Medical Keywords - Everything you need to know about health.

Massaging Away your PMS Pain and Discomfort

PMS can take its toll on you each month and is somewhat tiresome to deal with. The cramping, bloating, headaches, pains, mood swings and food cravings and more may or may not go away with standard treatment of over the counter medications and other treatments like a heating pad or special teas. There is an alternative treatment that has shown some relief in most of the women who have tried it - massage therapy.

There have been no formal studies that have scientifically tested the effect of massage on PMS symptoms, mainly because the symptoms vary so widely from one woman to another. However, in small test groups, the effects of massage have all been very positive and should definitely be considered as a way to alleviate symptoms.

PMS is aggravated by the stress of your everyday life, particularly when you have to press on to complete obligations at work, school, home and social engagements as well. The strain of putting on a happy face when your mood is really volatile or you are hurting can be quite tiring. Because one of the goals of massage is to alleviate stress captured within the joints and muscles of your body, this can directly benefit PMS symptoms as well.

A number of women who indulged in massages several times during their week of PMS say that compared to suffering through the PMS alone, the massaging did wonders for relaxing their body. In fact, the loose muscles carried over into alleviating cramping and headaches. Women who got massages also slept better and felt rested afterwards. Short of over the counter remedies or even prescription medications, massage has proven to be a winner for virtually all women who have tried it during PMS time.

There are a number of universities that have been determined to prove the effectiveness of massage against severe symptoms of PMS. Per tradition, women with severe symptoms are split into two groups - one group worked on relaxing their muscles and practiced deep breathing while the other was treated to massage therapy for thirty minute sessions twice a week. Both groups reported better relaxation and an alleviation of PMS symptoms. However, the massage group reported that after several weeks of massage therapy, they had fewer incidences of pain, bloating and more.

While no formal scientific studies have reported on the effects of massage against PMS, many doctors do tout its positive effects. If you can afford sessions during your most vulnerable times, go for it. Otherwise, if your insurance pays for massage in therapeutic instances, you might want to talk with your doctor about writing a prescription for it. Perhaps a loved one can read up on the technique of massage and practice on you.

A variety of massage therapies exist and may incorporate different techniques like reflexology which is the application of pressure to certain pressure points along the body. The different studies of massage are the reason why formal scientific studies do not center on them. However, thousands of women with PMS all agree that massage is an exceptional alternative treatment to alleviate PMS symptoms.