Acupressure Therapy to Get Relief from Menstrual Cramps

This article offers acupressure therapy as an effective alternative treatment to get relief from menstrual cramps and related problems. More than fifty percent of women experience menstrual cramps. Of that fifty percent, fifteen percent of women suffer from sever menstrual cramping. Menstrual cramps are pains in the belly and pelvic areas that are experienced by a woman as a result of her menstrual period. 

Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) are dull, throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen. Many women experience menstrual cramps just before and during their menstrual periods. For some women, the discomfort is merely annoying. For others, it can be severe enough to interfere with everyday activities for a few days every month.                                                                

Acupressure therapy to get relief from menstrual cramps and related symptoms:

Some women experience symptoms like, nausea, back pain, diarrhea, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, and bloating. All of these symptoms can be treated using acupressure therapy which helps to relax your body and manage your energy levels to help relieve the pain and discomfort. Because these symptoms are associated with neurochemicals, the acupoints are a safe way to relieve the cramping by altering those chemicals.  

CV-6, PC-6, LI-4, GB-20, and ST-36 are acupressure points that can help relieve menstrual cramps. if you are experiencing, major bloating and breast tenderness along with your cramps, points LV-2, LV-3, CV-6, GB-34, SP-6, and SP-8, may be the focus of the treatment.

Acupressure point to get help relieve menstrual pain and cramping:

Conception Vessel (CV-6): This point is about two finger widths below the belly button. It can also help aid digestion problems, edema, and bloating, in addition to menstrual pain.

Pericardium (PC-6): This point is about two inches from the wrist on the inner arm. It can also relieve vomiting and abdominal pain during pregnancy.                                                                           

Large Intestine (LI-4): This point is in the webbing between the thumb and forefinger. It can also help relieve chronic pain.

Gall Bladder (GB-20): This point is in the back of the skull about two to three inches from the ear. It can also help aid headaches and hypertension.

Stomach (ST-36): This point is about one finger width from the juncture of the tibia on the outer side of the leg. This can also help relieve stomach and spleen problems.

Some acupressure professionals say that if you sit straight up in a chair with your legs out in front of you, you can put pressure on the crease of the groin where your leg moves to help relieve menstrual pain and cramping. You want the pressure about 1/3 to 1/2 way down between the hip bone and outside of the public bone.

Or, if you put pressure about one finger width from the inner wrist, where the crease of the thumb is, you can relieve menstrual cramping and heel pain.

To relieve menstrual cramps, you should also:

• Rest when needed.
• Avoid foods that contain caffeine.
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
• Massage your lower back and abdomen.
• Women who exercise regularly often have less menstrual pain.

To help prevent cramps, make exercise a part of your weekly routine.

Useful links:

* Menstrual cramps by 'women.webmd.com'

* Popular Acupressure Points Everybody Should Know to Treat Common Diseases

* Do's and Dont's of Acupressure Therapy

* Tips and Techniques for Effective Acupressure Therapy