Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) involves a variety of symptoms that occur in the week or two leading up to menstruation. It is estimated that about 3 out of every 4 women experience PMS symptoms, which can include things like headache, digestive disturbances, irritability, appetite changes, tension, mood swings, sleep problems, fatigue, and more.[1]
This is a common problem that can really interfere with daily living month after month after month…
There are several self-care habits and tools that can help with PMS, like getting regular exercise, prioritizing sleep, taking herbal supplements, and more. But there’s one technique many people don’t know about that has actually been proven by the research to quickly and efficiently provide amazing relief from PMS symptoms: Tapping!
A very exciting study in 2021 documented the positive results of a short Tapping intervention for women with severe PMS. Let’s take a closer look at what the researchers found.
Study shows Tapping can benefit women with PMS
The study I want to share with you today is a fairly recent study, published just last year in 2021. In the study, the researchers evaluated the effectiveness of EFT Tapping for relieving PMS symptoms in women.[2]
The experiment involved 50 nursing students who all scored high on a scale measuring the severity of their PMS. It was a randomized controlled trial, meaning that the group of 50 was randomly divided in two. Half was the treatment group, and they were instructed on how to do EFT Tapping. The other half was the control group, and they received no treatment. All participants were assessed for how strong their PMS symptoms were before and after the study.
When the experimenters analyzed the data, they found that the treatment group had significantly lower PMS symptoms after the Tapping intervention. Some of the specific symptoms that seemed to benefit from the Tapping included fatigue, nervousness, sleep changes, swelling, and depressive affect.
This study was the first of its kind, showing incredible benefits from just a short Tapping treatment. The authors of the study concluded, “The results demonstrate the efficacy of EFT in reducing PMS symptoms. As a fast and efficient self-treatment method, EFT can be easily implemented as a nonpharmacological intervention.”[2]
How might Tapping help PMS?
The results from the study are very exciting, confirming that PMS is yet another of the many health conditions that can benefit from Tapping. But how does it work, and why does it help?
Tapping is a technique that helps to calm the brain and body, turning down the part of the brain that is responsible for the stress response. When we Tap on acupoints on the body’s meridians while speaking about what is bothering us (such as PMS symptoms), it sends calming signals to the brain letting it know it is safe to relax.
Tapping is extremely effective in reducing stress, and is even documented in the research to decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol.[3,4]
But why is that so helpful for a condition like PMS? Well, it turns out that PMS and stress are actually tightly linked.
Several studies have shown an association between higher stress and more PMS symptoms.[5-7] For example, one study found that women who reported feeling stressed early in their monthly cycle were more likely to have more severe symptoms before and during menstruation.[5] Other research has found that PMS can also be linked to things like trauma and PTSD.[8]
It isn’t too surprising that stress plays a role in PMS. Many health conditions and physical symptoms have an emotional component. Stress can often trigger, or exacerbate, things like pain, digestive complaints, and headaches, for example. And the research suggests that the same may be true for PMS. The more stress a woman experiences, the more likely she is to be affected by PMS.[5-7]
That’s why Tapping is so powerful for PMS. It helps the body to release the effects of stress, moving the body into a state of calm and relaxation where it can feel better. When you Tap, your body gets a chance to calm down, which can bring significant relief when it comes to PMS symptoms.
Tapping for PMS: give it a try for yourself!
I’ve heard many incredible stories of Tapping helping women to ease their PMS symptoms, so that they no longer have to suffer every month. And the research backs up those anecdotal reports, showing us that Tapping really does provide significant benefit when it comes to reducing PMS symptoms.[2]
Tapping can help you let go of your stress and release your PMS symptoms at the same time! It’s a win-win.
If you are new to Tapping, you can learn all about Tapping on our Tapping 101 page. You can also find a beginner’s guide to the Tapping technique and the basic tapping sequence here.
I encourage you to check out our app, The Tapping Solution App, where you can find a whole library of guided Tapping meditations to help you release stress, support your body, and feel your absolute best.
You will even find meditations on specific women’s health topics in the app, such as:
- Release Endometriosis Pain
- Support Your Body: Breast Problems
- Hot Flash Relief
- Pregnancy Discomfort and Pain Relief
- Fertility Support Collection
- And more.
I can’t wait to hear about your experiences with Tapping. Leave a comment below if you try Tapping for PMS, and let us know how it works for you!
Until next time…
Keep Tapping!
References
- “Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).” Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Updated February 22, 2021.
- Bakır N, Irmak Vural P, Körpe G. The effects of emotional freedom techniques on coping with premenstrual syndrome: A randomized control trial [published online ahead of print, 2021 Oct 5]. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2021;10.1111/ppc.12957.
- Church D, Yount G, Brooks AJ. The effect of emotional freedom techniques on stress biochemistry: a randomized controlled trial. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2012;200(10):891-896.
- Stapleton P, Crighton G, Sabot D, O’Neill HM. Reexamining the effect of emotional freedom techniques on stress biochemistry: A randomized controlled trial. Psychol Trauma. 2020;12(8):869-877.
- Gollenberg AL, Hediger ML, Mumford SL, et al. Perceived stress and severity of perimenstrual symptoms: the BioCycle Study. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2010;19(5):959-967.
- Del Mar Fernández M, Regueira-Méndez C, Takkouche B. Psychological factors and premenstrual syndrome: A Spanish case-control study. PLoS One. 2019;14(3):e0212557. Published 2019 Mar 6.
- Matsumoto T, Egawa M, Kimura T, Hayashi T. A potential relation between premenstrual symptoms and subjective perception of health and stress among college students: a cross-sectional study. Biopsychosoc Med. 2019;13:26. Published 2019 Oct 31.
- Pilver CE, Levy BR, Libby DJ, Desai RA. Posttraumatic stress disorder and trauma characteristics are correlates of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2011;14(5):383-393.
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