Chronicles of the sweet tooth problem V

Finally, here is the last of the chronicles. If it's your first time here, please see the previous posts:
Chronicles of the sweet tooth problem
How to know if it's really PMS and
Ways to relieve PMS

Chronicles of the sweet tooth problem IV

Below are the rest of the ways to relieve PMS :


16. Yoga

Yoga is an all-round antidotes of PMS as it has relaxing, calming and restorative effects in the body.  Nice, I'd be shooting two birds at one stone if I would try this : anti-PMS and cross-out number 2 in the  list. Rae  from Scatterbraintures suggested Bikram Yoga Manila, do you have any other suggestion, ladies?

17. Add DLPA

DLPA is short  for the amino acid  dl-phenylalanine. Unlike pain pills or anti-depressants, it leads a hand to our own hormones that act as natural painkillers or mood regulators by acting as its "bodyguard". 

WARNING: If you would like to try this, please consult your doctor. This should NOT be used by pregnant and lactating women.

18.  Try Homeopathy

Homeopathy literally means "similar suffering". It is based on the idea that taking a tiny dose of whatever's ailing you can be the best treatment for that same disease. This works as a cure not a remedy so one who is experiencing PMS and wants to try this should see a qualified homeopathic physician.

19. Aromatherapy

Certain scents can stimulate our brains and can affect our moods, stress levels, metabolism and libido.  This is the basis of the healing art of aromatherapy. See this link to know what oils work and how to use it. My favorite scent is peppermint.

20. Massage

When we're irritable, depressed and stressed out, a good massage is exactly what we'll need. Swedish and Shiatsu  (another name for acupressure) are best for relieving PMS symptoms as they emphasize relaxation and release of tension using pain-free methods. 

21. Acupuncture and Acupressure

Both are based on the theory that when the qi (life energy) if flowing freely, all is well within the body. A stagnation of energy occurs if the flow of qi is blocked and if the blockage happens in a meridian serving the female organs, PMS can be the unhappy result.

22. Reflexology

Reflexology is an excellent way to relieve tension, improve circulation, normalize both nerve and gland function and restore balance to the body. This will be helpful to PMS if the areas that correlate with the pelvis and female organs are stimulated.

23. Let there be light!

Because lack of light causes lack of serotonin, which causes worsening of PMS symptoms. Light therapy will help improve the mood of PMS sufferers. The simplest way to do this is to go outside, walk in the bright sunlight for about ten minutes, preferably in the early morning.

24. Get enough zzZs

Each of us knows how it feels when we didn't get enough sleep, right? Depressed, tired, irritable, distracted, moody, suffering from headaches. That's because too little sleep exacerbates PMS and PMS causes sleep problems. It is a vicious circle and we wouldn't  like to be caught in it, so log off on your facebook, shut down the computer and sleep early, ok? :)

25. Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative

Click to enlarge

Anger, frustration and negative thinking all encourage the body to produce stress hormones and we don't like that. Focus on the good things in your life: love, fun times, good jokes, your achievements in life. Appreciate the beauty around (look in the mirror, beautiful!) and look for the little things to be happy about in your life.

That is definitely a nice way to end the list, right? With positivity, we can surely win over PMS.

In all the 25 ways, massage, sleep, yoga, exercise and being optimistic are my favorites. What are yours?

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Reference: Taylor, N. 25 ways to relieve PMS (2002). Chicago : Contemporary Books
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