Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The PMS symptoms include emotional and physical symptoms beginning in the second half of the menstrual cycle and improving following menstruation.
With PMDD, the symptoms must be associated with significant distress or interference with usual activities like work, school, social life.
Clinical Manifestations of PMDD
The most common emotional symptoms of PMDD is mood swings followed by anxiety, irritability, nervousness, sadness, poor impulse control, and withdrawal from usual activities.
The most common physical symptoms of PMS are abdominal bloating and fatigue. Other symptoms are breast tenderness, headaches, hot flashes, and dizziness.
PMS symptoms are similar to PMDD. However, PMDD is more associated with impaired daily life and personal relationships as well as a decrease in work productivity, increase in work absenteeism, and an increase in visits to GPs. The recent research suggests increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempts among women with PMDD (Eisenlor-Moul et al. 2022).
PMDD and Chinese Medicine
Chinese Medicine views PMS and PMDD as a manifestation of a disharmony of certain ‘Organs’.It is mainly related to the function of ‘Liver’ which is to discharge and store blood. A disharmony between Liver and Spleen (Digestive function) is another common cause.
Chinese Medicine practitioners will determine the most suitable pattern which explains the etiology of your PMDD/PMS, and the therapy will be chosen according to the pattern rather than disease. Therefore, patients with the same condition can have different patterns which will receive different therapy.
Treating PMDD with acupuncture and herbs
Acupuncture has been suggested in the medical journal as an option for PMDD management. One of the herbal formulas, Xiaoyaosan, has shown a curative effect on PMDD which may be related to regulating metabolism in the nervous system.
In general, it takes 3 menstrual cycles to help relieve the symptoms and prevent it from recurring. For some patients with other health conditions such as existing gynecological conditions, mental health conditions, other significant health conditions can take up to 6 months.
If you are not getting results with your current management or would like to treat the underlying cause instead, I suggest you book a consultation to see an acupuncturist.
About the Author
Youngmi Choi
Ripple Acupuncture | Newcastle | New Lambton
I particularly enjoy helping women through the different phases of our lives with acupuncture and herbal medicine. If you have any questions about your women’s condition, please make an online booking, submit an online enquiry or call me on 0402 474 884.
Reference
Yonkers K, Casper R (2024) Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. UpToDate.
Anderson Z (2023) ‘Diagnosis of Treatment of Premenstraul Syndrome’, in Shopue D (eds) Handbook of Gynecology, 2nd edn, Springer.
Gao M, Sun H, Sun W, Gao D, Qiao M. Traditional Chinese medicine on treating premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Oct 16;99(42):e22694. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000022694. PMID: 33080718; PMCID: PMC7571909.
Xu M et al. (2024) Investigating the mechanisms of Xiaoyaosan on premenstrual dysphoric disorder using metabolomics technology. Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine, 2024,10.
Taguchi R et al. (2009) Acupuncture for premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2009 Dec;280(6):877-81. doi: 10.1007/s00404-009-1034-z. Epub.
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