Menstrual Irregularities & PMS
BACKGROUND
Tina, an eighteen year old high school student, complained of extreme pain and headaches at the time of her period. Tina said that her symptoms had been present for the last year, forcing her to stay home from school - sometimes up to four days. About eighteen months prior Tina began taking the birth control pill. Her doctor switched to a different pill twice in hopes of relieving some of her complaints, but was unsuccessful.
LIFESTYLE
Tina lives a typical high school life. She does not get enough rest, drinks alcohol on the weekends, and has a poor diet with many fast foods. She has been sexually active for the past two years.
OTHER SYMPTOMS
Occasional headaches that are relived with an over-the-counter pain reliever, bloating and afternoon fatigue.
FINDINGS
Estrogen sensitivity, nutritional deficiencies, liver and reproductive meridian imbalances and pelvic and lower back misalignments.
TREATMENT
Structural: Pelvic and spinal adjustments.
Chemical: Essential fatty acids, folic acid, herbs for the liver.
Lifestyle: Dramatic diet changes, strong recommendation to eliminate the birth control pill, and begin an aerobic exercise program for hormonal balance and to promote a fat-burning metabolism.
RESULTS
By her next cycle, Tina stated that she was much better. She had a headache but did not need to stay home from school. Within two cycles Tina was symptom-free.
COMMENTS
Thankfully Tina was willing to stop the birth control pill and make some significant changes to her lifestyle. This is not at all surprising. The negative effects of the birth control pill can be immediate and/or can last for many years. It is this author’s belief from working with a variety of hormone-related problems that many years of taking the birth control pill can result in difficulty with the menopause transition and even with conception.
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