Want to Solve Menstrual Pain Without Painkillers? Oriental Medicine Treatment for Fundamental Body Changes

Hello, this is Dalimchae Oriental Clinic. # Want to Solve Menstrual Pain Without Painkillers? Oriental Medicine Treatment for Fundamental Body Changes Every month when that day arrives, severe menstrual pain inevitably follows. Are you exhausted from reaching for painkillers due to back-breaking pain, only for the agony to restart once the pain temporarily subsides? If you have lived resigning yourself to the idea that 'menstrual pain is just the way it is', now is the time to consider finding a way to regain a comfortable daily life even without painkillers. Ignoring small signals sent by the body and solving the root cause is much more important than you think. 💡 **[Core Answer]** Top 3 most common causes of menstrual pain: ① Circulatory disorders in the uterus and lower abdomen / ② Autonomic imbalance and stress / ③ Cold-dampness (한습) and blood stasis (어혈) in the uterine environment. Dalimchae Oriental Clinic creates a healthy body through constitution improvement that overcomes pain by itself and prevents recurrence, rather than temporary pain relief. ## Why Do We Reach for Painkillers First Every Month for Menstrual Pain? Menstrual pain is a very common symptom experienced by more than half of women of childbearing age. It occurs more frequently particularly in women in their late teens to early twenties, and the intensity of the pain varies greatly from person-to-person. As the pain intensifies, academic or work efficiency drops and quality of life can be impaired, so it should be recognized as a disease requiring treatment beyond simple discomfort. Most menstrual pain occurs when a substance called prostaglandin is excessively secreted during the process of uterine contraction. This contracts the uterine muscle and reduces blood flow, further aggravating the pain. Many people look for painkillers to quickly calm this pain, but this is merely temporary symptom relief and does not solve the root cause of the pain. Complex factors such as stress, irregular lifestyle habits, lower abdominal coldness, and autonomic imbalance act as causes that chronically worsen menstrual pain. ## What Problems Arise If You Try to Solve Menstrual Pain Only with Painkillers? Painkillers have the effect of reducing menstrual pain by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, which induce inflammatory responses and pain. However, frequent intake of painkillers can cause side effects such as gastrointestinal disorders and decreased renal function, and tolerance can develop, leading you to look for increasingly stronger painkillers. Most importantly, painkillers only act as a 'warning light' turn-off for menstrual pain and do not fix the 'overheated engine' which is the root cause of the pain signals sent by our body. Unless internal imbalances in the body are resolved, menstrual pain will inevitably repeat every month. In Oriental medicine, menstrual pain is largely divided into 'pain due to blockage' (불통즉통) and 'pain due to deficiency' (불영즉통). In other words, it is viewed that pain occurs when qi and blood circulation are blocked (기체혈어, 한습응체) or when bodily qi and blood are deficient (기혈허약, 간신휴손). Rather than simply suppressing the pain, finding and resolving these internal bodily problems is the core to preventing recurrence and regaining a healthy menstrual cycle. ## Is Herbal Medicine Treatment Really Effective in Relieving Menstrual Pain? Oriental medicine treatments for menstrual pain have clinically proven their effectiveness over a long history, and their scientific mechanisms are recently being revealed through various studies. A systematic review and meta-analysis study published in the 'Journal of International Medical Research' in 2020 analyzed the effects of herbal medicines such as ginger, cinnamon, and fennel on relieving menstrual pain in a total of 9 studies involving 647 primary dysmenorrhea patients. As a result of the study, these herbal medicines significantly reduced pain intensity compared to placebo (cinnamon vs placebo: WMD = 1.815, 95% CI = 1.330-2.301, p \< 0.001), and cinnamon in particular showed the effect of shortening pain duration (WMD = 16.200, 95% CI = 15.271-17.129). The researchers concluded that cinnamon, ginger, fennel, etc. effectively reduce the pain intensity of primary dysmenorrhea, and cinnamon shortens the pain duration. Another systematic review and meta-analysis study confirmed the effect of an herbal prescription called 'Dangguisaeyeok-tang' on primary dysmenorrhea. Analyzing a total of 1005 women participating in 11 randomized controlled trials, the treatment rate in the group taking Dangguisaeyeok-tang was significantly higher than that of the control group (n=1005, RR =1.42, 95% CI =1.30-1.55, p\<.01). This study suggests that Dangguisaeyeok-tang is effective not only in relieving pain but also in reducing the recurrence of menstrual pain. Based on these data, Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch focuses on constitution improvement so that menstrual pain does not occur again by correcting bodily imbalances beyond simply suppressing pain. We carry out treatments to restore autonomic balance, expel cold Qi from the lower abdomen, remove blood stasis, and improve circulation in the uterus and pelvic cavity. ## Could My Menstrual Pain Lead to Chronic Condition? (Menstrual