84 Burnett St Bundaberg
Do you experience menstrual symptoms such as cramps, headaches and mood swings? Wondering if acupuncture can help to relieve your symptoms? Let’s take a look at whether acupuncture can help with menstrual concerns.
Many women experience symptoms related to their menstrual cycle. Some are experienced prior to a period (usually referred to as premenstrual syndrome or PMS) and some can be experienced during the period.
Some common symptoms related to your cycle include:
● Cramps and period pain
● Headaches & migraines
● Swollen, sore breasts
● Muscle pain, particularly in the legs and back
● Brain fog
● Fatigue
● Mood swings
● Exacerbation of mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety
● Food cravings
● Digestive symptoms such as constipation or diarrhoea
● Bloating
● Acne outbreaks
In more severe cases (known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD), you may
experience:
● Depression
● Suicidal thoughts
● Panic attacks
● Extreme anxiety, anger or irritability
● Reduced concentration
● Insomnia
● Apathy or a lack of interest in life and activities
● Severe cramps
● Binge eating
It’s important to note that while many of the symptoms mentioned are a common experience for women, that doesn’t mean you have to grit your teeth and put up with them! Getting to the root cause of your symptoms is important.
Meanwhile, there are many options out there to help relieve these types of symptoms while you are treating the cause. One that you might like to consider is acupuncture.
Great question! The answer is that yes, acupuncture may be a useful tool for relieving some specific symptoms associated with PMS and periods.
Acupuncture may assist with the symptoms associated with PMS by relieving the underlying stress that contributes to your symptoms. For example, by managing the underlying stress, you may experience some relief in mood-related symptoms such as irritation and moodiness.
Acupuncture can also be used to help with pain relief and management. Some studies also suggest that it can have a number of anti-inflammatory actions, and as we know, addressing inflammation is a big part of reducing your pain levels.
There is even some research that shows promising results specific to period pain symptoms. An Australian study looked at acupuncture’s effects on period pain over 3 months of treatment.
Over half of the women who participated had 50% or greater reduction in their period pain symptoms. These benefits were sustained for up to 9 months after treatment ended. There was also a decrease in the use of pain medications, as well as other menstrual symptoms such as headaches, breast tenderness and mood changes.
So, whether you are experiencing cramps or breast pain prior to your period (PMS) or pain during your period, acupuncture can be used as a relief option. If you’re unsure whether acupuncture is the right fit for your specific symptoms, your best bet is to speak with your acupuncturist to discuss.
Could acupuncture help to regulate your menstrual cycle if it’s too long, too short, or simply irregular?
Some studies have found that acupuncture can promote the development of follicles and ovulation. Although further research is needed to confirm these findings, this could explain why many women experience improvements in their cycle regularity after undergoing an acupuncture treatment schedule.
Are you considering acupuncture as a tool to relieve your menstrual symptoms and pain?
Our acupuncturist Jamie is here to help. By using acupuncture along with other tools such as dry needling and remedial massage techniques, he can help to alleviate pain and stress and have you feeling great again!
To book an acupuncture appointment at our Bundaberg clinic, book an appointment online or call us on (07) 41522372
