For many women, the first few days of their period can be a very uncomfortable time. If you have cramps every month during your period, I have great news for you! Chinese medicine can help your body to heal itself. Your cramps can be a thing of the past, without strong drugs or hormones.
Menstrual cramps are a very common malady. Some studies have found that as much as half of all women and about seventy-five percent of all teens suffer from dysmenorrhea or cramps every month. Cramps can be an annoyance for some, but for others can disrupt some women’s ability to work or play.
Traditional Chinese medicine has successfully treated menstrual cramps for thousands of years. Chinese medicine focuses upon many issues that could be at the root of your illness. Some are related to environmental conditions, some are related to your emotional state and some to a weakness in the body. Your acupuncturist would evaluate your symptoms and to see how she/he could best help your body to heal itself.
It is always prudent to consult your MD if you have very severe cramps to rule out any underlying illness. In many cases, cramps can be related to cold weather. During menstruation the uterus can be easily affected by cold temperatures according to Chinese medicine. If a woman spends a lot of time with her pelvic region exposed to the cold during her period (in a cold, wet swimsuit, sitting on cold surfaces etc.) the cold temperature can affect the body’s ability to bleed with can result in pain. Often this pain will be reduced by heat.
Another very common cause of cramps is stressed or repressed anger. Many of these women also have symptoms of PMS like irritability or sadness, breast tenderness or fullness and abdominal bloating. For these women, the cramps are an indication of their stress level over the past month – the stronger the cramps, the tougher the month has been for them. The cramps are a cry for help of sorts. It’s the body’s way of saying that it needs some quiet time and peace which can be achieved through meditation, yoga, tai chi etc. Acupuncture and exercise can also help the body to clear feelings of anger and frustration as well.
Many people are surprised to learn that acupuncture is a relatively painless, and actually quite relaxing experience. Most people usually fall asleep, or they feel as if they have been in a deep meditative state. Most patients who are receiving treatment look forward to the tranquility and the peace that they find during their treatment.
Chinese medicine has existed for thousands of years and has helped millions of people…just like you! If you have tried other treatments, and you have not found the help your are searching for, I encourage you to take action and give acupuncture a try!
Want to find out more about Minneapolis Acupuncture, then visit Joi Thomas, L.Ac., Dipl.O.M.’s site on how to choose the best Minneapolis Acupuncture for your needs.