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Acupuncture for Period Pain Relief
Period pain, also known as dysmenorrhea, can be a debilitating issue for many women, especially younger women. Acupuncture, a part of traditional Chinese medicine, is a well-known alternative treatment for reducing period pains and treating issues related to irregular periods.
Acupuncture has been proven to help get the blood flowing more freely, which can help regulate the menstrual cycle and ease cramps, headaches, other period pains and elements of women’s health. It can also be used in conjunction with other natural remedies such as Chinese herbal medicine.
4 Common Menstrual Issues:
- Irregular Periods
- Heavy Periods
- Period Pains
- Acne
Before diving into details, if you want to know some pain-relieving techniques to manage your pain, click on our period pain relief tips.
4 Common Menstrual Issues that can affect a woman’s health
- Irregular Periods- Irregular periods can be worrisome and inconvenient, but it is common to have irregular bleeding in the first two years following the start of menstruation; for example, a young woman may have two periods in one month or could sometimes go four months or more without getting another period. Plus, women with irregular menstrual periods may experience unpredictable and inconsistent cycles, which can be a symptom of a hormonal imbalance or any underlying health condition.
- Heavy Periods- Some women have heavier periods than others, but if it gets too heavy, it can affect their daily life and even cause anaemia. Anaemia is a condition where there’s a lack of iron in the blood, resulting in feeling tired, difficulty with physical activity, dizziness, and in some cases, fainting.
- Period pains- Painful periods are one of the most common reasons that girls see their healthcare provider. Many women experience cramps, headaches, and other types of pain during their period. Prostaglandin is a hormone that is released during menstruation and is responsible for causing painful uterine contractions and resulting in cramps.
- Acne- Many teenagers experience acne. The hormones that are involved in the menstrual cycle can contribute to acne as well, resulting in breakouts that become worse during periods.
How does acupuncture help in treating menstrual issues like cramps and period pains?
Studies have shown that acupuncture can effectively help to reduce the severity and duration of painful menstrual periods.
Unlike the painkillers provided by your doctor, which only provide temporary pain relief, acupuncture can not only help to reduce the pain during your period in the current cycle but also potentially lessen its intensity in future cycles.
During your initial acupuncture session, your practitioner will take a physical and mental history to understand the root cause of your symptoms. Hormonal fluctuations during a woman’s time of the month can also lead to various other symptoms such as bloating, breast tenderness, fluid retention, mood swings, food cravings, digestive irregularities, and headaches.
As a traditional Chinese medicine clinic in Auckland, we address these issues as part of your treatment plan. Your acupuncture is customized to meet to suit every stage of your menstrual cycle.
In Chinese medicine, we see the body and mind as an interconnected system, where each part cannot be fully understood without considering its relationship to the whole. Our goal is to treat both the underlying cause and the presenting symptoms so that your painful periods and other women’s healthcare related pains can be managed effectively.
Hence, below are how we can help you relieve your menstrual pains via acupuncture.
1. Acupuncture regulates the hormones that control your menstruation, thereby relieving you from painful periods
Several hormones are responsible for ensuring a regular period. Acupuncture could assist with regulating periods by regulating the feedback loop between the brain and the ovaries, also known as the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovarian (HPO) axis.
When hormones are in balance, the HPO axis will work as it should, leading to regular ovulation and periods. Studies have shown that acupuncture can help reduce levels of follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) and hormones that block ovulation, resulting in the natural resolution of menstrual problems.
2. Acupuncture improves ovarian and uterine blood flow, effectively managing your period
One of the ways acupuncture can support hormone regulation, and its ultimate impact on hormone balance, is by improving ovarian and uterine blood flow. High levels of stress and ageing can decrease the flow of nutrient-dense blood to the reproductive organs.
Acupuncture can help to calm the nervous system, thereby causing the blood vessels to dilate, thereby increasing the flow of blood. Well-nourished ovaries function more efficiently to deal with menstrual issues. Further, adequate blood flow to the uterus ensures the endometrial lining can grow to an appropriate thickness, allowing you to menstruate regularly.
3. Acupuncture stimulates natural ovulation, resulting in a regular and healthy menstruation
As noted above, acupuncture balances hormones and increases blood flow to reproductive organs, which has a domino effect. When hormones are in balance and there’s good blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, acupuncture can help facilitate natural ovulation.
Additionally, with proper communication between the brain and ovaries, the ovaries can mature and release an egg, leading to ovulation. In cases where there is no pregnancy, a period will occur about 14 days later.
Your periods can potentially become more regular with acupuncture. The key is improved blood flow and balanced hormones. To achieve these improvements, a typical course of acupuncture treatment consisting of three menstrual cycles is the minimum recommendation.
Best of all, acupuncture is a safe, drug-free form of medical treatment to cure you naturally. Learn more about period pain acupuncture with us here at Ponsonby Wellness.