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A Natural Way to Deal with Irregular Menstruation

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A Natural Way to Deal with Irregular Menstruation

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A Natural Way to Deal with Irregular Menstruation

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Tag: menstruation

Acupuncture for Menstrual Cramps: Causes, Symptoms, and Acupuncture Benefits

Posted on by SB Herb Clinic

 

Acupuncture for menstrual cramps may be a new and effective way to help women with menstrual troubles. Unfortunately, a majority of women experience menstrual pain and discomfort. However, there aren’t many long-term treatments with low risk of side effects. However, acupuncture may be helpful in providing relief from menstrual pain and other related symptoms.

 

menstrual cramps
Photo by Pablo Guerrero

 

An overview of menstrual cramps

A whopping 9 out of 10 women experience pain, also known as dysmenorrhea, and other symptoms during menstruation. Many women have normalized experiencing dysmenorrhea and discomfort during their periods, basically treating it as something that is as much a fact of life as having periods. However, painful menstruation, period cramps, and other forms of discomfort don’t have to be something that you just have to power through.

 

You can always deal with monthly period cramps by taking over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and/or one of the various forms of birth control. However, you also have the option of undergoing acupuncture for menstrual cramps, which has been proven to be effective in helping ease the dysmenorrhea and other symptoms.

 

Symptoms

Menstrual cramps and pain can range from mild to severe, and usually occurs in the lower abdomen and lower back. It can last for two to four days, though if the pain lasts longer and becomes extreme, you should seek medical attention right away.

 

Pain in the lower abdomen and lower back isn’t the only symptom that you may experience during menstruation. Other symptoms such as constipation, loose bowels, bloating, dizziness, nausea, a general feeling of discomfort, and headaches are also common. Normally, these symptoms won’t lead to complications, but they can make things inconvenient and can disrupt your school, work, or personal life.

 

Causes

Menstrual pain is common largely because of the mechanism that enables menstruation to happen. During menstruation, the contraction of uterine muscles enables the expulsion of blood and excess uterine lining. When this happens, it involves a hormone-like substance called prostaglandins, which are associated with pain.

 

However, there are also other conditions that may cause dysmenorrhea. Endometriosis, uterine fibroids, cervical stenosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and adenomyosis can also lead to menstrual cramps.

 

Other than these conditions, there are risk factors that can make it more likely for you to experience dysmenorrhea. If you smoke, get stressed a lot, have a family history of dysmenorrhea, have a heavy period, or have an irregular menstrual cycle, you’re at a higher risk of menstrual cramps.

 

When to see your doctor

Menstrual cramps can be a normal thing for many women — a natural consequence of a natural process. However, when menstrual cramps become severe or extreme, they can be indicative of an underlying medical condition that will likely need further treatment and medical attention.

 

It’s normal for women who began having their periods at an age younger than 11 to experience dysmenorrhea. However, if you’re over the age of 25 and you only just started having menstrual cramps, you may need to see your doctor to see if there’s anything wrong. Also, if your cramps have begun to get progressively worse, you should undergo medical examination.

 

If your dysmenorrhea isn’t caused by an underlying symptom, it tends to lessen in severity as you age. It’s also likely to get better once you have given birth.

 

 

Acupuncture for menstrual cramps

acupuncture for menstrual cramps
Let acupuncture help release you from discomfort during your period. Photo by David Hofmann/Unsplash.com.

 

While it may seem like NSAIDs and contraceptives are the only effective ways to deal with menstrual pain, there are actually other changes you can make to make your periods somewhat easier to endure. There are certain lifestyle changes you can make, like quitting smoking or eating healthier. However, acupuncture is also an effective way to make menstrual cramps a thing of the past.

 

The basics of acupuncture

Acupuncture is an important component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It works on the premise that each individual has a life or energy flow called qi (pronounced “chee”). When the flow of qi is disrupted, or is concentrated in certain areas of the body, it can result in various kinds of illnesses.

 

Qi flows through points in the body called meridians. To restore the natural flow of qi, acupuncturists insert fine needles into acupuncture points known to be related to the specific symptoms the patient is experiencing.

 

While having needles inserted into your skin can be intimidating, you actually have very little to fear from acupuncture. When side effects occur, most of them are due to careless or untrained acupuncturists.

