Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for
the painful cramps that may occur immediately before or during the menstrual
period. Western doctors classify menstrual cramps as either primary or
secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea is another name for common
menstrual cramps. Cramps usually begin one to two years after a woman starts
getting her period. Pain usually is felt in the lower abdomen or back and can be
mild to severe. Common menstrual cramps often start shortly before or at the
onset of the period and last for one to three days. They usually become less
painful as a woman ages and may stop entirely after the woman has a baby.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is pain caused by a disorder in the woman's reproductive
organs. Pain from secondary dysmenorrhea usually begins earlier in the
menstrual cycle and lasts longer than common menstrual cramps.
The symptoms of menstrual cramps may
include:
Aching pain in the abdomen
Feeling of pressure in the abdomen
Pain in the hips, lower back, and inner thighs
Upset stomach, sometimes with vomiting
Loose stools
The following medications are used
in the treatment of period pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Hormonal birth control.
However, the patients who do not
have response to the conventional treatment or who have side effects from the
conventional therapy may seek traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies. In Chinese medicine, menstrual pain,
like other forms of pain, is caused by one or more of the following diagnostic
patterns: blockage of Qi and Blood; deficiency of Qi and Blood; retention of
Heat, Dampness or Wind; or imbalance of Kidney and Liver. The goal of treatment
(both Chinese herbs and acupuncture) is to tonify the deficiencies, open the
blockage, remove the excesses and regulate the internal organs. Differentiating
the patterns of menstrual pain depends on analyzing the timing, nature,
location, intensity, color, volume and quality of the menstrual cycle and
discharge, and "reading" the tongue, pulse, and associated symptoms.
Different herbal formulas will be subscribed for different patterns. Besides
using herbal formulas to treat dysmenorrhea, acupuncture is another viable way
to treat menstrual pain. Acupuncture can open the blockage of Qi and Blood,
balance the internal organs, and clear the blockage of meridians. Traditional Chinese
medicine has been proven safe and effective without adverse side effects. If
you would like to pursue this form of treatment or information, please contact
us.
Menstrual-Cramps
