Acupuncture PMS and Dysmenorrhea

 

acupuncture pmsA healthy menstrual cycle should come at regular intervals about every 28 days, arriving and departing uneventfully like the peaking and ebbing of the ocean tides.

PMS and dysmenorrhea (painful periods) is the most common cause of women not being at work, school, or social gatherings.  Some women spend up to one week of the month in bed and in pain.  They are missing important times in their lives because of the horrible pain and discomfort they are in.  Despite the significant negative impact on their lives, they do not seek treatment because they believe this is normal.

Pain and discomfort is your body way of telling you that there is something wrong.  According to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) theory, there are three primary reasons for PMS and dysmenorrhea.

  1. Liver Qi stagnation; Liver Qi stagnation causes distending pain in the lower abdomen, which may refer to the waist and back; when Qi stagnation leads to blood stasis, there may be spells of sharp, stabbing pain, which is relieved by the passing of small clots of menstrual blood. Stagnated liver Qi can also cause the irritability and emotional issues associated with PMS.
  2. Cold accumulation; cold accumulation will slow and coagulate the blood, causing blood stasis; this pattern causes the sharp, stabbing pain associated with blood stasis, as well as the cramping or contracting of the uterine muscles due to cold accumulation
  3. Qi and blood deficiency; deficient Qi and blood fail to nourish the uterus, leading to dull, aching pain that may occur during or after menstruation.

When there is an imbalance in the body, irregularities arise.  These present as delayed, scant, absent or painful periods, breast dissension, premenstrual tension, irritability, menstrual migraines, clotting, lower back or flank pain, skin breakouts, bloating, fluid retention, diarrhea and/or constipation. With regular acupuncture treatments, it is possible to strengthen the bodies deficiencies, move any blockages and subdue any excess, restoring the body to its natural balance of mind, body and spirit causing a feeling of wellbeing.

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