Definition

Premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual tension (PMS, PMT)

It is a set of signs and symptoms that occurs before or at the beginning of the menstruation. It features irritability, depression, emotional fluctuations....etc. 

Accompanying signs & symptoms

Key symptoms: emotional fluctuations, depression, anxiety and irritability, food craving, binge eating habit, premenstrual weight gain

Accompanying symptoms may include: headache, lethargy, fatigue, soreness in the breasts and fluid retention

Possible Causes

Stress
Hormonal imbalance

Physiological Mechanisms

Period related conditions such as PMS, period pain, pre-menstrual food craving and binge eating as well as Period Related Weight Gain are very common health conditions among female between 17 YO to 40 YO. Although, many of these signs and symptoms cannot be classified as a "disease". However, they are health conditions that should not be ignored. 

Many of the period related conditions are in close association with stress. PMS, pre-menstrual food craving and binge eating as well as weight gain are directly caused by physiological stress and anxiety experienced by the body. 

When the body is under stress, it produces a set of "stress related hormones" including adrenaline and corticosteroids in order for the body to cope with stressful situations. However, if the person is constantly under stress, these hormones stay in the body for a long period of time. Consequently, they would affect and interfere with the production and levels of other hormones in the body including female hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone. As the result, it brings about the signs and symptoms such as mood fluctuation, PMS, food craving and binge eating. This also results in excessive retention of fluid in the body and leads to rapid weight gain. 

Alteration in normal hormonal profile also induces pathological changes in period flow and blood viscosity. This results in dark blood flow and blood clots in the period. As a protective instinct for the body to eliminate the blood clots, our muscles contracts hard and results in abdominal cramps and period pain.

Treatment Modalities

acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese herbal treatment for period conditions

Mechanism of action of the herbs used

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine treats the condition by doing the following:
Reducing mental and physiological stress in the body
Correction of hormonal imbalances 
Promote relaxations in the body
Reduce tensions in the body
Calming the mind and body

Health Advice

Reducing the intake of caffeine and cigarette smoking
Eat a balance diet
Establishing a regular eating habit
Encouraging moderate, regular and outdoor exercises

References

Longman concise medical dictionary, 1994

Chinese-English Manual of Common-Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ou Ming, 1995