It’s time to say goodbye to menstrual cramps
Do you have debilitating cramps that come every month, or irregularities during your period that cause you grief? I’ve been there. Almost every woman has experienced pain during her periods at some point in her life. It can be so severe that it prevents you from functioning in your normal daily activities. All you want to do is to curl up in bed.
Many women take pain killers to relieve their pain. Some just accept the fact that pain is the normal result of a woman’s monthly shedding of the uterine lining. But what if I tell you that you can actually have a period without cramps?
Let’s start with what causes cramps…
At Simple Cures, we help you understand what causes menstrual cramps
Many women experience sharp cramps before or on the first day of their period. Or it may be a dull, achy, or lingering pain. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that the uterus is like an oven – it likes to be warm and toasty. However, many factors can prevent energy from flowing through and warming the uterus. One factor is blockage of energy circulation, also known as stagnation. Stagnation leads to pain and other dysfunctions.
One of the most common forms of stagnation is liver qi stagnation. The liver plays a role in creating a smooth flow of energy inside our bodies. The liver channel runs through the breast, and when liver function is disturbed, women experiencing this type of stagnation may also experience breast tenderness prior to their period.
Women with cramps in the later half of their period or after their period often feel fatigue or dull lower back pain and heaviness during that time. These are signs of deficiency after heavy menstruation, because the body lacks the materials needed to function regularly.
Traditional Chinese Medicine, practiced at Simple Cures, can help relieve menstrual pain
As TCM practitioners, we can help you to relieve the pain first. Then we work with you to rebalance your body so that your next period will be less severe.
Here are three ways to help you right off the bat:
1. Use a heat pack or hot water bottle on the lower abdomen.
2. Steep two-three slices of ginger and black sugar in hot water (not recommended if you have a fever or sore throat).
3. Avoid cold foods like salads, cold drinks, watermelon, and ice cream (although I know they are all very tempting!).
Even though cramps are the most talked about symptom for many menstrual problems, it is only one small aspect in menstrual health. Some women, before their period even begins each month, may also feel fatigue, headaches, lower appetite, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, and backaches. These signs are all known as premenstrual symptoms (PMS). Just like cramps, they are imbalances within the body. By regulating your period cycle, we can relieve all your PMS symptoms.
Many women live their entire lives with discomfort during menstruation. It is better to address it earlier than later, because our body is not like a switch that can be turned on and off instantly. Symptoms don’t go away immediately. They can worsen or change with time and age, and affect fertility, pregnancy, even menopause.
The good news is that our body has the ability to balance and heal itself. All it needs is a little boost and to be pointed in the right direction. With acupuncture and herbal treatments, we can set your body on the right path, and address the symptoms that may have been ignored, before bigger events arise. Then your body will be ready and healthy!
Reach out to us!
If you’d like to learn more about managing your menstrual cramps, please contact:
Jamie Ho, Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCMP). She can be reached 647.726.1696.
Or
Book an appointment with her online at https://book.simplecures.ca/
At Simple Cures, we’re here to support your health and wellbeing.