Traditional and Contemporary Herbs Used to Treat Dysmenorrhea

Whenever women are having the time of the month, it is typical for them to be quite irritable. During the menstrual cycle, the sex hormones involved in the reproductive process jump to very high levels which affects the nervous system and bring about sporadic mood swings. Women affected by dysmenorrhea also have to deal with stomach pain, cramping, fatigue, and bloating that only worsens the gravity of the condition. So, rather than dallying over the discomforts of menstruation, we should instead, know about a few of the contemporary and traditional herbs that can help relieve the pain of dysmenorrhea and help ease the discomforts that come usually with the menstrual cycle.

1. Pasque Flower – This deciduous herb’s medicinal properties has been known and used for hundreds of years by the Native American Indians. Traditionally used for the inducement of childbirth, Pasque Flower has now been confirmed in clinical studies to help support the female reproductive system.

2. Chasteberry – Toning effects on the female reproductive system can be provided by the berries of this plant. Chasteberry is known to have properties that can help balance the hormones. The compounds derived from its extracts can be used to treat PMS, endometriosis, and dysmenorrhea.

3. Pot Marigold – This plant has pain killing and anti-inflammatory compounds that can help regulate the menstrual cycle which in turn promotes a relaxing effect during menstrual cramping.

4. Dong Quai – This herb is a very popular Chinese herb used as a tonic to treat both circulatory and gynecological ailments in traditional Chinese medicine. Because of its hormone-balancing, analgesic, and antispasmodic attributes, dong quai is often used for the normalization of the menstrual cycle.

These are just a few of the most commonly used herb to help alleviate the discomforts related to the menstrual cycle. There are actually a diverse portfolio of herbs and homeopathic treatments that have been used for centuries by different healthcare systems and cultures around the world for treating menstrual issues. However, the pharmaceutical industry has made it more difficult to physically seek out these herbs to obtain relief from pain.

Herbal medicine as it is currently practiced uses extracts from medicinal herbs that are then combined with other herbs to come up with a concentrated herbal infusion that provides relief from symptoms. These herbal supplements are readily available in local health food stores and are wonderful alternative treatments for dysmenorrhea.

Gigi Terinoni is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in Louisville, CO. She is also a certified massage therapist, yoga instructor and the founder of Dova Center for Health and Healing.

Dysmenorrhea Patients Can Benefit From Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Therapy

A study published by the eCAM (Evidence-based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine) showed that a meaningful positive effect was achieved when patients with dysmenorrhea who did not respond well to Western medical treatments were given acupuncture treatments. Dysmenorrhea is menstrual cramping whose cause can be seen in a couple of ways: it can be due to an unknown cause/pathology (primary dysmenorrhea) or as cramping resulting from an identified pelvic condition. The main symptom of both primary and secondary types of dysmenorrhea is pain, and this pain cannot be relieved by NSAID medications in about a quarter of dysmenorrhea sufferers who participated in the study.

The participants were all suffering from moderate to extreme dysmenorrhea lasting for a year or more and they all had no resolution of their pain from NSAID treatments. Also, they all refused oral contraceptive treatment, which is a first plan of treatment these days for most sufferers of dysmenorrhea. The subjects were treated with acupuncture once each week for eight weeks. The needles were inserted at certain points in the body for half an hour.

Of the 15 people who participated, 13 manifested a vast relief of pain and a substantial reduction of their NSAID intake following the acupuncture therapies. The patients with primary dysmenorrhea experienced a greater lessening of their pain reduction than the ones with secondary dysmenorrhea. Seven of the fifteen subjects completely stopped the use of NSAIDs and they were free of symptoms even after half a year after the end of the study.

The NIH (National Institutes of Health) has stated that acupuncture is a proven modality for the relief of pain and it has endorsed it to be a valid form of treatment for scores of health conditions, including dysmenorrhea. One of the best things about acupuncture is that it is a very safe and non-invasive therapy that has virtually no side effects at all. It works on the principle that the insertion of needles in the skin boosts the circulation of blood towards the affected part of the body.

Often used in combination with acupuncture is Chinese herbal medicine to boost the effectiveness of the treatment. The proper herbal formula needs to be used to address the specific symptoms and signs of the patient. For primary dysmenorrhea sufferers, the most popular formula used is gui shi fu ling wan. It is made up of five herbs including peach kernel, moutan cortex, root of the peony plant, poria, and cinnamon twig. All these plants are known in Traditional Chinese Medicine to enhance blood circulation and invigorate blood and can help relieve pain by clearing out the stagnations and obstructions in the body. The gui shi fu ling wan can also be used in the treatment of ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids.

The aforementioned study ends by stating that acupuncture therapy may be a recommended solution for pain associated with dysmenorrhea, particularly for those in whom NSAIDs or oral contraceptives are contraindicated or ineffective. This correlates with the conclusions of a lot of acupuncture clinics that have dealt with cases of dysmenorrhea. Some drawbacks of this study though include the participation of a relatively few number of patients and its failure to use a randomized, double-blind protocol. More future studies of its kind are recommended to prove acupuncture to be a valid form of treatment for dysmenorrhea.

 

Galina Semyonova is a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist in New York City. She has studied extensively in the fields of biofeedback therapy, SCENAR therapy, Chinese herbal treatments and Chinese and Western nutrition.

What Causes Menstrual Pain?

It is a fact that a lot of women, especially those in their teens, experience pain with their periods. Menstrual pain usually does not signify a more serious problem, but at times, it can be connected with non-cancerous tumors in the uterus, uterine fibroids or endometriosis.

