Acupuncture for Menstrual Problems

A Woman’s well-being is intrinsically linked to their menstrual cycle and the hormonal changes at different stages of their life. Traditional Chinese medicine has been treating women’s health issues for thousands of years and recognised premenstrual syndrome (PMS), as an actual condition and devised how to treat it, long before the West did.

From a Chinese medicine view point, how well a woman’s body is in balance will be reflected throughout her life through her menstrual cycle, fertility and during the menopause.

Stress and worry, working long hours, poor diet, chronic ill health and emotional states such as grief and anxiety can all be factors that impact on a woman’s hormonal balance and can lead to symptoms such as PMS or painful and irregular periods.

Many researchers now believe that PMS is influenced by fluctuations of hormones in the brain. Research has shown that acupuncture treatment can help to alter the brain’s mood chemistry, reducing serotonin levels and increasing endorphins, which can help to lift mood and alleviate negative emotional states.

There is also good evidence to show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for reducing the intensity of menstrual cramps and the length of time that pain is experienced.
Unlike when using painkillers for when symptoms occur, the treatment does not just focus on the symptoms, but works to prevent or reduce period pain for future cycles.

Recent systematic reviews of acupuncture research for menstrual cramps (primary dysmenorrhea) found that both acupuncture (Cho 2010a) and acupressure (Cho 2010b) provided more pain relief than pharmacological treatments.