Many women know the unbearable pains that can come along with “that time of the month.” We may try to numb the pain with ibuprofen, or try to forget about it with comfort foods like bread, chocolate, and/or potato chips.
However, the pain many women experience every month is all-too common. And it can make any woman choose not to even get out of bed in the morning.
Luckily, there looks like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel (*women rejoice*). According to a new research study, scientists are finding that acupuncture can actually help to relieve this menstrual pain.
According to Medical News Today:
The findings of a new study have shown that the intensity and duration of period pain can be reduced by up to 50 percent by administering manual acupuncture.
Period pain, or dysmenorrhea, is a condition affecting up to 95 percent of menstruating women, according to a report published in the journal Human Reproduction Update.
Dysmenorrhea is classified into two types: primary, wherein no known health conditions can account for the painful cramps, and secondary, during which the pain occurs as a result of a diagnosed disorder, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
A new study led by Australian researchers tests the effectiveness of acupuncture treatments in relieving period pain.
The study was conducted by Dr. Mike Armour, of the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) at Western Sydney University in Australia, and his colleagues from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Auckland, also in Australia. Their findings were published in the journal PLOS One.
Frequent sessions most effective
Seventy-four adult women aged between 18 and 45 were involved in the study. They all had confirmed or suspected primary dysmenorrhea, and no diagnosis leading to the detection of secondary dysmenorrhea.
The women were randomly split into four groups: two high frequency groups and two low frequency groups. One high frequency and one low frequency group were assigned manual acupuncture treatments, with the remaining two undergoing electroacupuncture, wherein the needles are connected to a device that transmits electric impulses to the body.
The participants in the high frequency groups received three acupuncture treatments 1 week prior to the start of their menstrual period. Meanwhile, the women in the low frequency groups received three treatments every 7 to 10 days, between their menstrual periods.
All participants were administered 12 acupuncture treatments over three menstrual cycles. They also underwent a treatment in the first 48 hours of their menstrual period.
It was found that the women undergoing acupuncture more frequently experienced more significant improvements in period pain intensity and related symptoms, as well as in overall quality of life.
The researchers do acknowledge, however, that larger trials are needed if specialists are to develop detailed, accurate guidelines for the use of acupuncture in the treatment of this complaint.
“Pragmatic trials of acupuncture have shown a reduction in pain intensity and an improvement in quality of life in women with period pain, however evidence has been limited for how changing the ‘dosage’ of acupuncture might affect the outcome,” says Dr. Armour.
Manual or electroacupuncture?
All the participants involved in the study were asked to keep a diary providing details about the development of their menstrual period symptoms throughout the trial.
The researchers were surprised to find that more than half the women undergoing manual acupuncture experienced a decrease in period pain and related symptoms of up to 50 percent.
This made manual acupuncture significantly more effective in treating period pain than electroacupuncture, overall.
Our pilot study found that using manual stimulation of the needles, rather than an electrical pulse […] resulted in reduced need for pain-relieving medication and improvement in secondary symptoms such as headaches and nausea.”
Dr. Mike Armour
According to the study, the acupuncture treatment given has its basis in Chinese medicinal practices. It also has a relation with the Zang Fu system. This system identifies various ways different organs work together and relate to one another.
For many women, dysmenorrhea (or menstrual pain) is an all too real and consistent pain that can overtake a week (or more) every single month. As a result, many women have been clamoring for something – anything – to ease their misery when their period comes.
Thankfully, it looks as though acupuncture may just become a woman’s best friend. Using it, you may just be able to wave goodbye to those pains, and to say hello to comfort.
