Acupressure helps to relieve period pain

Photo: Ageless Herbs

Many women suffer from menstrual pain and need a more effective way to manage the pain than painkillers, which have their own set of side effects and other issue.

The best way to manage period pain is to use acupressure points on the body.

Acupressure is an ancient Oriental healing method which uses gentle to firm pressure on certain parts of the body to prevent and treat illness, including pain. Acupressure has been used for centuries in the East.

The acupressure point for relieving period pain, pictured above, is located on the inner side of the leg (either leg), about 5cm (or 2 inches) above the inner ankle. You can tell you have found the right point, as it will be a little more painful or tender than the surrounding area. Only use gentle pressure to gentle massage it in small, circular motion.

This acupressure point is known as the spleen 6 and is located on the spleen meridian,which influences the digestive system, so it means it is also useful for other hormonal disorders, like irregular menstruation, as well as immune system issues.

References:

1. Lark SM. Acupressure for Menstrual Cramps. Excerpted from The Menopause Self Help Book, Celestial Arts, 1996. Accessed 20 July 2010 www.healthy.net/scr/article.aspx?Id=1371
2. Los Angeles Chinese Learning Centre. A Few Commonly Used Acupuncture Points. Accessed 20 July 2010. chinese-school.netfirms.com/acupuncture-points.html

   

How much very severe PMS or PMDD used to affect me

Several years ago, I used to get excruciatingly bad PMS symptoms that could be described to be PMDD (which many experts do not believe exists and I agree).

I used to feel like I had a band of emotional pressure in my head, which would make me want to scream out loud - the pressure felt almost physical it was that bad. I just felt so awful and the intensity of the mood swings and emotions I experienced, were so terrible mostly because they were completely uncontrollable. I was so angry, my mood was totally volatile, I cried at the drop of a hat and felt very offended by anything anyone said to me, no matter how innocuous it was. I couldn't think properly, I couldn't sleep properly, felt very anxious and jittery, I was crying a lot, I felt resentful and angry at everyone and everything - I was very emotionally unbalanced. My mind seemed my worst enemy, with the intense negative emotions coming to a crazy crescendo just on the last day prior to menstruation. And when my periods arrived, it seemed the pressure valve inside my head was suddenly released and my brain could function normally again. I would no longer feel emotionally volatile once the bleeding started.

I went to see a doctor about it (my regular doctor wasn't available, so I saw a substitute) and he recommended I take the contraceptive pill all month long, for about one year, so that I didn't have any periods at all, thinking that would stop my very severe PMS symptoms! Total rubbish advice.  Artificially suppressing menstruation in that way is not healthy for the body and of course I did not take his advice.

When I was able to see my doctor, he recommended I see a gynaecologist to get further advice. The gynaecologist recommended I go on the contraceptive pill with a high level of oestrogen and progesterone. She also recommended anti-depressants and gave me a script for some to take in the two weeks prior to menstruation, but if I couldn't remember, then just to take it all month.

Again, rubbish advice!

I decided to do some research to find out exactly what causes PMS and how I could combat it to feel better again. I discovered that only with perseverance and hard work, I could reduce the symptoms and feel like a normal person. I used certain supplement, better diet choices, more exercise, massage and meditation, which when combined did greatly assist me. I also visited a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner who provided some acupuncture and that was a catalyst for positive changes.

Let me re-iterate:

PMDD is not a mental disorder and some experts are finally challenging its classification as a mental disorder when it is clearly tied into the menstrual cycle. If the symptoms occurred all month at the same level, then it would give some indication that it may be a mood disorder, but since it does not, it is clear that it is not.

There are alternatives to taking anti-depressants and the contraceptive pill, which are viable and better for your health overall.