Period Cramps – Relief with Chinese Medicine

According to statistics, anywhere between 40%-80% of women experience period cramps. Whether it is the lower end or the higher end of that statistic, that is a lot of women!  And for those women who would rather not take pain killers or hormones, western medicine treatment options are lacking.

Chinese Medicine on the other hand is quite effective for treating period cramps.  It takes the specific symptoms of the pain to determine the underlying cause and treats the pain based on that condition.  For example:

  • Blood Stasis = pain better after passing clots, immobile stabbing pain, or bearing down pain before period
  • Qi Stagnation = pain with feeling of heavy pressure
  • Blood Heat = burning pain
  • Cold in the Uterus = cramping pain
  • Kidney Deficiency = bearing down pain after period

The location of the pain also influences the treatment

  • Liver channel = pain on both sides of lower abdomen
  • Kidney and Chong channel = pain in lower abdomen
  • Kidney channel deficiency = pain in sacrum

If the pain happens to be due to endometriosis, fibroids, or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), Chinese Medicine can treat that too!

 

 

Is there anything that can help at home?

For uncomplicated and less severe types of cramping, adding heat such as a heating pad or hot water bottle can help.  And there is a simple tea you can make at home could help.

Ingredients:

  • Pinch of loose-leaf green tea (preferred), or 1 green tea bag
  • 4-5 pieces: Mei Gui Hua – Rosae Rufosae Flos, also known as Chinese Rosebud (they are quite small)
  • 4-5 slices: Shan Zha – Crataegi Fructus, also known as Hawthorne Fruit
  • Boiling water

Directions: take daily for 5 days preceding period and while cramps last during period.  Add all ingredients together, let steep, drink tea

shan-zha 2

rose 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Periods can be painful and uncomfortable, but there is safe, effective and natural help!

For questions or comments, please contact us!

 

Caroline Prodoehl, R.Ac, R.TCMP

 

References:

Pictures are from TCM Wiki

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3392715/

Dysmenorrhoea (Period Pain, Menstrual Cramps)