When our stressors become too great for our body to compensate, symptoms arise as a message that something is out of balance.

Cramping, fatigue, pain, changes in bowel movements, irritability, crying are all too familiar for many women during their monthly cycle. There are many natural ways to get relief including Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs and Essential Oils.

Chinese Medicine views the body as a balance of Yin and Yang that ebbs and flows with our ever changing lives in harmony with nature. Yin is considered material, cool and stagnant in nature, such as our blood or body organs. Yang is the function of the material, warmth and movement or metabolic heat, as an example. Without yang, our organs would have no function and without yin, there would be no organ to function. Each day we are exposed to many of life's stressors that our body needs to respond to in order to maintain a happy balance. Sometimes we need more yang, sometimes we need more yin. When our stressors become too great for our body to compensate, symptoms arise as a message that something is out of balance.

Pain with menstrual bleeding is viewed by Chinese medicine primarily as blood stasis (the blood's ability to move freely has been impaired.) This can be due to a number of reasons such as cold accumulation in the uterus or from trauma (from surgeries, birth, fibroids, to name a few.) Pain can also be caused by a lack of blood or a lack of yang (function) to be able to move the blood. Irritability, sadness and crying and general mood changes during the menstrual cycle are also a sign of disharmony. The liver, which has direct relationship with emotions in general, has the task of storing the blood. During the few days before menstrual bleeding, the blood moves from the liver into the uterus in preparation for menses. If the liver is sluggish or impaired in anyway, this flow will not be smooth and emotional changes can occur. Breast tenderness prior to the menstrual cycle is also considered a symptom indicating an imbalance of the liver's role within the menstrual cycle.

Pain with menstrual bleeding is viewed by Chinese medicine primarily as blood stasis – the blood's ability to move freely has been impaired.

Chinese medical theory does not consider these symptoms as normal nor healthy. The key, though, is to determine the root cause of these symptoms and to diagnose correctly before beginning treatment. Treatment for menstrual relief using acupuncture and Chinese medicine includes inserting tiny acupuncture needles into various points on the body, moxibustion - heat therapy, Tui Na - Chinese medical massage or herbal therapy. Diet and lifestyle are also important and will usually be discussed and addressed during the course of diagnosis and treatment. Thorough history, evaluation, tongue and pulse diagnosis by a licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine or Acupuncture Physician can determine which acupuncture points will be used and which Chinese herbal formula(s) will be best to not only alleviate these symptoms, but to treat the root cause of these symptoms.

Does acupuncture hurt? Yes and no. Acupuncture needles are tiny and usually a minimal sting is felt upon insertion, however, after the patient is laying on the table, they do not typically feel pain from the needles. Most patients fall asleep and enjoy the pleasant relaxation and endorphin release that occurs during acupuncture.

Marcela Bowie is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture Physician, and owner of No Worries Natural Medicine. She is also a DoTERRA Essential Oil Product Consultant. Her office is located at 2020 Hwy A1A, Ste 110 in Indian Harbour Beach. For more information call 321-961 8243 or visit NoWorriesNaturalMedicine.com.