your body
The way that Chinese medicine treats period pain depends greatly on the individual, as there are many different causes and contributing factors. For some women the treatment strategy involves warming up the blood, as bodies that run cold cause blood vessel constriction, which leads to pain. These women usually have cold hands and feet and want long hot showers and heat packs during their period. For other women, Chinese medicine views that there is old blood sitting in the abdomen. In these situations usually the period can contain clots, is a darker flow, which can stop and start and there can be significant cramping or sharp pain. Other women require nourishment in their abdomen so there is a bit more blood to fill the muscles and tissues to prevent them from drying out and causing pain. There are many possibilities but all strategies target the cause behind the pain as well as the pain itself and any accompanying symptoms.
Treating the cause means that Chinese herbs don’t have to be taken forever. The herbs and needles help to adjust the way the body is functioning so that it can operate in a more efficient and pain-free way. Ultimately the body learns to maintain pain and symptom free cycles by itself. A 2007 Cochrane meta-analysis of 39 randomised controlled trials involving 3475 women suffering from period pain, concluded that after three months women who used Chinese herbal medicine had an estimated two-fold improvement in pain relief and other symptoms. They also needed less pain relief than those using conventional medical treatment with no adverse effects from treatment. The World Health Organisation also reviewed controlled clinical trials and found acupuncture to be an effective treatment for period pain. There are many different and achievable ways of positively influencing period pain and menstrual symptoms, on your own, or alongside treatment from a skilled practitioner, and that’s good news for period pain sufferers. Amy O’Brien is a practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture at the Chinese Medicine Centre, East Fremantle. www.facebook.com amyobrienchinesemedicine
Quick tips for stress reduction for a more balanced and pain free body: • build time for yourself into your diary • look after yourself as well as you look after those closest to you • rediscover nature – go for a walk in the park on your lunch break rather than sitting at your desk in front of a computer screen • start the day with five deep breaths • keep a glass of water on your desk so you don’t forget to hydrate • compile a stress relieving soundtrack for your drive home from work
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Chinese herbs and acupuncture work to de-contract the uterus and improve blood flow to the pelvis to decrease pain. They can also target other symptoms that might pop up around period time including breast tenderness, mood swings, energy fluctuations, digestive problems and headaches. Treatment focuses on the underlying cause of the pain, rather than temporary relief of symptoms. The goal is always to treat rather than mask the condition.
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