Period pain is a pain that takes place in the belly & pelvic area at the time of menstruation. It may start a few days or shortly before the period. The pain aggravates within twenty-four hours after the onset of bleeding & subside usually as menstruation tapers off. The pain interferes with regular activities of life affecting ninety percent of adolescent girls & fifty percent of women. A woman may experience aching and sharp pain and the discomfort may extend to legs or lower backs.
There are mainly two kinds of menstrual cramps – one is primary dysmenorrhea and the other one is secondary dysmenorrhea.
The first variety is a menstrual pain, which happens around time when menstrual period starts. It’s not related to any specific problem. Increased activity of hormone prostaglandin that’s produced in uterus usually plays a role in such condition. The second kind of pain develops later in women who experience normal periods and is basically related to problems in uterus or pelvic organs. About half of women who undergo menstruation suffer from period pains and ten percent among them have severe dysmenorrhea.
Causes of the menstrual pain
When blood is abundant and moves smoothly there is no pain experienced in period. In TCM, the cause of this pain is basically the stagnation of qi & blood. The liver stores blood and promotes the smooth flowing of qi as well as blood all over the body. When the liver doesn’t work properly flow of the qi & blood is hampered and that results in pain. Liver is considered as an organ of woman; the other organs that are involved in menstrual pain according to TCM include stomach, kidneys and spleen.
Symptoms of period pain
- Loose stools
- Stomach upset sometimes accompanied with vomiting
- Pain in the lower back, hips & inner things
- feeling of pressure in abdomen
- Aching or severe pain in abdomen
Western medicines for treating period pain
If you consult a doctor, he or she will prescribe you hormonal medications or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve you from the pain. These drugs usually have side effects of upset stomach, nausea, diarrhoea and peptic ulcer. So, it’s better not to consume them.
Acupuncture is the best way of relieving menstrual pain
Acupuncture can be used for uncovering the root cause of the body’s imbalance that’s causing painful periods. It can help restore the balance among hormones by enhancing the flow of energy within the body and provide relief. It is a safe & natural treatment. A lot of women after undergoing acupuncture in Hills District and other places in Australia reported positive results.