Dysmenorrhea is caused by strong and spasmodic contractions of the uterus resulting from elevated levels of prostaglandin or mal-development of the uterus leading to uterine ischemia (inadequate blood supply) and anoxemia (abnormal reduction of oxygen level in blood). Dysmenorrhea can be subdivided into two sub-categories:

1. Primary dysmenorrhea: most common and recurrent menstrual cramps without any other pathology. In this case menstrual pain begins  1 or 2 days before, or when menstrual bleeding starts, and is felt in the lower abdomen, back, or thighs. Pain can range from mild to severe, can typically last 12 to 72 hours, and can be accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting, fatigue, and even diarrhea. Common menstrual cramps usually become less painful as a woman ages and may stop entirely if the woman has a baby.
2. Secondary dysmenorrhea is pain that is caused by other gynecological disorders such as endometriosis, adenomyosis,uterine fibroids, or infection. Pain from secondary dysmenorrhea usually begins earlier in the menstrual cycle and lasts longer than common menstrual cramps. The pain is not typically accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or diarrhea.

From Chinese medicine perspective, the period marks the transformation from the premenstrual fullness of qi and blood within the uterus to the relative emptiness of post menstrual phase. This transition should be smooth and pain free with normal bleeding. If there is pre-existing imbalance in the form of excess or deficiency, this transition will not be smooth and will result in inflammation and pain.

The most common causes of dysmenorrhea in Chinese medicine are liver stagnation and heat, damp heat stagnation, cold and damp stagnation, yang deficiency, qi deficiency. Some patients present with a mixture of the few patterns.

Multiple studies have shown acupuncture might reduce menstrual pain and associated symptoms more effectively compared to no treatment or NSAIDs, and the efficacy could be maintained during a short-term follow-up period (1,2) .

Chinese herbal medicine has been used to treat dysmenorrhea for thousands of years with good results, acupuncture in combination with Chinese herbal medicine can offer a natural treatment for women who wish not to take NSAID or birth control pills to treat their menstrual cramps.

A meta-analysis study has shown Chinese Herbal Medicine to significantly improve pain related to menstrual cramps for up to three months follow up (3).

At Acuwellness Center, we offer acupuncture and custom made herbal formulas to treat menstrual cramps and other symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea. We offer Herbal consultation in person or via Tele-medicine to best accommodate our patients. Please call us at 818-642-3512 for more information.

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5999465/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6280308/
3. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD005288.pub3/full