Do you suffer from painful periods? You are not alone. Dysmenorrhoea (aka painful periods) is a common problem experienced by many women around the world. It involves pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, hips, sacrum and thighs in and around the time of menstruation. It could happen prior or subsequent to, during, or in a combination of times around the period. The pain can range from cramping and sharp to dull and dragging. The onset of the problem may have been recent or lifelong. Some women don't find it too bad whereas for others it is unbearable. Often it changes from cycle to cycle. Accompanying symptoms such as headache, nausea and diarrhoea tend to go with it.
More and more women are turning to acupuncture for help with their dysmenorrhoea. It can help considerably with the symptoms. It works directly on the pain and the nausea you may be feeling providing immediate relief. It also goes below and works on correcting the cause. The acupuncture is supported by Chinese medicinal herbs.
Dysmenorrhoea is split into two categories, primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhoea is not linked with an organic disease and generally starts in teenage years. Secondary dysmenorrhoea may be linked with an organic disease and generally starts later in life.
Chinese medicine sees two categories as well. They are defined as excess and deficient types. Both types are further divided. Excess types include stagnation of qi and blood or stagnation of cold and damp heat. Deficient types include qi and blood deficiency and kidney and liver deficiency.
Primary dysmenorrhoea.
Primary dysmenorrhoea can be caused by higher levels of prostaglandins B that control smooth muscles of the body such as blood vessels and the uterus. It could begin during teenage years and isn't connected with any organic problems. As a woman nears her next period, the levels of prostaglandins rise. Too many prostaglandins cause the smooth muscles of the uterus to over contract inducing pain. Any surplus prostaglandins that enter the bloodstream can lead to the accompanying symptoms such as the headaches, nausea and diarrhoea.
Secondary dysmenorrhoea.
Secondary dysmenorrhoea by and large starts in later life and is connected with an organic cause. These range from endometriosis (endometrial cells developing outside the uterus) or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) to intra-uterine device (IUD) problems.
Is there a more common type?
Women suffering from the excess type of dysmenorrhoea are usually the ones who seek help from an acupuncturist. This is probably because the pain and related issues are far more pronounced. Pain such as sharp, stabbing, cramping and distending is more common to the full types. Full types also tends to be felt prior and during the period.
Dragging and sinking sensations as well as dull and nagging pain tends to be more connected with the empty types and felt at the end or after the period has stopped. However, it is not uncommon to see a woman who has a combination of an excess and deficient type pattern particularly if she has been suffering for many years. She may have pain before, during and after her period.
Common methods of alleviating the pain.
Suffers of dysmenorrhoea commonly seek relief from the pain by taking either aspirin or ibuprofen. Aspirin is a mild prostaglandin inhibitor. Ibuprofen is a more effective prostaglandin inhibitor. Ibuprofen can have gastrointestinal side effects that is relieved or avoided by drinking a glass of milk prior to taking the medication. See your doctor if you have had an allergy to aspirin or other medicines - or if you are taking other medications.
Secondary dysmenorrhoea may be treated surgically such as in endometriosis. If the cause is a PID then a course of antibiotics might be prescribed. If it is due to issues with an IUD then it is probably taken out or exchanged.
What about acupuncture?
To treat dysmenorrhoea and Chinese medicine concentrates on alleviating the pain by moving the qi and the blood as well as treating the underlying cause. This includes removing the excess or tonifying the deficiency. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are the main tools used. Three menstrual cycles at the very least are usually needed to see a sustainable result. Some causes such as endometriosis can take substantially longer.
Acupuncture on its own can provide prompt relief from the pain felt in dysmenorrhoea. I ask all my patients to come in for acupuncture just prior to their expected pain arriving to strongly move qi and blood thereby easing the pain. Some women also come in during their painful stage to look for relief as it is frequently more effective than taking painkillers. Chinese herbal medicines are prescribed as part of the treatment plan to both alleviate pain as well as addressing the underlying cause.
As with all maladies, the earlier a sufferer of dysmenorrhoea looks for assistance, the earlier a satisfactory result will be accomplished. Problems of longer duration can result in longer treatment plans. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine offers another practicable treatment choice for sufferers of dysmenorrhoea. Speak with your Chinese medical doctor to see what they can do for you.
Chinese Medicine Doctor: Acupuncture & Chinese herbal medicine
Loc: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Web: Acupuncture - Melbourne
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