Pain Checklist) If 3 or more of the items below apply, you need to check the root cause of menstrual pain and consider Oriental medicine treatment. If 5 or more apply, it is recommended to receive professional diagnosis through immediate clinic visits. * You take painkillers every month because of menstrual pain. * Even when taking painkillers, the pain does not completely disappear, or the effect seems to gradually decrease. * You have lower abdominal coldness, such as cold lower abdomen or cold hands and feet. * Menstrual blood is dark or frequently clots. * Severe premenstrual syndrome symptoms such as breast pain, headache, indigestion, and severe emotional ups and downs occur even before menstruation starts. * You frequently experience fatigue, dizziness, and decreased concentration. * You are sensitive to stress, easily tense up, or feel anxious. * Menstrual pain interferes with your studies or work life. **Judgment:** * **3~4 items apply:** Suspected autonomic imbalance and blood stasis type menstrual pain, review Dalimchae Oriental Clinic complex treatment. * **5+ items apply:** High possibility of progression to chronic menstrual pain, immediate hospital visit for precise diagnosis and treatment recommended. ## How Does Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch Treat Menstrual Pain? Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch aims to prevent pain recurrence and restore a healthy body state through fundamental constitution improvement of the patient, rather than temporary relief of menstrual pain. It is about making a body where symptoms do not turn back on, rather than just turning them off. We meticulously analyze each patient's symptoms, constitution, and lifestyle habits to establish the most suitable treatment plan. Through pulse diagnosis, abdominal diagnosis, body composition test, and autonomic nervous system test, we accurately grasp the current state of the body and perform customized herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and pharmacopuncture treatments accordingly. In particular, constitution improvement treatment focuses on promoting lower abdomen blood circulation, removing blood stasis, restoring autonomic balance, and increasing stress resistance. It smooths body circulation, expels cold energy, replenishes deficient qi and blood, and strengthens overall women's health including the uterus. This has positive effects on overall immunity enhancement, fatigue relief, and sound sleep as well as menstrual pain relief. Such an approach can have positive effects even on fertility or pregnancy preparation processes. For those looking for Songdo menstrual pain oriental clinics, Dalimchae Oriental Clinic will become a reliable companion on the journey to finding a healthy body away from painkiller dependence. ## Q&A **Q. How long do I need to take menstrual pain herbal medicine to see effects?** A. The treatment period for menstrual pain herbal medicine varies depending on individual constitution and symptom severity. Usually, we observe changes in menstrual cycle and pain relief degree while taking it consistently for 2 to 3 months, and after symptom improvement, maintenance treatment or recurrence prevention treatment can be considered. **Q. Does severe menstrual pain affect infertility?** A. Yes, severe menstrual pain can be related to blood circulation disorder or inflammation within the uterus and pelvic cavity, which can affect the uterine environment and potentially cause infertility. Fundamentally treating menstrual pain also helps in healthy pregnancy preparation. **Q. Is it okay to take painkillers and herbal medicine together?** A. Taking painkillers and herbal medicine simultaneously must be decided through consultation with an Oriental medicine doctor. Generally, painkillers are combined when pain is severe in the early stages of treatment, and as pain gradually decreases with herbal medicine treatment, the dosage of painkillers is reduced. **Q. Are other symptoms (headache, indigestion) along with menstrual pain treated together?** A. Yes, since Oriental medicine views the body as a single organism and improves the fundamental imbalance causing menstrual pain, various accompanying symptoms such as headache, indigestion, fatigue, and emotional ups and downs that appear together with menstrual pain can be improved together. Menstrual pain is not a problem solved by enduring. You no longer need to ignore the signals your body has sent for a long time. When approached in the right direction, the body responds faster than you think. Bring the symptoms you are experiencing as they are. Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch will find the causes together with you. Where life blossoms. Herbal medicine is Dalimchae Oriental Clinic. Check your similar symptoms first through Dalimchae Oriental Clinic's homepage AI consultation! This article is based on frequently asked questions in the treatment room, health information compiled together by Dalimchae medical staff. Medical Review | Women & Pregnancy Treatment Standard Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch Oriental Medicine Doctor Oh Hyun-min (Menstrual Pain Column) #MenstrualPain #Dysmenorrhea #WomensHealth #SongdoMenstrualPainClinic #IncheonOrientalClinic #ConstitutionImprovement #OrientalMedicineTreatment #MenstrualPainHerbalMedicine Fertility - Infertility & Pregnancy Preparation