% of women have PMS symptoms that are strong enough to affect their daily lives.
If these symptoms interfere with your daily life before menstruation, consult your doctor.
PMS headaches may be treated with herbal medicine
Treatment for PMS includes nondrug and drug treatments.
Non-pharmaceutical treatment involves keeping a symptom diary to deepen understanding of the disease and lifestyle guidance. On the other hand, "Kampo medicine" is used as one of the medical treatments.
In general, headaches are treated with pain relievers, and migraine headaches are often treated with medications to control or prevent migraine attacks. The pill may also be recommended for non-migraine headaches.
On the other hand, PMS tends to cause various symptoms other than headache, so Kampo medicines are sometimes used according to the individual constitution and symptoms.
Goshuyuto may be prescribed for headache, and Goreisan may be prescribed for swelling.
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How to deal with PMS
Measures against PMS include regular exercise, review of lifestyle and diet, and aromatherapy . It is recommended to actively incorporate it as a coping method when the medicine does not work.
There are also supplements with nutrients that are good for relieving PMS symptoms, and there are also massages that push pressure points.
motion
Aerobic exercise is said to be good for alleviating PMS symptoms .
Aerobic exercise, typically swimming, walking, jogging, or cycling, is relatively light exercise that is performed continuously for a long period of time. The recommended duration is 20 minutes or longer. It is said that it is good for diet and health maintenance because it burns fat as energy by taking in oxygen by breathing.
Some studies appear to show that swimming has beneficial effects on most of the physical and mental ailments of PMS3).
Lifestyle and diet
It is also important to review your lifestyle and diet.
Lifestyle habits such as skipping breakfast, overeating or eating too many high-calorie foods, not exercising, and smoking are said to affect PMS, so these lifestyle habits need to be reviewed. It has been reported that smoking and intake of foods high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt increase the risk of developing PMS4).
It is also recommended that you eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Some reports have suggested that low calcium and vitamin D levels during the premenstrual luteal phase may cause or exacerbate PMS5).
aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is one of the self-care methods for coping with PMS symptoms .
Aromatherapy is a natural therapy that uses essential oils extracted from plants.
It is intended to be useful for health and beauty, such as relaxing the mind and body and drawing out the original beauty.
Aromatherapy, which relieves stress, is expected to alleviate symptoms of PMS. Some studies have reported that aromatherapy using lavender oil can be used to treat PMS6).
summary
Learn about PMS headaches and how to manage them.
If you have a headache due to PMS, it may be alleviated by reviewing your daily habits, so please start with things that are easy to incorporate, such as diet and exercise.
It is also important to investigate hormonal imbalances to find the cause.
If you don't know if your hormone balance is disturbed, it is recommended to have an examination at a gynecologist or try a canvas test kit.
You can read more about the canvas inspection kit here .
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References
1) Tsumura Co., Ltd.: Tsumura Goshuyuto Extract Granules, 2013 https://www.info.pmda.go.jp/go/pack/5200046D1039_1_10
2) Kracie Yakuhin Co., Ltd.: Kracie Goreisan powder extract fine granule package insert, 2018 https://www.info.pmda.go.jp/go/pack/5200048C1075_1_05/
3) Maged AM, t al. Effect of swimming exercise on premenstrual syndrome. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29350276/
4) Hashim MS, t al. Premenstrual Syndrome Is Associated with Dietary and Lifestyle Behaviors among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Sharjah, UAE. 2019 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31426498/
5) Abdi F, t al. A systematic review of the role of vitamin D and calcium in premenstrual syndrome. 2019 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30918875/
6) Uzunçakmak T, t al. Effect of aromatherapy on coping with premenstrual syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. 2018 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29458934/