 

At the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic, you can rest assured that we take utmost care in treating our patients. We use only single-use, sterilized needles. Our owner and Licensed Acupuncturist, Tram Pham, has a Master’s Degree in Chinese Medicine from Yo San University and has years of experience in TCM. With us, you’ll be in good hands.

 

How acupuncture can help

Researchers have found that acupuncture for menstrual cramps can be effective at providing relief that can last for a period of 12 months. Multiple acupuncture sessions may be necessary, but this is something that you can discuss with your licensed acupuncturist. There is evidence that the more sessions you undergo, the more significant the improvements will be.

 

Thus, acupuncture can be a new form of treatment that can help women relieve menstrual pain. Researchers have also found that women have normalized menstrual pain perhaps too much. Women actually consider even severe or abnormal symptoms to be something they shouldn’t worry about. Even so, going to your doctor and to the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic for a consultation may be worth the trouble.

 

acupuncture in Santa Barbara

 

Acupuncture at the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic

The Santa Barbara Herb Clinic has been providing the Santa Barbara and Goleta areas with holistic and all-natural health care since 1986. Our Licensed Acupuncturist, Tram, took over the clinic in 2016. While she has extensive experience in treating various kinds of ailments, she also specializes in women’s health. Thus, you can trust her to be skilled in providing you with acupuncture for menstrual cramps and other symptoms.

 

You can call us at 805-563-0222 or email us at info@santabarbaraherbclinic.com to make an appointment or schedule a consultation with Tram. Tram can also conduct consultations over the phone or via video call. Contact us now and begin your journey to holistic health.

 

 

References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menstrual-cramps/symptoms-causes/syc-20374938

 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157333.php

 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318532.php

 

http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1787-acupuncture-painful-menstruation-relief-finding

 

https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/07/19/acupuncture-could-help-with-period-pain-study-reveals_a_23036800/

 

https://www.medicinenet.com/acupuncture/article.htm

Acupuncture and How It Could Help Deal with Puberty

Posted on by SB Herb Clinic

puberty

Acupuncture and teens’ reproductive health

Acupuncture and reproductive health often go hand in hand when talking about women’s health. However, did you know reproductive health is also an important factor for young girls? According to statistical data, the age at which females today have their first menstruation is progressively getting younger. In fact, some girls reportedly get their periods as young as seven or eight. This is largely attributed to the kind of nutrition that children today are getting, which is heavier on fat than in previous decades. Consequently, their bodies not only grow faster physically but also to mature more quickly internally.

 

However, this does not automatically mean that their minds are also prepared for such transformations. Rapid changes to their body can lead to fear and confusion. These changes can also lead to anger, depression, and body-image disorders in the worst case. For girls, there’s also the issue of dealing with the symptoms that usually come with puberty. These symptoms include acne, PMS, cramps, and other stressors.  

 

 

Can acupuncture help children with puberty?

Yes, it can. Acupuncture could prove especially helpful with children’s issues. It seeks to bring back balance to all the systems in the body that adolescence can throw out of order. Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that the root of many ailments is blockages in the body’s “meridians.” These are energy pathways that every person has running throughout the body. Specific ailments arise when blockages form in specific “points.”

 

These points and meridians have corresponding terms in Western medicine. They are part of a system of healing that is incredibly complete and comprehensive because it has been in practice for several thousand years. Fortunately, younger people have repeatedly shown themselves to be more responsive to treatments like acupuncture. This is mostly because their energy has not yet “set in.” It is still malleable like clay, and whatever issue may be present is easier to correct.

 

It is also not just the physical ails that come with puberty (like growing pains and acne) which acupuncture and other traditional Chinese medicine’s modalities seek to treat. The first thing that many patients remark on after receiving acupuncture is how much more relaxed they feel and how lighter and brighter their mood has become. Acupuncture triggers the release of “happy hormones” in the brain, contributing greatly to a patient’s emotional and mental wellbeing. This is greatly invaluable for adolescents who already have a cocktail of issues they have to deal with socially and interpersonally—without puberty making things even more difficult.