Menstrual pain is also known as primary dysmenorrhea and it typically begins two to three years after the first period. The painful symptoms arise before actual menstruation, typically a day or two before and can be felt up to two days during the actual menstrual flow. After a woman bears a child or if she gets older, her menstrual pain gets better.

Underlying health problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis can cause secondary dysmenorrhea.

Symptoms and Signs

The degree and symptoms of menstrual pain may differ from woman to woman but typically they may involve:

• Vomiting
• Frequent urination
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Nausea
• Headache
• Heavy menstruation
• Dull ache or stomach cramping that travels to lower back and legs

What Causes Menstrual Pain?

Menstrual pain can be due to the strong contractions of the uterus caused by chemicals in the body known as prostaglandins, that are involved in pain and inflammation – the more elevated the prostaglandin levels in the body, the more painful the menstrual pain.

Secondary dysmenorrhea may be due to:

• IUD (intrauterine device)
• PID (pelvic inflammatory disease)
• Infections of the uterus
• Tissue and blood passing through a narrow cervix
• Inflammation of the uterine lining, endometriosis

 

Drug Therapies

The initial aim of drug treatment is to relieve the pain.

If PID is the cause of your menstrual pain, your physician will prescribe antibiotics.

For menstrual pain caused by endometriosis, birth control patches and pills may be given by your doctor to relieve pain

NSAIDS or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be also prescribed to alleviate pain. These drugs can cause abdominal pain so eating first before taking them is suggested. Long-term use of NSAIDS may lead to stomach bleeding. These drugs can include over-the-counter (OTC) medicines naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil) and aspirin.

Alternative and Complementary Therapies

There are women who experience pain relief and less cramping when they modify their diet. Exercises such as tai chi and yoga as well as mind-body activities can also help relieve pain.

Supplements and Nutrition

• Drink daily 6-8 glasses of water
• Stay away from tobacco, alcohol and caffeine
• Avoid eating margarine, processed foods, doughnuts, onion rings, French fries, cakes, crackers, cookies and commercially baked goods cooked in trans-fatty acids
• Use vegetable or olive oil and other healthy cooking oil for cooking foods
• Avoid refined foods such as sugar, pastas and white breads
• Consume foods rich in antioxidants like bell pepper, squash, tomatoes, cherries and blueberries among others.
• Eat foods that are high in calcium. They may include kale, spinach and other green leafy vegetables as well as almonds and beans

The supplements listed below can be helpful in alleviating menstrual pain:

Magnesium- you can take around 360 mg of it each day for 3 days before the onset of menstruation. A study revealed that this dosage helped lessen cramping in women who used it. There are some preliminary studies done that have revealed magnesium’s ability to help relieve menstrual pain. Too much intake of magnesium though can cause a lower blood pressure and diarrhea. Women with heart disease or digestive problems should first consult with their doctor before taking magnesium. This supplement can interact with a lot of drugs, including diuretics; bone-building medicines such as Actonel (risedronate) and Fosamax (alendronate); antibiotics such as tetracycline, Levaquin (loevofloxacin), Cipro (ciprofloxacin); and other drugs.

Vitamin E – take around 500 IU each day as it can help lessen menstrual pain. A study involving 100 young women who took either placebo or vitamin E 500 IU for 5 days (2 days prior to the start of menstruation and 3 days after its onset) showed that the women who took vitamin E experienced less pain than the women who took placebo. For people with cancer of the prostate, neck or head or those with retinitis pigmentosa, diabetes, or heart disease, they should not take high doses of this vitamin without first asking their physician. If you are taking blood-thinning dugs then you should not take vitamin E since it may increase the risk of bleeding.

 

Vitamin D – to help reduce inflammation and help your body use calcium, taking 400 IU daily is recommended. Vitamin D may interfere with the effects of other drugs so be sure to talk with your doctor first before consuming more than the normal allowable dosage.

 

Calcium citrate – take 500 – 1,000 mg each day. Calcium is needed for healthy bones. It can relieve menstrual pain since it preserves muscle tone. Calcium citrate is the kind of calcium that can be easily absorbed by the body. Talk with your doctor first before trying any calcium supplements.

 

Omega-3 fatty acids – these include fish oil. To lessen inflammation, take around 6 g per day. Some studies have revealed that the intake of fish oil can lead to less menstrual pain in women compared to those who took placebo. Omega-3 fatty acids can also cause of bleeding, particularly for people using aspirin, Coumadin (warfarin), Plavix (clopogidel) and other blood-thinners.

 

Acupuncture

 

Nowadays, acupuncture has become a very popular type of treatment for dysmenorrhea. The National Institutes of Health endorse this therapy as either a standalone therapy or to be used along other therapies for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. A study conducted on 43 women suffering from menstrual pain, showed that those who were given acupuncture treatment experienced less pain and thus depended on less pain medicine.

 

Sufferers of dysmenorrhea are individually evaluated of their lack or excess of qi or vital energy by their acupuncturist. For dysmenorrhea, a deficiency in qi is often determined in the spleen and liver pathways of energy (meridians). Moxibustion may also be performed. This is a technique wherein a mugwort herb is burned over certain acupuncture points. It is usually included to optimize the acupuncture treatment. Dietary or herbal therapy may also be included in the treatment program to accelerate the treatment process.

 

Dr. Vickery is a licensed acupuncturist in Tarzana, CA., and the founder and clinical director of Vickery Health and Wellness.