Treating Dysmenorrhea: The Power of Acupoints and Traditional Chinese Medicine

April 1, 2024

This Acupoint has a Good Effect on Treating Dysmenorrhea

 

Dysmenorrhea is a common problem for women, and it can be very uncomfortable. In severe cases, it can even affect normal work and life. So what should we do about dysmenorrhea? Traditional Chinese medicine says that massaging this acupoint can effectively treat dysmenorrhea.

 

When women reach a certain age, they will have menstruation. Some people don't experience any pain, but for others, it can be excruciating. So what can we do about it? What methods does traditional Chinese medicine have to treat dysmenorrhea? Read on to find out.

 

The Most Hated Symptom for Women During Menstruation is the simultaneous occurrence of symptoms such as abdominal pain, headache, back pain, and vomiting. Women often have a bad mood during menstruation. If it doesn't affect daily life, most women don't pay much attention to it. However, sometimes the pain can be very intense, making it difficult to do household chores or work. Some people have to take painkillers to relieve the pain, and some even have to lie in bed. Although this is a physiological phenomenon for women, if we can simply think of it this way, women would not find it unbearable.

 

It seems that menstrual pain is related to mood. We always believe that we will experience pain during menstruation, so this idea becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. We really start to feel pain. In reality, the pain is not that severe, but it starts to hurt during physical education class because we believe that we should not exercise during menstruation. In fact, for many psychogenic pain, as long as we are passionate about something, we can forget about it completely. Because the idea of not moving during menstruation instead hinders blood circulation and increases pain. Therefore, it is very important to do appropriate exercise in accordance with the condition of our body. I hope women can reestablish the correct concept.

 

Treating Menstrual Pain with Acupoints and Acupressure

 

Here, I will introduce two acupoints that are very effective for relieving dysmenorrhea. They may be able to help you.

 

One is called "Sanyinjiao," which is an essential acupoint for female diseases. It is also known as "Female Three Miles" and has a good therapeutic effect on women.

 

Start from the inside of the ankle on the foot, press along the bone and go up four fingers until you reach the most painful point. Slowly exhale and press hard every 6 seconds, repeating 20 times.

 

Secondly, there is an acupoint called "Neiguan" (Inner Pass). Neiguan is on the inside of the wrist, about three fingers' width from the central line of the transverse crease near the wrist.

 

Exhale slowly and press hard for 2 seconds, repeating 5 times. Please apply the same pressure to both sides.

 

By doing this, the menstrual pain will disappear.

 

How Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Dysmenorrhea

 

Most women have experienced dysmenorrhea. According to traditional Chinese medicine, dysmenorrhea is related to our emotions, lifestyle, and the external pathogenic factors we encounter.

 

Dietary adjustments can reduce triggers. Avoid cold foods: Women with poor gastrointestinal function or cold constitution should avoid eating cold foods during the premenstrual and menstrual periods, such as cold drinks, cold salads, crabs, pears, persimmons, watermelons, bananas, bitter gourds, mangosteens, green beans, cucumbers, and water chestnuts, to avoid worsening dysmenorrhea.

 

Avoid Sour Foods

 

Acidic foods have astringent and contracting effects, which are not conducive to the smooth flow and discharge of menstrual blood. Therefore, dysmenorrhea patients should avoid consuming acidic foods during menstruation, including rice vinegar, pickles, pomegranates, green plums, mangoes, apricots, plums, lemons, etc.

 

Avoid Spicy Foods

 

For patients who experience dysmenorrhea due to pelvic inflammatory disease and have a hot or damp-heat constitution, eating spicy, warm, or highly stimulating foods can aggravate pelvic congestion and inflammation, or cause excessive uterine contractions, thus worsening the pain. Therefore, avoid eating chili peppers, peppers, garlic, scallions, ginger, leeks, durians, and spicy condiments.

 

Simple and Effective Traditional Chinese Medicine Massage

 

Lie flat on the bed with your legs bent. Push down from the upper abdomen to the lower abdomen repeatedly 5-10 times; massage the abdomen clockwise with the base of your palm 5-10 times; use the fingertips of your index, middle, and ring fingers to rotate and massage around the navel for 3-5 minutes to create a warm sensation; from the inner side of the thigh, the inner side of the ankle, along the line of the tibia, use the base of your palm and the fingertips of your fingers to massage, which can relieve tension in the lower abdomen, especially the acupoint three fingers above the inner side of the ankle (Sanyinjiao), which is extremely effective in relieving dysmenorrhea; from below the navel, about four fingers' width below, to the edge of the pubic hair, it is also an effective acupoint for massaging dysmenorrhea. Close your four fingers together and press with your middle finger slowly to relieve pain.

