Painful Periods and Chinese Medicine
Painful periods, also called dysmenorrhea, is the term used to describe pain in the lower abdomen before, during, or after menstruation. The pain can extend to the thighs or low back. It can be sharp or dull, and it often comes and goes. It most commonly is most severe during the first 24 hours of menstruation. Symptoms tend to be more severe if menstrual periods started at a young age, if a woman smokes, if periods are long or heavy, or if family members also have dysmenorrhea. It is considered primary if there is no other identifiable cause. This is often the case when it starts in adolescence and becomes less severe with age and childbirth. Secondary dysmenorrhea is the term used for menstrual pain that is due to another condition, such as fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or the presence of an intrauterine device (IUD). Painful periods may be the result of the release of prostaglandins during the period. These substances are high in women with primary dysmenorrhea. The known effects of prostaglandins on the body include cause the uterus to contract, reduce blood flow to the uterus, and make nerve endings in the uterus more sensitive to pain. Treatment with conventional medicine consists of treating any causative disease (i.e. fibroids, etc.), recommending a generally healthy diet and lifestyle, sometimes vitamins, and occasionally hormonal treatments such as oral contraceptive pills.
Chinese medicine perspective of painful periods
Certain channels in the body are particularly involved with menstruation, namely, the Liver, Penetrating, and Directing vessels. If there is a problem with any of these channels, such as being stagnant and not flowing smoothly, or deficient and weak, it can cause menstrual problems including painful periods. These channels influence the smooth flow and sufficient volume of both qi and Blood to the uterus. Other patterns that are often also present when there is period pain include Kidney deficiency, Damp Heat, Fire, and Cold. A Chinese medicine practitioner usually takes a multifaceted approach to treating painful periods. This often includes acupuncture, bodywork, moxibustion, Chinese herbal medicine, diet, vitamin, exercise and lifestyle recommendations. Through the use of some combination of these modalities, dysmenorrhea usually improves markedly within one month. It is common for it to continue to improve over the next couple months of treatment, and it is common for this improvement to ‘hold’ after this initial course of treatment with less frequent treatment. However, as with most symptoms and diseases, some degree of occasional treatment is usually recommended in order to prevent those causative patterns from creeping back. Treating the causative pattern of painful periods often provides the patient with pleasant surprises in other improvements – such as better energy, sleep, mood, skin, and digestion.
Tips for Painful Periods
Besides going for Chinese medical treatment, the following are things you can do to reduce the severity of period pain:
Castor oil packs to low abdomen (stop a few days before expected period; do not use after ovulation if pregnancy is possible; do not use during menstruation)
Heating pad
Epsom salt bath
Vitamins: omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed, magnesium, vitamin B1, vitamin E, and zinc.
Massage (Maya abdominal massage is very helpful for dysmenorrhea)
Keep warm – especially during the period, and especially the low back and pelvic region; do not swim in cold water during your period
Consume plenty of water (not cold or iced)
Consume warming foods and drinks (broths and soups are excellent)