Painful Periods
Natural Techniques to HelpThrough Acupuncture + Self-care
Painful periods (or dysmenorrhoea in medical terms) is painful cramps originating in the uterus just prior to or during menstruation. 25-50% of adult women and about 75% of adolescents experience pain with menstruation, and some 5-20% report severe pain that prevents them from carrying on with their usual activities.
That’s an awful lot of ladies suffering each month. Luckily, the Period Policy has just been introduced (read a little more about the Period Policy here) taking in to consideration the difficulties we often suffer month by month. Hooray!
But in addition to this, to help minimise interruption to your day to day life, acupuncture offers a natural technique in pain management, helping to re-establish a healthy flow.
Take a little read of my story below to help better understand your own body and the physiological imbalances according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
My Story
Heat, Stagnation & The Liver, in Chinese Medicine
The Science
How does acupuncture help period pains?
Acupuncture may help reduce symptoms of painful periods (dysmenorrhoea) by:
- regulating neuroendocrine activities and the related receptor expression of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis (Liu 2009; Yang 2008)
- increasing nitric oxide levels, which relaxes smooth muscle and hence may inhibit uterine contractions (Wang 2009)
- increasing relaxation and reducing tension (Samuels 2008). Acupuncture can alter the brain’s mood chemistry, reducing serotonin levels (Zhou 2008) and increasing endorphins (Han, 2004) and neuropeptide Y levels (Lee 2009), which can help to combat negative affective states
- stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors, and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord (Pomeranz, 1987; Zijlstra 2003; Cheng 2009);
- reducing inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors (Zijlstra 2003; Kavoussi 2007)
Find out more about how acupuncture can help with painful periods on the British Acupuncture council website.
About Kimberley
Kimberley, Acupuncturist and Clinic Director at Life + Lemons, is a registered TCM (Traditional Chinese Medical) Acupuncturist, passionate about helping women reclaim their feminine edge. After graduating with a First Class Honors in York, she has undertaken specialist training in the area of pain management, natural conception, IVF support, menopause + pelvic pain (endometriosis/dysmenorrhea).
Find Out more about acupuncture for painful periods
Drop us an email and we will get back to you shortly!