 

acupuncture in Santa Barbara

 

About acupuncture in Santa Barbara Herb Clinic

The clinic’s owner and lead acupuncture practitioner is Ms. Tram Pham, L.Ac., and she takes pride in having women’s and children’s health as two of her major specialties. She took over the clinic from the renowned Dr. Henry Han who has passed in tragic circumstances and had studied under the late Dr. Richard Tan, who was Master and pioneer of the Balance Method of distal acupuncture. She combines all the knowledge and techniques under her belt with the vision and values that Santa Barbara Herb Clinic is known for in order to serve each and every patient in the manner they most need.

 

For instance, we can reassure needle-phobic children that they won’t feel much pain, if any at all, during treatments. This is because the clinic utilizes premium Japanese acupuncture needles that are sterile, longer, and thinner. Patients will feel little sensation from these needles, and in most cases for children, the needles won’t need to stay in for long.

 

Please give the clinic a call if you’d like to set an appointment. If you live outside the Goleta or Santa Barbara area, you may also have the option of getting a consultation via video or phone call. We can also prescribe herbal remedies prescribed from the clinic’s Herbal Pharmacy and mail them right to your doorstep.

 

 

 

 

References

Acupuncture For Teenagers | Lion’s Heart Wellness –  http://www.lionsheartwellness.com/lionsheartblog/acupuncture-for-teenagers

 

Why the Age You Get Your Period Matters – For the Rest Of Your Life. Taryn Hillin – https://splinternews.com/why-the-age-you-get-your-period-matters-for-the-rest-1793849647

A Natural Way to Deal with Irregular Menstruation

Posted on by SB Herb Clinic

 

If you’ve been experiencing problems with irregular menstruation, getting acupuncture in Santa Barbara may be able to help you. Whatever the nature or cause of your issues may be, there’s a large possibility that acupuncture can help you out.

 

Menstruation looms pretty large in the life of a woman. After all, it does come every month — or, at least, it’s supposed to. While many women have regular menstrual cycles, there are also those who get irregular periods. This can be a problem in itself, since an unpredictable period has the potential to give rise to a number of issues.

 

An imbalance in the body’s sex hormones can lead to irregular menstrual cycles. Acupuncture is a natural and healthy way to help the body stabilize the production of hormones and thus increase the chances of regulating the menstrual cycle.

 

irregular menstruation
Photo by Alex Blajan/Unsplash.com

 

An overview of irregular menstruation

A menstrual cycle begins on the first day of the period and ends on the day before the next period starts. A regular menstrual cycle is about 22 to 35 days long, and each cycle’s length should be in that range. Periods, meanwhile, normally last five to seven days.

 

Women with regular cycles can predict when their periods will come — some can even nail down the exact day of their next period. However, for some women, things may not be as cut and dry. Their cycles can last longer than 35 days, and they may not get their periods on some months.

 

 

The causes of irregular periods

There are several reasons why a woman has an irregular cycle. Some may not be a cause for worry, while some may require more attention.

 

A young girl that has just started her period has a higher chance of having an irregular cycle for up to the next few years. A woman who is also about three to five years away from menopause may begin experiencing irregular periods. In these cases, it’s likely that the irregular cycles are nothing to worry about.

 

However, an irregular period can also be an indicator of another health issue. There are a number of things that can cause irregular menstrual cycles, like stress, medications, and medical conditions.

 

Certain kinds of medical conditions and medications have been found to be able to cause irregular menstruation. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, eating disorders, and medications for epilepsy and mental illness can affect the hormones that regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle.

 

Oral hormonal contraceptives can cause issues as well. In fact, irregular menstrual cycles have been cited to be the leading cause in women deciding to stop taking oral contraceptives.

 

Things such as extreme changes in weight as well as excessive exercise can also affect a woman’s cycle. Stress can also be one of the culprits. Fortunately, the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic can help you relieve stress as well as help you have more regular periods.

 

 

Why irregular periods can be a problem

Girls who are still going through puberty or women who have always had slightly unpredictable periods typically don’t have to worry about irregular menstrual cycles. However, irregular cycles may also be symptoms of an underlying medical condition that needs medical attention. Sudden changes in a previously regular menstrual cycle, periods that last over 7 days, and having overly long or short menstrual cycles are indications that a checkup may be in order.

