Ask your pharmacist acupuncture can chinese medicine ease menstrual pain

Acupuncture
Can Chinese Medicine ease menstrual pain?
Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie
While I will discuss conventional medicine options for menstrual pain in the Westmeath Examiner in the future, due to enquiries I decided to discuss whether Chinese medicine can be beneficial.

Dysmenorrhea (menstrual or period pain) is cyclical abdominal pain which is experienced during or before menstruation (your period). Symptoms vary from woman to woman but menstrual pain is normally described as cramping, lower abdominal pain, lower back pain or a dragging sensation in the inner thighs. Pain is often accompanied by headaches, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea or constipation. Roughly half of women have some form of recurring dysmenorrhea, ranging from mild to debilitating symptoms usually for one-to-three days a month. Although Western doctors and their patients often take dysmenorrhea to be just a normal part of being a woman, from a Chinese medicine perspective the symptoms point to underlying imbalances that in many cases can be corrected.

Menstrual pain can be categorized as primary dysmenorrhea: begins from adolescence, can last through early adulthood, and is related to hormonal imbalances that cause excessive uterine contractions. Secondary dysmenorrhea: commonly occurs in women who are in their thirties and forties and is often accompanied by conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, and fibroids.

From a Western medicine perspective, the menstrual cramping is caused by high levels of prostaglandin hormones produced by the uterus triggering abnormal muscle contractions that cut off blood flow in areas of the uterus. Western medicine manages menstrual pain by blocking the formation of prostaglandins, a substance that is produced abundantly by the body during menstruation. Over the counter pain relievers such as Ibuprofen or in some cases oral contraceptive pills are recommended by doctors.

As with all branches of Chinese medicine, traditional gynaecology and obstetrics have a long history (Over 1000 years). Over the centuries since modern diagnostic and imaging equipment have developed, there is still a place for traditional diagnostic techniques. In many cases there is no obvious cause for menstrual pain (or other common gynaecological conditions) when looked at from a western medical viewpoint; but with Chinese medicine’s unique insights into human physiology, a cause and an appropriate treatment can often be found. Treatment can take many forms, with acupuncture, herbal medicine or dietary therapy or combinations thereof being the most common. Chinese medicine offers a safe and effective approach to treating women's health that has been practised and refined for thousands of years. If you suffer from painful periods or other gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis and want to find out what Chinese medicine has to offer please contact Eddie Dowd (Chinese Medicine Practitioner) at 0831229363 for more information.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine Clinic at Whelehans Pharmacy
Eddie Dowd runs an Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Clinic at Whelehans Pharmacy. Call 0831229363 to book or to enquire how Eddie’s therapy may benefit you. Clinics are Monday 8:30am-2pm and Thursday 8:30am to 6pm. Thanks to Eddie for help with this article.

Whelehans €10 Acupuncture Treatment Special
Whelehans are holding a special offer day next Monday December 22nd from 9am to 6pm. Our acupuncturist will charge only €10 for a consultation and treatment. Eddie will offer the following treatment options on the day: Classic Chinese Acupuncture, Chinese Dry Needling, Trigger Point Needling, Tens / Acupuncture, Tui Na Massage, Remedial Massage or Chair Massage. You can choose your treatment or our therapist can choose depending on your needs. Treatment will last approximately 20 minutes. Chinese medicine treatment is covered by most Health Insurance Plans including VHI and LAYA. Book now by calling 044 9334591

Disclaimer: Chinese or traditional medicine should NOT be seen as an alternative to assessment and treatment from your GP or other healthcare professional. Chinese medicine can however compliment conventional medicine.