Xiao-yao-wan-PMS | Chinese Medicine Net

April 7, 2008 – 5:17 pm

As a teenager and young woman, I suffered horribly with painful menstrual periods. Every month, for several days before my period, I would feel bloated, tired and irritable. Just the pressure of the water in the shower would be intolerable on my tender breasts. I would crave sugar (especially chocolate). And the day before my period, I would literally be bedridden with knife-like cramps that would cause severe nausea and vomiting.

My mother took me to the gynecologist. They found absolutely nothing wrong with me and told my mother and me that all of these symptoms would probably disappear after I had my first baby. Just what every mother wants the doctor to tell her sixteen-year old daughter!

Western medicine now defines Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) as a cluster of psychological and physical symptoms that appear to be closely related to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

There are many theories that attempt to explain the cause: progesterone deficiency, vitamin B6 deficiency, elevated levels of prolactin or aldosterone, or high levels of prostaglandins. Diuretics or oral contraceptives are often prescribed to help alleviate the symptoms, but neither is without side effects when taken on a long-term basis.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been successfully explaining and treating PMS for thousands of years. Both acupuncture and herbal therapy give excellent results to address the underlying energetic imbalance that gives rise to all of the symptoms associated with PMS.

As with all menstrual problems, it typically takes a minimum of three menstrual periods to completely regulate the cycle, but often an improvement is seen the very first month. Had I known about Chinese medicine back then, I could have eliminated that monthly torture. And probably avoided the fibrocystic breast disease and ovarian cysts that developed years later.

In TCM, the Liver and Spleen play a major role in the menstrual cycle. The Spleen makes the Blood, which is then stored in the Liver. The Liver is responsible for the free flow of energy throughout the whole body. Every month, the energy of the Liver needs to move the Blood in preparation for the menses.

If the Liver energy, or Liver Qi becomes stagnated, painful or irregular periods result.

What would cause the Liver Qi to stagnate? In TCM, it is believed that emotional stress in the form of anger, repressed anger, frustration or resentment play a key role in stagnating the Liver Qi. Liver Qi stagnation may also be caused by prolonged drug use (prescription or recreational) including oral contraception. So, the Western medicine treatment approach, may in fact be contributing to the perpetuation of the imbalance.

There are several herbal formulas that address PMS symptoms. Xiao Yao Wan is probably the most famous formula to address Liver Qi Stagnation.

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Quick Find Xiao Yao Wan for PMS here.

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What does it do?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Qi is the vital energy whose smooth flow around the body keeps the body and its organs working in harmony. When a flow of Qi in meridians is stagnated the affected organs will malfunction.

In case of liver Qi stagnation, one typically feels distending pain along the sides of the body (especially in the chest), easily gets upset, depressed, and has irregular, painful menstruation or swollen breasts for woman.
Ingredients:
Radix Bupleuri, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Poria, Radix Glycyrrhizae Praeparata, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, Pcs. and Herba Menthae

Bupleuri has the effect of dispersing the stagnated liver-energy;
Paeoniae Alba and Angelicae Sinensis has the effects of nourishing the liver and tonifying the blood.
The above three medicinal herbs used together can tonify the liver and promote its function.

Poria, Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Glycyrrhizae Praeparata have the effects of strengthening the spleen and benefiting vital energy.

Zingiberis recens and Menthae can enhance the dispersing effect.

All the above herbs used together ensure a normal functioning of the liver and spleen.

This herbal formula has been widely applied for various diseases in internal medicine, surgery and gynecology, especially for those attributive to stagnation of liver-energy with spleen hypofunction or blood deficiency, which are manifested as hypochondriac pain, stomachache, breast nodules, dysmenorrhea, etc.

Side Effects:

Xiao Yao Wan (Pian) has been safely used with few adverse effects when used as directed.

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Quick Find Xiao Yao Wan for PMS here.

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Tags: PMS, xiao yao wan