As women, we also need to remember that we experience many seasons and transitions in terms of our hormonal life – with puberty, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause obviously being the most significant.
“In Traditional Chinese Medicine, these periods can also bring the potential for a weakness in both the emotional and physical body if entered into from a place of deficiency rather than abundance – which can affect the body, with increased hormonal imbalances presenting as more severe symptoms,” explains Cullen.
“A principle of Traditional Chinese Medicine is when signs and symptoms of disharmony arise, they need to be listened to and attended to rather than ignored to restore balance, nourish Qi and Blood and preserve Jing, one’s vitality.”
So next time your cycle has you feeling a little, well, off – don’t just shrug in defeat as you grab the hot water bottle and dive beneath your doona. Instead, try to approach your PMS symptoms with a little more curiosity.
“See living with the seasons of your menstrual cycle as working with your hormones rather than against them,” says Cullen. And remember, pain of any kind is never ‘normal’ and should always be investigated.
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