Menstrual cramp is something I never got used to, and most likely won’t. Especially after it made me absent from school, reducing my focus and affecting my overall productivity every month.
The constant pill-popping method was no good for me either as it caused more harm than good because it only brought me temporary reliefs. I decided to stop taking them.
A high percentage of women suffer from this monthly, year in and out. One thing is for sure, it’s a disorder that needs to be treated like any other disease.
Dysmenorrhea often referred to as painful menstruation, is the severe abdominal pain some women experience during their periods. The experience differs for everyone and can range from mild to almost unbearable extending into several days of each month.
It is classified by western doctors into two types;
The primary and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea is a pain that usually occurs before or during menstruation in the lower abdomen and isn’t as a result of any disease. It is also common in women under the age of 25, and symptoms range from back and thigh pains, headaches, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
The misconception that the pain is a part of the menstrual cycle and not a disorder needs to be erased. This is because it has led to it being the most common gynecological disorder in women irrespective of age and nationality.
Secondary dysmenorrhea, on the other hand, is the pain that is caused by physical problems. These physical problems may be endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Approach to Dysmenorrhea
This refers to pain currently occurring before, during, and after menstruation in the abdominal and lumbosacral region. TCM views this as in regards to other diseases from the root cause, which can be liver qi stagnation, cold accumulation, qi, and blood deficiency.
Qi stagnation is the aching pain in the lower abdomen, waist, and back. It is sometimes accompanied by sharp pains that could be relieved by passing out small clots of menstrual blood. This stagnant blood can also be linked to PMS (premenstrual syndrome) irritability and emotional reactions.
Cold accumulation refers to the blood stasis or coagulation (the process of forming semisolid lumps), usually accompanied by sharp, stabbing pain and the contraction of the uterine muscle.
Qi and blood deficiency can be associated with the dull aching pain that occurs during or after menstruation. It is mostly caused by a malnourished uterus. Usually, it is alleviated by warmth, and thus moxibustion is an excellent therapy for it.
What this means is, menstrual pains are an increase in tension and contraction of the uterine muscles. This, in turn, spikes the prostaglandin that makes the discomfort almost unbearable.
Here is some advice I can give, as these have worked for me;
· Attend to this with the mindset of taking precautions to avert painful menstruation by forming a regular habit of exercise. This helps increase levels of endorphins, which is the body’s natural pain killer, and equally helps remove blood and qi stagnation.
· Acupressure is a technique that applies moderate pressure and massage to the abdomen and acupuncture points.
· Avoid consumption of cold foods and drinks, substitute for nutritious meals.
· A study by Tarbait Modarres University in Iran found vitamin E of 200g, 3 days before a period is due, to relieve cramps.
· Other vitamins and magnesium supplements, omega -3 fatty acids, can help reduce the period of pain.
· A hot water bottle in the lower abdomen and back to soothe period pains.
· Acupuncture and moxibustion are an excellent means of preventing menstrual pain and have a long term effect. While some improve and do not need further treatment, others might need a monthly session, once or twice, before the start of the cycle to see improvements.
Lastly, if you’re struggling with recurrent painful periods just like I did and you want to give acupuncture a trial, have this at the back of your mind, it doesn’t hurt. It might just be all you need to avert the pain.
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