Premenstrual Syndrome

What is Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS?

Premenstrual Syndrome or commonly known as PMS refers to a group of symptoms or signs which are apparent or experienced by females one or two weeks before the commencement of menstrual periods. The symptoms disappear with the start of the periods in most of the women with exception of few.

These symptoms include a headache, nausea, backache, loose stools, constipation, vomiting and sudden change in the mood. The symptoms are found in varying degrees in different women according to their ages or physical in-built.

Chief Causes of Premenstrual Syndrome

Premenstrual Syndrome is mainly caused due to consumption of oily, spicy and heavy foods plus inactive lifestyle. Diet also plays an important role as far as PMS is concerned.

Improper diet and lack of apt and adequate nutrients in the diet plan of females also lead to PMS. Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, and trauma plus unhealthy living conditions are also causative factors for PMS.

Common Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome

Females who show PMS suffer from some common problems such as pain in the body or a headache, exhaustion, disturbed sleep, constipation or loose stools and bloating. Females may also experience pain in muscles, joints and pubic area and change in the appetite or craving for some specific foods. Some psychological conditions are also noticeable in women suffering from PMS such as anxiety, depression, and change in mood, tension, bad temper and fits of crying.

Ayurvedic perspective about PMS

Premenstrual syndrome is known as Krichhraartava in Ayurvedic terms. It means difficult menses. Ayurveda says that PMS occurs due to impairment of the Apana Vata, which is a sub-associate of Vata Dosha. Apana Vata is seated in the lower pelvic area and is liable for the removal of stool, urine, menstrual blood as well as reproductive fluids.

Due to the intake of hot, spicy and oily foods, Apana Vata is intensified and gets circulated in the different body channels resulting in various physical problems in the form of PMS. The mood swings and psychological problems are also caused during menstruation due to the aggravation of Apana Vata.

Diet & Lifestyle Advocacy

Females who have a tendency to show symptoms of PMS must take adequate amounts of lukewarm water. Warm, easily digestible and freshly prepared foods must be consumed. Use cumin seeds, fenugreek, black pepper, mint, celery seeds, coriander and asafetida during cooking. All these aid in quick and proper digestion.

Some foods must be completely avoided including cabbage, eggplant, mushrooms, potato, pumpkin, cauliflower, and peas. Similarly, indigestible foods, oily, spicy, heavy and sour foods must be avoided. Have proper rest and sleep. Also carry out some light exercises like walking and stretching. Massage your body with sesame oil.

Some Home Remedies

You may take a mixture prepared by frying celery seeds in purified butter followed by addition of dried ginger root powder and jaggery. The mixture is cooked till the jaggery melts completely. This mixture maybe taken with hot milk once a week before the menstrual cycles starts.

You may also consume mixture of powdered form of carrot seeds, dill seeds, radish seeds and fenugreek seeds with lukewarm water once a day. To relieve the pain in the muscles of pubic region, sit in a tub of hot water so as to immerse the pubic area completely or partially.

PMS is a difficult times in every women’s life. Baba ramdev have created a health pack that will help in resolving the PMS issue and also supports women in sufficing their body.