Did you know the menstrual cycle is closely linked with the body's well-being. When the body is affected by hormonal shifts, illness, medications, and environmental change, changes in menstruation patterns are often the first outward symptom a woman notices. Did you know that your menstrual cycle is supposed to be painless? If you are suffering every month this article is for you. Dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cramps) is uterine pain associated with menses starting 1-3 days before menstruation, peaks 24 hours after the periods starts and subsides 2-3 days into the period. There are 2 types of painful periods Primary ,which is the most common, is pain due to cramping and reduced blood flow and Secondary which is less common and is a result of pelvic abnormalities.
These pelvic abnormalities manifest as medical conditions such as Endometriosis which is a condition that occurs when the endometrium — the tissue that lines the uterus — grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis typically involves the tissue lining the pelvis, ovaries, or fallopian tubes. It rarely spreads beyond the pelvic organs and is often quite painful. It's a very common condition with more than 3 million cases diagnosed per year in the US, the symptoms include heavy bleeding, backache, severe cramping, and abdominal pain and swelling. One of the main causes of disease and dysfunction is a lack of blood and oxygen to a particular area. Acupuncture restores flow to the blood and the oxygen relieving pain and creating an alkaline environment in your body.
Need some proof?
According to the National Library of Medicine which conducted a case study on Japanese-style acupuncture for endometriosis-related pelvic pain versus Sham (dry needling) Acupuncture. In the study 14 people were divided into 2 groups. 1 group received acupuncture and the other group received sham acupuncture. Over 1 month the group that got acupuncture had a 62% drop in pain vs the sham acupuncture group had a 5% drop in pain.
Another very common condition women suffer from is PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) which occurs when fluid-filled sacs or pockets are present in or on the surface of the ovary. Symptoms include:
A dull or sharp pain in the lower abdomen, at the location of cyst
Fullness or heaviness in the lower abdomen
Abdominal bloating or swelling
Nausea and vomiting
Painful bowel movements
Pain during sexual activity
Severe pain before or during menstrual cycles
Fever
Rapid breathing
Most ovarian cysts develop from tissues formed during a normal menstrual cycle.
Factors that influence the formation of cysts include hormonal imbalance, including fertility drugs, pregnancy, endometriosis or growth of endometrial cells, which are found inside the uterus, on the ovary or a pelvic infection that spreads to the ovary.
Evidence on the effectiveness of the Acupuncture in treating PCOS comes from none other than our friends at the National Library of Medicine. Who state that Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for PCOS as the adverse effects of pharmacologic interventions are not expected by women with PCOS. Acupuncture therapy may have a role in PCOS by: increasing of blood flow to the ovaries, reducing of ovarian volume and the number of ovarian cysts, controlling hyperglycemia through increasing insulin sensitivity and decreasing blood glucose and insulin levels, reducing cortisol levels and assisting in weight loss and anorexia. However, well-designed, randomized controlled trials are needed to elucidate the true effect of acupuncture on PCOS.
Fibroids more specifically Uterine fibroids are also very common and are benign tumors that originate in the uterus (womb). It is also called an Uterine myoma.
Symptoms include:
Excessive menstrual bleeding
Menstrual periods lasting for over seven days
Feeling of bulginess in the pelvic region
Frequent urination
Trouble in emptying the bladder
Constipation
Spinal or leg distress
The exact cause for uterine fibroids is not known. It could be due to various factors such as:
genetic changes, hormonal variations or development factors however we here at The Point of Health are here to help. Acupuncture can help increase blood and oxygen flow, remove any blockages, heal the body naturally and alkalize the body which as you know disease can not present in an alkaline environment.
Let's make it plain shall we...
If you’re a woman who’s looking for relief from painful menstrual cramps or common female reproductive conditions Acupuncture is for you! Regular Acupuncture treatments increase blood and oxygen in the body. When there is good blood and oxygen flow in the body, the body has all it needs to heal itself . Treatments alkalizes the body so the disease can’t flourish. Acupuncture treats a host of diseases including but not limited to the aforementioned as well as:
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Menopause and perimenopause
Pregnancy and postpartum support
Fibromyalgia
Insomnia and sleep disturbances
Depression and anxiety
Bacterial Vaginosis / Candida
Please keep in mind ladies and male allies while life expectancy is higher for women than men in most countries, a number of health and social factors combine to create a lower quality of life for women. So while you’re running around taking care of everybody else take a little time for yourself and your health.