Acupuncture for Painful periods
Menstrual disorders including amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea and irregular periods are common conditions which can be treated successfully with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine. Painful periods are considered to be due to a blockage in the Liver meridian. This blockage can cause pain before and during the period because when something is stuck and it is trying to move, it will create a lot of tension and agitation on the nerves. Usually the menses will have a dark color with clots which will further indicate a blockage or stagnation of "Liver Qi and Blood". This blockage can be due to cold entering the uterus which may be due to wearing a skirt at night or just having a general cold type of condition. In this case, herbs that are warming such as ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and fennel can help alleviate the pain. Using a castor oil pack with a hot water bottle placed over the lower abdomen can also help improve the circulation and drive out the Cold stagnation. Indian food in general is very good for painful menstruation because many of these spices help move Qi stagnation, transform dampness and move the blood. Turmeric is especially good for painful period because it is a strong "Blood invigorator" in Chinese medicine.
The point on the back of the hand between the thumb and index finger "Li 4 (Hegu)" combined with the point on the top of the foot between the the big toe and the second toe LV 3 (Taichong) are commonly called the "4 Gates". This is a very common Acupuncture combination which strongly activates Blood and Qi circulation throughout the body. Getting enough exercise is very important for improving circulation to help with painful periods. Jogging, climbing stairs, going on hikes, dancing can all help. Special exercises such as Qigong and Taichi are specifically designed to improve the flow of Qi in the body. I have diagrams and instructions for Qigong warm ups which are the most important aspect for improving circulation at
http://www.holistic-back-relief.com/qigong-warmups.html
Any way that you can reduce stress and emotional tension is also helpful for keeping "Liver Qi" flowing smoothly will help reduce the blockages which can lead to painful period. Deep breathing exercises and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) can be useful practices for not getting stuck in a state of distress, anger, sadness, worry, or fear which will adversely effect the circulation of Liver Qi and Blood.
Acupuncture and Hara abdominal massage are also extremely useful therapies for improving the circulation in the uterus and dissolving blockages and tension. Abdominal massage is an amazing healing tool which can help to heal many physical and psychological ailments, and is very relaxing to the nervous system. Getting enough rest is also very important for reducing stress. if we are constantly on the go then we have to constrict and tense our muscles and activate our sympathetic nervous system. Lying flat and relaxing the lower back is almost crucial to recovering from painful periods.
Things to remember:
1. Apply heat to the lower abdomen
2. Get enough exercise
3. Eat Indian food
4. "4 Gates" for acupressure
5. Get enough rest
6. Fennel, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cardamom, Turmeric
7. Go see your acupuncturist for a true differential diagnosis to treat your specific type of condition. Although these guidelines can be extremely useful, everyone is a little different and there is much stronger herbal remedies that can help treat painful periods than those which I have listed here. It is best to be under the care of a licensed Acupuncturist or health care physician rather than trying to self medicate oneself. Applying too much heat can cause other problems. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine is always seeking a balance between hot/cold, being active/resting, nourishing/detoxifying. Anything done in excess will cause disease.
For anymore questions, feel free to contact me.
Alex Tuggle L.Ac.
www.holistic-back-relief.com
The point on the back of the hand between the thumb and index finger "Li 4 (Hegu)" combined with the point on the top of the foot between the the big toe and the second toe LV 3 (Taichong) are commonly called the "4 Gates". This is a very common Acupuncture combination which strongly activates Blood and Qi circulation throughout the body. Getting enough exercise is very important for improving circulation to help with painful periods. Jogging, climbing stairs, going on hikes, dancing can all help. Special exercises such as Qigong and Taichi are specifically designed to improve the flow of Qi in the body. I have diagrams and instructions for Qigong warm ups which are the most important aspect for improving circulation at
http://www.holistic-back-relief.com/qigong-warmups.html
Any way that you can reduce stress and emotional tension is also helpful for keeping "Liver Qi" flowing smoothly will help reduce the blockages which can lead to painful period. Deep breathing exercises and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) can be useful practices for not getting stuck in a state of distress, anger, sadness, worry, or fear which will adversely effect the circulation of Liver Qi and Blood.
Acupuncture and Hara abdominal massage are also extremely useful therapies for improving the circulation in the uterus and dissolving blockages and tension. Abdominal massage is an amazing healing tool which can help to heal many physical and psychological ailments, and is very relaxing to the nervous system. Getting enough rest is also very important for reducing stress. if we are constantly on the go then we have to constrict and tense our muscles and activate our sympathetic nervous system. Lying flat and relaxing the lower back is almost crucial to recovering from painful periods.
Things to remember:
1. Apply heat to the lower abdomen
2. Get enough exercise
3. Eat Indian food
4. "4 Gates" for acupressure
5. Get enough rest
6. Fennel, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cardamom, Turmeric
7. Go see your acupuncturist for a true differential diagnosis to treat your specific type of condition. Although these guidelines can be extremely useful, everyone is a little different and there is much stronger herbal remedies that can help treat painful periods than those which I have listed here. It is best to be under the care of a licensed Acupuncturist or health care physician rather than trying to self medicate oneself. Applying too much heat can cause other problems. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine is always seeking a balance between hot/cold, being active/resting, nourishing/detoxifying. Anything done in excess will cause disease.
For anymore questions, feel free to contact me.
Alex Tuggle L.Ac.
www.holistic-back-relief.com
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