How to beat dysmenorrhea and stay painless

By Lee Sung-hun

A healthy woman’s body naturally goes through monthly menstrual cycles. The female body prepares itself for pregnancy by thickening the membrane walls of the uterus and discharges the new tissue if conception does not happen. The cyclic periodicity of menstruation is the reason for the commonly used term “period.”

Menstruation is a sign that the bearer is a healthy woman able to conceive, and it also offers a natural way to release the blood stasis out of the female body. Of the number of symptoms and signs caused by hormonal changes during menstruation, the one thing that women find most irritating are menstrual cramps, the medical term for which is dysmenorrhea.

The degree of pain associated with it varies from patient to patient, and some women have expressed concerns about the health of their uterus due to the severity of the cramps that hinder their normal daily activities.

Dysmenorrhea is a rather common gynecological symptom that about half of all women have experienced, and there are two types: primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea.

Primary dysmenorrhea, common menstrual cramps, usually begins one to two years after a woman starts her periods, and can continue well into her 40s.

It generally occurs without any particular underlying illness. Pain is caused by the over-contraction of the uterine muscles, and just above the pelvic bones in the lower abdomen feels as if it is being squeezed. The cramps often start shortly before, or at the onset of the period, and last for two to three days.

Secondary dysmenorrhea generally develops several years after the first period, and is caused by a disorder in the woman’s reproductive organs such as adenomyosis uteri, endometriosis or uterine leiomyoma. The cramps generally begin one to two weeks before the onset of the period, and can last until well after the period ends.

Oriental medicine regards the following as the cause of menstrual cramps. Firstly, the uterus is kept cold so that blood stasis and bodily waste accumulate within it.

Women with cold bodies and especially those with cold lower stomachs tend to have a cold uterus. As previously described, menstruation offers a way to relieve blood on a regular basis, but for those women with a cold uterus, the blood is not properly discharged, and blood stasis begins to accumulate.

Such women are normally susceptible to cold, and have cold hands and feet. Their menstrual blood tends to be thinner and darker.

The second cause of menstrual cramps is the poor circulation of qi and blood due to mental exertion and stress. Patients often experience indigestion at the same time, and their lower stomachs feel expanded as the pain worsens. Also, they may feel that their breasts and sides are swollen.

A third cause is the lack of qi and blood either by innate lack of physical stamina or the lack of uterine blood due to inadequate postnatal care. These days, poor nutrition as a result of attempts to lose weight can cause a lack of qi and blood as well. In such cases, patients notice that their menstrual discharge is less than usual and their periods are shorter. They can also appear pale and experience dizziness.

Treatments involve the prescription of Oriental herbal medication according to the aforementioned causes. Apart from that, moxibustion on the acupuncture points in the stomach associated with the uterus have proven effective for those with cold stomachs. The pain itself can be relieved with acupuncture.

Some foods are helpful to alleviate menstrual cramps.

Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) root helps the body regenerate blood, promotes blood circulation in the uterus, and relives tension in the uterine muscles. It is effective in treating menstrual cramps and anemia.

Mugwort also helps blood circulation and eases pain.

Ginger has a similar effect as it warms the body.

Motherwort is known to be very effective for all female-specific illnesses. Its known effects include uterine contraction, hemostasis, lowering blood pressure, anti-carcinogenic effects and regulation of the menstrual cycle.

Those with severe cramps should avoid cold drinks, coffee, beer, pork, rice cakes, ramen noodles, fried foods, spicy foods and meats with high fat content.

Regular exercise is always helpful as it strengthens your body so that it can better cope with menstrual cramps.

The writer practices Korean oriental medicine at

the UN Oriental Medical Clinic in Hannam-dong,

Seoul.