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Thursday, September 21, 2006

Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture and Oriental medicine help painful menstruation

Many women at one time or another experience some form of discomfort during their menstrual cycle. Cramping pain can occur before, during or after menstrual bleeding. Location of discomfort can be felt in the lower abdominal region and can extend to the low back. Quality of pain can range from sharp and stabbing to dull and achy, from mild to moderate and even severe in some cases.

In general, pain relief is one of the great success stories of acupuncture treatment. Particularly, acupuncture can help greatly minimize or alleviate altogether common pain experienced during menstruation. Treatment time for acupuncture can vary between 45 minutes to an hour with several follow-up treatments. Chinese herbal medicine also can be used in conjunction with acupuncture, to assist in promoting and maintaining smooth circulation of the body's Qi (vital force). Regulating Qi circulation will aid in prevention of cramps in future menstrual cycles. Herbal formulas are specially customized to fit the needs of each individual.

As with any medical concern, it is always important to be thoroughly evaluated by your medical doctor to rule out serious potential causes of painful menses such as inflammation of the pelvic region, endometriosis, etc. When looking for an acupuncture provider, find someone who has the LAc credential, meaning they are a licensed acupuncturist. Many insurance providers cover acupuncture treatments for various conditions.

-- Sue Yang-Eng, core faculty, School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Bastyr University

Bastyr is a non-profit, private university offering graduate and undergraduate degrees, with a multidisciplinary curriculum in science-based natural medicine. The university's Seattle teaching clinic, Bastyr Center for Natural Health, is the Northwest's largest natural medicine clinic. Go to www.bastyr.edu or www.bastyrcenter.org

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