Alternative and Holistic Approaches For Treating Dysmenorrhea
Herbal Products That May Be Helpful
- Corydalis 10-20 ml of a 1:2 extract per day contains several alkaloids, including tetrahydropalmatine (THP). THP has been shown to exhibit a wide number of pharmacological actions on the central nervous system, including pain-relieving and sedative effects including reducing painful menstruation. Another option is 5-10 gram per day of the crude dried rhizome form.
- Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus) is a frequently used traditional herb for menstrual cramps. Cramp bark helps to ease severe cramps and associated nausea, vomiting, and sweaty chills. Cramp bark is traditionally prepared by placing two teaspoons of the dried bark into a cup of water and bringing it to a boil; it is then simmered gently for 10 to 15 minutes. The tea may be drunk three times per day. Alternatively, 4-8 ml of tincture may be used three times per day.
- Açaí is another traditional remedy for dysmenorrhea. Herbal specialists also suggest anthocyanins from bilberry, which are also found in açaí, to help with dysmenorrhea.
- Black cohosh has a long history as a folk medicine for relieving menstrual cramps. Black cohosh can be taken in several forms, including crude plant, dried root, or rhizome (300-2,000 mg per day), or as a solid, dry powdered extract (250 mg three times per day). Standardized extracts of this herb is available at health food stores and through herbalists. The recommended amount is 20-40 mg twice per day. The best researched form provides 1 mg of deoxyactein per 20 mg of extract. Tinctures can are also used (2-4 ml three times per day). Black cohosh may be taken for no longer than six months and then it should be discontinued.
- Blue cohosh while unrelated to black cohosh, has also been used traditionally for easing painful menstrual periods. Blue cohosh, which is generally taken as a tincture, should be limited to no more than 1-2 ml taken three times per day. The average single application of the whole herb is 300-1,000 mg. Blue cohosh is generally used in combination with other herbs. Women of childbearing age using this herb should cease using it as soon as they become pregnant as the herb was shown to cause heart problems in infants born following maternal use of blue cohosh.
- False unicorn has been used with the Native American tradition to treat a large number of women's health conditions, including painful menstruation, for generations. False unicorn root is taken as a tincture (2-5 ml three times per day). The dried root may also be used (1-2 grams three times daily). It is typically taken in combination with other herbs supportive of the female reproductive organs.
- Dong quai is used alone or within combination with other Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs to help relieve painful menstrual cramps. Generally, 3-4 grams per day is the usual dosages.
- Vervain is another herb often prescribed for menstrual cramping. Tincture usually 5-10 ml three times per day is recommended.
Non Medical Treatments
- Relaxation techniques are often used with good success to treat dysmenorrhea. Using relaxation exercise with or without music and visual imagery for 20-minutes a day twice weekly or more can help relieve symptoms of menstrual cramps, nausea, irritability, and poor concentration. For the novice, there are a number of commercial audio tapes available to help maximize your results.
- Acupuncture may be valuable for the treatment of menstrual cramping. In many cases complete elimination of pain has been possible. For others significant pain reduction may be available. For specific information regarding your symptoms and problems consult a specialist who performs acupuncture for an evaluation or consultation.
- Spinal manipulation to the low back and pelvis has produced results in many women. For specific information regarding your symptoms and problems consult a specialist who performs acupuncture for an evaluation or consultation.
Summary
Whether you chose to use a medical, alternative medical or an herbal approach to treatment it is always important to see your medical doctor and undergo a pelvic examination. While most early onset dysmenorrhea is primary dysmenorrhea that is not caused by a pathology or anatomical problem, not all are. It is to at all unusual to find correctable gynecologic problems that have been missed for years because the symptoms were misinterpreted as being primary dysmenorrhea when In fact it was not.
Unfortunately, this can be dangerous as the underlying condition, the real problem, may have been allowed to persist, worsen and progress until the woman’s fertility is at risk or has been irreversibly damaged. It is extremely difficult for many women to know that their ounce of prevention had been wasted and the price is loss of ability to have children.
When dysmennorhea occurs in young girls, virgins, the fear and thought of a pelvic exam is sometimes disabling for both the young woman and for her parents. Unfortunately, as we have seen to many times in the past, the risks are generally worse than the reality. An exam can almost always be done, with an emotionally healthy young woman, where she is neither injured, traumatized, nor losses her virginity. In such cases, the benefits far out weight the discomfort.
Once it is determined that no pathology exists, then any of the treatments desired can be tried. Some may work. Some may not. There is to date no single, simple, entirely safe, easy-to-use treatment for dysmenorrhea. However, that said most women can find help to allow them to function more normal than without any treatment at all.
If you have questions call for a consultation and evaluation. If you are not ready for an exam at the time of the initial visit, do not worry, there are only a very few situation, where it is absolutely essential when an exam is required at the time of the first visit. It can generally wait until the woman is fully ready and prepared.
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