Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) refer to a collection of physical and emotional symptoms that can occur in the weeks leading up to a woman’s menstrual period. Hex is an ancient German word meaning witchcraft or sorcery. At first glance, PMS and hex may seem completely unrelated. However, some connections have been drawn between the two throughout history. This article will explore whether PMS really is the same as hex.
Defining PMS and PMDD
PMS refers to physical and emotional symptoms that start in the week or two before a woman’s period and go away within a few days after her period starts. Up to 80% of women experience at least some mild PMS symptoms such as bloating, headaches, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, or changes in appetite and sleep patterns. For most women, these symptoms are manageable. However, about 5% of women suffer from PMDD, a more severe form of PMS with symptoms severe enough to interfere with work, relationships, and everyday activities.
PMDD is characterized by severe irritability, depression, or anxiety starting in the week or two before a woman’s period. These emotional symptoms markedly worsen during the premenstrual week and improve within a few days of the start of bleeding. To be diagnosed with PMDD, a woman must have at least 5 of the following 11 symptoms:
| Marked mood swings | Feeling overwhelmed or out of control |
| Depressed mood | Joint or muscle pain |
| Excessive irritability and anger | Fatigue |
| Anxiety | Food cravings |
| Decreased interest in usual activities | Bloating |
| Difficulty concentrating | Breast tenderness or swelling |
These symptoms must significantly interfere with work, school, usual social activities, or relationships. The symptoms should not represent an exacerbation of another disorder. PMDD is thought to affect 3–8% of menstruating women.
The exact mechanisms behind PMS and PMDD are not fully understood but are thought to involve hormonal fluctuations related to the menstrual cycle interacting with neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate mood and pain perception. There may also be an underlying genetic predisposition in some women.
The History of Hexes
The word hex comes from an ancient German word, “haxa” meaning “witch.” A hex refers to a magical spell or curse placed on someone with the intention of causing harm or misfortune. Belief in witchcraft and hexes dates back centuries around the world. However, hexes are most infamously associated with the witch hunts and trials of medieval and early modern Europe and America from about 1450-1750 AD.
During the witch hunts, tens of thousands of people (mostly women) were accused of practicing malevolent witchcraft or hexing others. They were often tortured into confessing and sometimes executed by burning or hanging. Historical records show that accusations sometimes deliberately targeted women seen as outspoken, abnormal, or difficult to control – like older single or widowed women.
Some modern researchers view the witch hunts as a way for society to control and punish those who deviated from expected gender roles and behaviors at the time. However, ancient beliefs about curses, magic, and harmful occult practices contributed to the hysteria against supposed witches during this period in history.
PMS and Hexes Linked in Folklore
There are some interesting historical folk beliefs that link women’s premenstrual changes with having supernatural powers or practicing hexes. In the 16th and 17th centuries, many believed in the idea that during their menses, women had access to their “bad blood” which could be used for magic and curses.
There was a folk belief that a menstruating woman could break mirrors, dull knives, blur pictures, cause pickled food to spoil, or otherwise disrupt order within a household. Wild animals like dogs were thought to go insane in the presence of menstrual blood. Flowers were believed to wilt when touched by a menstruating woman.
Some European folklore described menstruating women as transient witches who were more powerful, dangerous or able to curse others during this bleeding time. There was a superstition that rabbits and hares could be hexed by encountering menstrual blood, causing them to become paralyzed with fear.
Other folk beliefs warned against offending or provoking a premenstrual woman lest she place a curse on you. There was a view that women’s unstable emotional states while premenstrual made them more prone to hexing or lashing out with harmful magic.
So while PMS itself was not explicitly described in early modern folklore, many traditional beliefs linked women’s cyclical changes and unstable moods before menses with the supernatural, malevolent magic, and placing hexes on others.
Evaluating the Link Between PMS and Hexing
The historical association between PMS and hexing arose from misogynistic views, superstitions, and fear of the unknown rather than medical science. However, some researchers have looked for evidence of any true connection between a woman’s premenstrual changes and abilities or inclinations usually ascribed to witches.
Menstrual Cycles and Magic
Some modern magical practitioners believe that a woman’s spiritual powers fluctuate across her menstrual cycle, reaching their peak during menstruation. However, there is no scientific evidence that a woman’s place in her menstrual cycle impacts her abilities to influence random events or others through focused intention, spells, or hexes.
PMS Emotions and Anti-Social Tendencies
Studies show that PMS symptoms like depression, irritability, and anger can lower frustration tolerance and increase reactivity to stress. However, there is no evidence that PMS causes women to purposely wish harm upon others or make them more capable of hexing or cursing. Severe PMDD may increase risk for suicidal thoughts or self-harm, but not violence against others.
PMS Beliefs Impacting Behavior
Research does suggest believing one is premenstrual can lead to exaggeration of symptoms or negative behavior. Women primed to think they are premenstrual often report more anger, irritability, depression, food cravings, bloating, and pain.
So while PMS itself has no supernatural effects, believing hormonal changes influence mood and behavior can potentially become a self-fulfilling prophecy. This may indirectly link PMS to aggressive behavior in some contexts. However, this is very different from PMS giving women powers to hex others.
Modern Views on PMS and Hexing
Today, we understand PMS as a complex interaction of hormonal fluctuations, chemical changes in the brain, and individual factors like stress levels and preexisting mood disorders. Hexing is considered magical thinking without scientific basis. However, some key perspectives have endured:
– PMS symptoms can negatively impact relationships if not managed well. Severe PMDD requires medical treatment.
– Women still face gender biases, stigma, and dismissal of their suffering during PMS. Minimizing real health impacts can worsen outcomes.
– Beliefs, attitudes, and stereotypes about PMS can significantly shape women’s experience of symptoms.
– Viewing difficult emotions and behavior in women as supernatural, evil, or something to be punished or controlled has caused tremendous harm historically and persists today.
– Women accused of hexing or witchcraft were often just exhibiting human traits like strong will, sexuality, or nonconformity to gender roles. But they suffered for not fitting societal norms.
Conclusion
While PMS and hexing were linked in historical folklore, no scientific evidence supports premenstrual changes giving women powers to curse others. However, recognizing PMS as a real medical condition requiring care, avoiding minimizing attitudes, and fighting misogynistic views of women’s emotions and behaviors remain as important today as in the past.
