How Period Cramps can stop with Acupuncture
Period cramps can be so debilitating! But did you know that acupuncture can help?
I have seen patients with debilitating, sharp and stabbing pain (I mean a 10/10 on the pain scale) reduce their pain with just a few acupuncture sessions. I have seen patients with endometriosis experience immediate pain relief with acupuncture that would have put them out for the week. I have seen severe cramping pain disappear by the end of the acupuncture session.
And there is not only patient testimonials that show that acupuncture can help period cramps, there is also a plethora of research out there!
For example, a research study conducted by Ma, Ye, Liu, Cai, Li, Du and Gao (A clinical trial of acupuncture about time-varying treatment and points selection in primary dysmenorrhea, 2013) found that acupuncture can significantly reduce period pain. How cool!
What they compared in this study was: multiple acupuncture points versus one acupuncture point, acupuncture just before the period versus acupuncture during the period, and acupuncture across three menstrual cycles.
The researchers in this study (which was a blinded clinical study with 600 participants!) found that patients who were treated just as the period pain began had the most significant reduction of pain across all the subjects! And those who received acupuncture before their cycles also noticed pain relief, it just wasn’t as drastic as receiving acupuncture when the pain is actually happening. The ones in the control group (the people who did not receive acupuncture) did not have any significant change to their pain scores. This really shows in my opinion that acupuncture can help us manage and relieve period pain and cramps.
What this also tells me is that I need to advise my patients to come in as close to or as the pain begins for the menstrual cycle. Which is interesting because I have always found that if I treat my patient on the first day of their cycle with the most severe pain, they tend to have the biggest relief.
This research always lights me up, particularly because I feel like we have been told all of our lives that period pain and cramping is just a normal facet of our menstrual cycles. SUCH A LIE.
Do you have period cramps that affect your daily (well, monthly) life? Book an appointment with me by clicking here.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended for the purpose of providing medical advice. All information, content and material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment.