 

Improve Lifestyle Habits for Quick Results

 

During menstruation, drink less coffee, tea, cola, and eat less foods with caffeine such as chocolate. Avoid alcohol. Keep warm during menstruation. Taking a hot bath can accelerate blood circulation and relax tense muscles and nerves. Ensure adequate rest and avoid excessive fatigue. Control your emotions and keep your mood relaxed. Avoid vigorous exercise, especially water sports such as swimming and water skiing. However, also avoid sitting still for long periods, which can lead to poor blood and Qi circulation and poor menstrual blood flow. Take a walk and do some simple and gentle exercises, such as bending and relaxing movements in yoga, which can help improve dysmenorrhea.

 

Treating Menstrual Pain with Acupoints and Acupressure

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine Secrets for Treating Women's Dysmenorrhea

 

1. Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Type

 

Symptoms

 

The symptoms often include severe lower abdominal pain or cramping before menstruation, which is unbearable and extends to the ribs. Blood clots may be present in the menstrual blood, and the pain subsides after the blood clots are discharged. The menstrual flow may vary, accompanied by irritability, restlessness, and breast swelling.

 

Motherwort Brown Sugar Egg

Boil 30g of motherwort with an appropriate amount of brown sugar in water for 30 minutes, remove the motherwort, and add a raw chicken egg. Cook until the egg is done. Take it once a day, starting from 7 days before the menstrual period.

 

Safflower Sweet White Wine

Soak 100g of safflower in 500g of white wine with an appropriate amount of brown sugar for one month. Start taking it before menstruation, once a day, 10ml each time, for 7 days.

 

2. Yang Deficiency and Internal Cold Type

 

Symptoms

 

It often presents as cold pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation, with a small amount of dark-colored menstrual blood clots. The menstruation may be irregular. The pain is relieved by warmth and pressure. The extremities are not warm, and there may be decreased appetite and loose stools.

 

Danggui Lamb Soup

Put 500g of lamb cut into small pieces, 20g of danggui, 30g of ginger, 10 cloves of garlic, and a little salt into a casserole. Cook for 6 hours.

 

Cinnamon Beef Stew

Put 500g of beef cut into small pieces into a hot pan. Add 2 cloves, 5 star anise, 20g of cinnamon, 1 piece of dried ginger, and 2g of peppercorns. Stir-fry until the beef is dry. Add brown sugar, soy sauce, salt, and water to the casserole. Stew for 6 hours.

 

3. Dampness Cold Stagnation Type

 

Symptoms

 

It often presents as lower abdominal pain and cold during the late stage of menstruation. The pain is reduced by heat but aggravated by pressure. The patient prefers warm drinks. The limbs feel heavy. There is usually a large amount of thin yellow vaginal discharge.

 

Pepper Brown Sugar Egg

Boil 50g of brown sugar with water until it dissolves. Beat an egg into the sugar water. Add a little ground pepper and cook until the egg is done.

 

Fermented Tofu Dried Ginger Slices

Peel and slice 500g of dried ginger. Add salt and dry it in the sun. Soak the ginger slices in fermented tofu juice for 10 days before consuming.

 

4. Damp Heat Pouring Downward Type

 

Symptoms

 

It often presents as burning and stabbing pain in the lower abdomen before menstruation, with a feeling of heaviness and bloating. The menstrual blood is red and thick with clots. The period may start earlier. The patient may experience thirst, restlessness, frequent short yellow urine, constipation, and increased yellow vaginal discharge.

 

Mung Bean Coix Seed Porridge

Cook 100g of mung beans, 100g of coix seeds, and 100g of glutinous rice in water with a little salt for 2 hours before consuming.

 

Conclusion: These are the methods I have introduced for treating dysmenorrhea. Now that you have read this, do you have a better idea? If you also have dysmenorrhea, it may be worth trying to massage the Sanyinjiao acupoint and pay more attention to keeping your abdomen warm and not eating raw or cold foods.


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