 

Irregular menstrual cycles can also make things more difficult for women who are trying to get pregnant. This is because it may be more difficult to tell when you’ll be ovulating.

 

Learn about how acupuncture can help improve fertility.

 

 

Acupuncture and menstrual health

acupuncture
Photo via Pixabay

 

Acupuncture can work very well with Western medicine in the treatment of irregular menstrual periods. You can undergo certain treatments to address the specific causes of irregular periods, and in the case of irregularity caused by oral contraception, changing contraceptives can be an effective solution. However, acupuncture can complement and enhance these treatments, and it can benefit you in other ways as well.

 

Traditional Chinese medicine, which includes acupuncture, has been helping treat and maintain women’s health for millennia. When it comes to reproductive health, there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. The Santa Barbara Herb Clinic’s owner and Licensed Acupuncturist, Tram Pham, can take into account your individual issues and provide you with a treatment program that fits your specific needs.

 

 

How acupuncture works

One of the foundations of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which includes acupuncture, is the presence and balance of a person’s qi. Qi (pronounced “chee”), according to TCM, is the life force that flows in each of us. When this flow is disrupted or thrown off balance, illness, pain, and other issues can occur.

 

Acupuncture helps restore the proper flow of qi by stimulating the various acupuncture points on the human body. To stimulate these acupuncture points, your Licensed Acupuncturist will insert fine needles into your skin.

 

 

Possible side effects

Generally, acupuncture is safe and low-risk. The worst of the possible side effects of acupuncture is due to unsterilized needles and unqualified practitioners. Even so, very few side effects have been reported.

 

We at the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic also make sure that the needles we use for each patient are new and properly sterilized. Tram, meanwhile, has years of experience under her belt, as well as a Master’s Degree in Chinese Medicine from Yo San University.

 

You may feel a tingling or heavy sensation in the needle insertion spots, but that’s to be expected. In fact, it’s considered to be an indicator that the treatment is working.

 

irregular menstruation

 

 

Restoring the balance

There is currently a growing body of research on the ways that acupuncture can help treat irregular menstrual cycles and infertility issues. Generally, research shows that there is evidence that acupuncture is indeed effective in helping treat irregular menstrual periods. However, it’s important to remember that you should not postpone going to your general practitioner or gynecologist in favor of acupuncture.

 

Before you book an acupuncture appointment, you should also prepare details of your medical history, as well as the medications you’re currently taking. TCM and acupuncture don’t design treatment regimens based on the particular health issue, but on the individual instead. Thus, it’s best to be informed about your medical history to make sure that the acupuncture treatment is fitted to your specific needs.

 

 

Acupuncture at the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic

Tram took over the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic in 2016, but the clinic has actually been around since 1986. Since it was founded, the clinic has been Santa Barbara’s prime go-to spot for herbs, acupuncture, and natural healing. Tram specializes in women’s health, but she can also help you with a other health issues beyond irregular menstruation.

 

You can make an appointment and make your inquiries by calling us at 805-563-0222 or emailing us at info@santabarbaraherbclinic.com. If you are not in the Santa Barbara or Goleta area, but you still want to have a consultation with Tram, you can do so over the phone or a video call. No need to drive long distances for a consultation! We at the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic want to provide you with stress-free, all-natural healthcare as well as we can.

 

 

 

 

References:

Irregular periods

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irregular-periods/

 

Heavy, Prolonged or Irregular Periods — Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

https://www.med.unc.edu/obgyn/Patient_Care/specialty-services/MIGS/our-services/heavy-prolonged-or-irregular-periods

 

When Should You See a Doctor for Irregular Periods? – Penn Medicine

https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/womens-health/2015/april/when-should-you-see-a-doctor-for-irregular-periods

 

Acupuncture: In Depth

https://nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction

 

Acupuncture and women’s health: an overview of the role of acupuncture and its clinical management in women’s reproductive health

Suzanne Cochrane

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3962314/

 

The effect of acupuncture treatment on female infertility : an evidence-based literature review

Monique Marie Abela

https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/18842

 

Fertility Enhancement

http://www.advancedacupuncture.com/fertility/

 

Weight Loss & a Late Period

Michelle Zehr

https://www.livestrong.com/article/339959-weight-loss-a-late-period/