Women dread their periods for many reasons. One of the most common among them is dysmenorrhea, or painful menstrual cramping. If you’ve had it, you know what it feels like; throbbing, persistent aches in the lower abdomen, back and thighs accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fatigue and diarrhea. It’s the reason women throughout history have called their periods “The Curse.”
When dysmenorrhea begins, you may find yourself running to the nearest bodega for Midol. While painkillers can be efficacious in numbing the pain, there are more ancient, powerful tools for treating dysmenorrhea. You may have guessed where I’m going with this—that’s right, to acupuncture.
In 2008, a trial was conducted on 60 randomly assigned females ranging in age from 17 to 23. One group was given acupuncture treatments for 20 minutes, 15 days out of the month, for a total of 90 days. The other group—titled the control group—was not given any acupuncture. The group that received acupuncture showed significant decrease on the visual analog scale score for pain, menstrual cramps, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, faintness, mood changes, tiredness, nausea and vomiting compared with those in the control group. The study, Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial, concluded that acupuncture was an effective tool for treating dysmenorrhea.
A systematic review and meta-analysis in 2018 was published in Medicine (Baltimore), which also showed promising results in the treatment of dysmenorrhea with acupuncture. The reviewers searched 10 electronic databases for randomized control trials (RCTs) in which women were treated for dysmenorrhea using acupuncture. The RCTs compared acupuncture to no treatment, placebo or medications, and measured pain levels with associated symptoms. The following was concluded:
It was found that manual acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and warm acupuncture was more effective at reducing menstrual pain compared to no treatment or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and some studies showed that the efficacy of acupuncture was maintained after a short-term follow-up.[1]
To me, the results make a lot of sense. Traditional Chinese medicine, of which acupuncture is a part, views the body as a whole, rather than as a collection of disparate parts. Acupuncture aims to treat the root cause of a symptom, rather than merely the symptom itself, leading to long-term, and often permanent, relief.
Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches that stagnation is the condition that leads to dysmenorrhea. For normal periods to occur, blood must be plentiful and move properly throughout the body. The proper movement of blood relies on the free flowing energy of Liver Qi — menstruation overall is driven by the Liver, Chong Meridian and Ren Meridian. One blocked system can create overall disharmony.
You may wonder what can cause stagnation in the uterus. Emotional strain is at the top of the list, caused by harboring anger, frustration or resentment. Cold and damp conditions, when they come in direct contact with the vaginal, abdominal or lower back region, can cause the uterus to contract and blood to stagnate. Overwork or chronic illness, both of which lead to a deficiency of qi and blood, can prevent the uterus from properly filling with blood. And having children too closely together can prevent the uterus from properly healing and filling with energy, causing very painful periods.
When a patient comes to me complaining of bad menstrual pain, my treatment includes careful observation of the tongue and body, the pulse and a series of thoughtful questions. I want to know where the pain is located, and what relieves it (for example, pressure, or the application of heat or cold). I want to understand the type of pain my patient is suffering — cramping, stabbing or burning pain. Once I understand everything about my client’s individual experience, I can begin my treatment.
My goal in treating dysmenorrhea is to balance out any disharmonies, and allow a healthy and pain-free cycle to occur. I recommend at least three months of treatment for the best results, as well as herbal treatments tailored to each individual.
So before you make that late night run to the bodega for a pain reliever, think about trying acupuncture. Unlike pain relievers, acupuncture treats the root cause of the pain of dysmenorrhea, and can offer lasting, if not permanent, relief. Curse be gone.
Acupuncturist, herbalist, Maya abdominal practitioner, and reflexologist Christina Morris is the founder of Element Natural Healing Arts. Writing about health and wellness gives her an outlet to express her care and concern for her beloved community. She believes everyone can achieve better health and happiness–emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
[1] Woo HL, Ji HR, Pak YK, Lee H, Heo SJ, Lee JM, & Park KS, et.al. (2018, June). The efficacy and safety of acupuncture in women with primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine(Baltimore), 97(23).