Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center

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PMS: Beyond Hormones – A Chiropractic Neurology Perspective

If you have ever felt like a completely different person in the week or two leading up to your period, you are not alone. Nearly 90% of menstruating women report at least one symptom of PMS (premenstrual syndrome), and for 20–40%, those symptoms disrupt daily life. Mood swings, brain fog, irritability, forgetfulness, fatigue, and physical tension become regular monthly visitors. But what if PMS is not just a hormonal problem? What if your nervous system is also part of the picture—and the solution?

In the chiropractic neurology model, PMS is viewed as a systems-wide dysfunction involving hormone–brain interactions, neuromuscular imbalances, and stress-load mismanagement. This post explores how hormone fluctuations affect brain function and how evidence-informed approaches like myofascial work and neurological rehabilitation can help you regain clarity, stability, and resilience through your cycle.

The Menstrual Cycle: A Symphony of Hormones with Neurological Consequences

Your menstrual cycle is a finely tuned sequence of hormonal events that affect much more than reproduction. These hormonal changes have wide-ranging effects on your cognitive function, emotional regulation, pain perception, and neuromuscular coordination. Here is a quick breakdown of the cycle:

  1. Follicular Phase (Days 1–14)
    • Starts with menstruation.
    • Estrogen gradually rises, peaking right before ovulation.
    • Cognitive performance (especially verbal memory and executive function) tends to be higher during this phase. Estrogen has neuroprotective and neuroenhancing effects on the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
  2. Ovulation (Day 14)
    • A spike in luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) causes the release of an egg.
    • Estrogen peaks, then rapidly drops.
  3. Luteal Phase (Days 15–28)
    • Progesterone rises, while estrogen fluctuates then falls.
    • Many women experience mood instability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and physical symptoms like bloating or muscle pain.

The luteal phase is where PMS symptoms commonly emerge. During this time, the rapid changes in estrogen and progesterone alter brain chemistry—particularly serotonin, GABA, and dopamine transmission—which directly impacts your neurological function.

Hormones and the Brain: A Two-Way Street

Estrogen, often dubbed the “feel-good” hormone, enhances synaptic plasticity and neurotransmitter release. It boosts serotonin and dopamine levels, which are crucial for mood regulation and cognitive performance.

Progesterone, on the other hand, is a complex actor. While it can promote calm via GABA receptors, it also has neuroinhibitory effects that slow information processing. Sudden drops in estrogen and progesterone can result in emotional volatility, poor memory recall, anxiety, and difficulty focusing.

Research confirms that PMS and PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) are associated with:

  • Decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex (executive function and planning).
  • Heightened amygdala reactivity (fear, stress response).
  • Disrupted connectivity in the default mode network (mind-wandering, introspection).

These functional neurological changes underscore why PMS is not “all in your head”—but very much in your brain.

Key Insight: PMS is a neuroendocrine condition. Hormonal shifts do not just affect your reproductive system—they alter how your brain communicates and regulates itself.

The Missing Link: Neuromuscular and Myofascial Contributions to PMS

In addition to cognitive and emotional changes, many women experience physical discomfort during PMS—tightness in the neck and back, jaw tension, pelvic discomfort, and headaches. These are not separate symptoms but part of a larger picture.

Fascial Tension and Sensory Overload

The fascia, your body’s connective tissue network, is densely innervated and sensitive to hormonal changes. Estrogen modulates collagen synthesis, vascular tone, and pain perception, which means low estrogen can contribute to myofascial trigger points, especially in the pelvic floor, low back, and shoulders.

High tension in these areas sends continuous afferent signals to the brain, overloading areas like the insula and anterior cingulate cortex—regions responsible for pain interpretation and emotional tone.

Chiropractic Neurology: Rebalancing the Brain-Body Loop

Chiropractic neurology does not treat PMS directly—it works by modulating the nervous system’s capacity to respond to hormonal and environmental stressors. This brain-first model views PMS as a mismatch between hormonal input and neurological regulation.

Let’s break down two evidence-informed tools that chiropractic neurologists use to support the cycle:

  1. Myofascial Release and Neuromuscular Therapy Manual therapies aimed at reducing fascial tension can have neurological consequences far beyond muscle relaxation.

    • Myofascial trigger point release decreases nociceptive (pain-related) input to the brainstem and thalamus.
    • This may lower the central sensitization often seen in women with cyclical migraines or pelvic pain.
    • When combined with diaphragmatic breathing and cranial techniques, myofascial therapy may regulate vagal tone, improve sleep, and reduce stress-related cortisol output. In a hormonal context, reducing fascial tension can calm the limbic system, reducing emotional reactivity during the luteal phase.

  2. Neurological Rehabilitation and Brain-Based Exercises Neurological rehabilitation exercises aim to improve specific brain network functions that may be dysregulated during PMS. These might include:

    • Eye movement therapies to activate the cerebellum and vestibular pathways, improving balance, reducing migraines, and enhancing focus.
    • Sensory integration exercises, such as light or sound stimulation, to improve regulation of the reticular activating system (which controls alertness and mood).
    • Cognitive drills to improve working memory and executive function, particularly during the luteal phase when performance may dip.

    These are not “one-size-fits-all” protocols. A chiropractic neurologist will typically assess your eye tracking, gait pattern, reaction time, and autonomic regulation to determine which systems are underperforming and tailor interventions accordingly.

⚙️ Functional Goal: Improve neurological efficiency and reduce system overload during hormonal transitions.

The Role of Stress and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis

Stress management is crucial for PMS regulation. Chronic stress dysregulates the HPA axis, increasing cortisol and reducing progesterone production (because both share the same precursor hormone—pregnenolone). This imbalance amplifies PMS symptoms and further disrupts brain function.

Chiropractic neurologists use tools like vestibular rehabilitation, neurocognitive exercises, and autonomic retraining to balance sympathetic and parasympathetic output—critical for reducing the body’s overreaction to hormonal changes.

Nutritional and Lifestyle Considerations

While not the primary focus, chiropractic neurologists often recommend foundational nutritional strategies to support brain and hormonal health:

  • Magnesium and B6: Reduce cramps and mood swings.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids: Anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective.
  • Adaptogens (e.g., ashwagandha, rhodiola): Support adrenal health and stress resilience.
  • Caffeine and sugar reduction: Prevent spikes in blood glucose and cortisol during sensitive phases of the cycle.

Putting It All Together: An Integrated Neurological Model for PMS

To summarize, PMS is not simply a hormonal imbalance—it is a neuroendocrine and neuromuscular condition affecting the entire system. A chiropractic neurology approach can include:

  • Neurological rehabilitation to support brain regions vulnerable to hormonal shifts.
  • Myofascial work to calm overactive sensory inputs.
  • Stress modulation through autonomic balancing.
  • Targeted nutrition and lifestyle support to stabilize hormonal transitions.

By viewing PMS through the lens of brain-body integration, this model moves away from symptom suppression and toward root-cause resolution.

Your Brain Needs Support

Feeling overwhelmed, foggy, or not like yourself during parts of your menstrual cycle is not a personal failure. It is often a sign that your brain and body are having trouble adapting to rapid hormonal transitions. Chiropractic neurology offers a compassionate, science-based way to retrain your nervous system, reduce physical and emotional strain, and reclaim ownership of your cycle.

If you or someone you love is suffering from premenstrual syndrome symptoms and you would like to learn how chiropractic neurology can help, contact the team at Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center today. We look forward to hearing from you.

Written by Sophie Hose, DC, MS, DACNB, CCSP

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