The Effects of Consecutive Floats and Their Timing on Premenstrual Syndrome

Abstract

Dalton (1987) defines Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) as “any symptoms or complaints which regularly come between ovulation and the early phase of menstruation, but are absent at other times of the cycle.” These symptoms run the gamut of depression or irritability to asthma, epilepsy and homicide. Although no woman suffers from all of the symptoms, any symptom can be so severe and so debilitating as to warrant extreme medical and/or psychiatric measures, only to quietly end at menses. Dalton (1987) documented that PMS is due to a hormone dysfunction, i.e., progesterone is either not secreted in an abundant supply or not long enough starting at ovulation. This can throw the woman into internal chaos both mentally and physically. If there was a way to naturally alter this hormone dysfunction without having to be conscious of diet or take progesterone this could make a big difference. Goldstein and Jessen (1989) determined that flotation REST, during PMS, radically reduces reported symptoms. The study examined the effects of one float on one cycle. Turner and Fine (1985b) used flotation REST to examine its effects on hormones. They found that it has a normalizing effect on the body by significantly reducing the hormonal activity of the pituitary adrenal axis. Although not statistically significant, they did note an increase in the luteinizing hormone.