If your premenstrual symptoms are so debilitating that you struggle to do everyday things, it may not even be PMS, but premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) – a much more severe version of PMS that is classified as a separate illness. Unfortunately, PMDD is not fully understood, so neither are the treatments unique or consistent. On the bright side, one alternative type of therapy has shown great results – acupuncture for PMDD.
In this article, we will discuss how acupuncture for PMDD works, talk about its effectiveness, and touch on some other alternative treatments that can help mitigate PMDD symptoms. However, to get to that, we will first start with how acupuncture can help with regular PMS symptoms as PMS and PMDD are closely linked.
How Acupuncture Helps with General PMS Symptoms
Acupuncture is an effective complementary therapy for alleviating a variety of premenstrual syndrome symptoms. By regulating hormonal imbalances, it can stabilize mood swings, reduce irritability, and even alleviate anxiety and depression, which are all common during PMS. Acupuncture for PMS also stimulates blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, helping to ease cramping, bloating, and other physical discomforts associated with your menstrual cycle.
Additionally, many patients feel relief from fatigue, headaches, and breast tenderness after acupuncture sessions, making it a well-rounded treatment option for PMS management. This ability to address both physical and emotional symptoms holistically is why acupuncture is increasingly recommended as a natural approach to PMS care.
However, although acupuncture can help mitigate the symptoms of PMS, premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a much more extreme variation of PMS, so is acupuncture for PMDD just as effective? Before we discuss this, let’s first explain what premenstrual dysphoric disorder is.
What Is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder?
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that significantly disrupts daily life for those affected. While PMS can cause you mild to moderate discomfort, PMDD is characterized by debilitating physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms that often interfere with work, relationships, and any other day-to-day activities.
In The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association PMDD is classified as a mental illness. Typically (but definitely not exclusively), PMDD affects women of childbearing age and requires focused medical attention and treatment, but the exact cause of PMDD is unknown.
Some research suggests it may stem from an abnormal sensitivity to the natural hormonal fluctuations that occur during the menstrual cycle. This hypersensitivity could lead to changes in serotonin levels, a brain chemical that influences mood and physical functions, which contributes to PMDD’s wide range of symptoms.
What is well known are the symptoms – common symptoms of PMDD include severe mood swings, feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and overall anxiety, increased irritability, panic attacks, food cravings, sleep issues, and difficulty concentrating. Many people also have physical issues like extreme breast tenderness, headaches, joint and muscle pain, and bloating.
These symptoms usually appear one to two weeks before menstruation begins and resolve shortly after. In short, the symptoms of PMDD are similar to those of PMS but taken to the extreme and this similarity is one of the reasons PMDD is difficult to diagnose.
How Is PMDD Diagnosed?
Diagnosing premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) involves tracking symptoms over time and ruling out other conditions. Your healthcare provider will likely ask for a detailed health history, conduct physical and pelvic exams, and recommend keeping a diary of your symptoms for at least two months.
This helps establish a pattern, as PMDD symptoms typically emerge one week before menstruation and ease shortly after it begins. To confirm a diagnosis, at least five significant symptoms – such as severe mood swings, anxiety, or physical pain – must occur regularly and cause distress or interfere with daily life. Based on these criteria, PMDD affects an estimated 3% to 9% of women.
Regular Treatments for PMDD
When it comes to PMDD treatments, a variety of approaches can help manage symptoms. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed to regulate serotonin levels in the brain, reducing mood-related symptoms like anxiety and irritability. Hormonal treatments, such as certain birth control pills, can also prescribed to stabilize hormone fluctuations associated with PMDD.
Over-the-counter pain relievers are recommended to alleviate physical symptoms, including cramps, joint pain, and headaches and lifestyle adjustments – such as eating a balanced diet, increasing physical activity, and practicing stress management techniques like meditation – can also contribute to symptom relief. Some women are helped through vitamin supplementation or anti-inflammatory medications.
One important aspect of PMDD is that it is a chronic condition, so treatment plans often need to be tailored over time. Besides all of these treatments, one alternative, non‐pharmacological, type of therapy with fewer side effects than most regular treatments has also been shown to be beneficial – acupuncture for PMDD.
The Effectiveness of Acupuncture for PMDD
Partially due to the limitations of diagnosing PMDD, acupuncture for PMDD is often studied in conjunction with treatments for PMS symptoms. One such study that analyzed five clinical trials that included 277 women, some of which were diagnosed with PMDD, found that acupuncture for PMDD can reduce mood-related and physical symptoms. However, due to the relatively low number of women studied, the authors could not make any definitive conclusions.
Another single-blind randomized control trial that examined the effects of acupuncture for PMDD on anxiety and depression caused by this illness found that acupuncture for PMDD can be a valid form of treatment for these symptoms. However, this clinical trial was also limited – it included 30 participants suffering from PMDD.
Other studies examined the effects of acupuncture combined with herbal medicine and acupuncture combined with dietary supplements and meditation and reached similar conclusions – acupuncture for PMDD may be an effective option to reduce the symptoms of PMDD. Yet, although the evidence indicates that acupuncture for PMDD is an effective treatment, more comprehensive studies still need to be done to confirm these findings.
On the other hand, regardless of its efficacy, acupuncture is one of the safest PMDD treatments available – the most common acupuncture side effects are mild and temporary, such as fatigue or slight bruising, bleeding, and soreness at the needle sites. These side effects are generally short-lived and rarely cause long-term issues, making acupuncture a low-risk option for those seeking relief from PMDD symptoms.
Despite the promising findings, acupuncture does not have to be viewed as a standalone treatment but also as a complementary therapy that can be incorporated alongside other forms of care, both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical.
What Are Some Additional Alternative Treatments That Can Help?
While acupuncture for PMDD is the most widely studied form of alternative therapy, there are other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) types that may help alleviate PMDD symptoms. Herbal therapies and certain dietary supplements, like calcium and magnesium, have shown potential in managing mood swings and physical discomfort. Acupressure, a technique similar to acupuncture but without needles, has also been explored for its ability to relieve pain and reduce stress.
Other stress reduction techniques, including yoga, meditation, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), have been found to reduce anxiety and improve overall well-being. These treatments can and, depending on the unique circumstances of each patient, should be used alongside acupuncture, offering a holistic approach to managing PMDD. However, as with acupuncture, more research is needed to fully confirm their efficacy.
Schedule Acupuncture for PMDD Treatments
If you’re ready to explore how acupuncture for PMDD can help you, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Mitra Daneshrad at BH Acuhealth Clinic. We are a licensed acupuncture clinic in Beverly Hills that specializes in fertility, pregnancy, and women’s health acupuncture.
When you come for a consultation, Dr. Mitra will do a thorough examination and create a treatment plan that is specifically designed for your unique condition, as well as coordinate with your other healthcare providers, if needed. We promise to treat you with the care and attention you deserve.
Don’t hesitate to contact us and let us do our part to get your PMDD symptoms under control.
