Traditional Chinese medicine for PMS relief

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), PMS is not a "syndrome." In TCM, the problems you may put up with every month -- pain, water retention, irritability -- are symptoms of underlying problems within your body.

Dr. Xiolan Zhao, a physician originally trained in Western medicine who later earned a degree in TCM, says PMS symptoms are the body's way of telling a woman something is wrong. "PMS is a symptom of an unbalanced body," she says. "Chinese medicine is about finding a harmonious balance and being happy."  

TCM studies the way energy flows through the body. Often, problems such as PMS symptoms will arise when energy, or qi (pronounced "chee"), gets blocked and starts to accumulate somewhere.

In Dr. Zhao's book on women's health, Reflections of the Moon on Water (Random House, 2006), she explains that PMS-associated moodiness is an example of stagnant energy that tries to unblock itself through outbursts of anger or crying. Blocked energy can also result in pain, water retention, reduced libido, cold hands and feet and digestive problems -- all depending on the individual and where this energy accumulates. "Chinese medicine then looks at what's causing the disharmony," says Dr. Zhao. "Is the body warning you you're drinking too much coffee, or not getting enough sleep? Are you overworked or need to work something out in your personal life?"

Dr. Zhao recommends that women who suffer with PMS symptoms and pain during menstruation -- what she refers to as "heavenly water" -- should start with common-sense lifestyle practices. Here are some of the recommendations she offers in Reflections of the Moon on Water:

Emotional health
• Talk to someone about your feelings (a friend, family member or TCM practitioner).
• Develop awareness of when you are denying your emotions.
• Learn your stress/emotional triggers.
• Keep a journal.

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Diet
• Avoid eating excessive amounts of coffee, alcohol, red meat, and hot and spicy foods.

• Avoid excessive consumption of dairy products.
• Avoid eating excessive amounts of greasy, fried and sweet foods.
• Do not consume large quantities of salt.

During the flow of heavenly water
• Do not eat cold foods or drinks, or raw and frozen foods.
• Eat dark green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach and kale, and sweet rice, fish, eggs, raisins, liver and poultry. 

Restorative practices -- spiritual
• Qigong
• Tai chi
• Meditation

Lifestyle
• Avoid excessive work.
• Maintain a regular and balanced schedule for eating, sleeping, working, exercising and resting.
• Dress appropriately for the weather.

During the flow of heavenly water
• Avoid swimming.
• Do not lift heavy items.
• Do not engage in strenuous physical activity.
• Avoid the use of tampons.
• Do not walk around in bare feet on cold floors.
• Do not engage in sexual intercourse.

During our periods it is especially important to promote energy flow. The following soup recipe is one passed down from Dr. Zhao's mother and grandmother and aids in the movement of blood and qi.

Egg Soup
Makes 1 serving

1 cup water
1 tablespoon raw cane sugar
2 eggs
3 tablespoons rice wine

1. In medium saucepan, mix 1 cup water and raw cane sugar. Bring to boil over medium-high heat.
2. Crack 2 eggs into boiling water, and bring to boil. Add rice wine and turn off heat. Serve hot.

If you cannot improve your PMS symptoms on your own, Dr. Zhao recommends seeing a naturopath or a Chinese medical practitioner. "PMS is an important stage that women need to take seriously," she says. "Our body is a temple and we have to respect it. We expect our husbands to respect us, so why not respect your own body, your very temple?"

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Book cover courtesy of Random House Canada

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Excerpted material from Reflections of the Moon on Water by Xiaolan Zhao, CMD. Copyright 2006 by Xiaolan Zhao. Excerpted with permission by Random House Canada. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.