Pain Relief
Ease your period symptoms, neuropathy, and autoimmune disorders naturally
Acupuncture For Easing Painful Periods
Acupuncture is well known for easing pain such as lower back pain and headaches, but it is not well known for its benefits for period health. At some point in a woman’s life, she may experience one, or many painful periods, requiring her to take time off from work, school, or other aspects of life; so she can lie in bed with a heat pack, ice cream, a pack of Midol, and may some tears. Other times, she may have to push through the discomfort pain of her period to carry on with the many responsibilities of life such as raising children, running a business, or attending classes.
Painful periods may be a regular experience, but life goes on-right? Well, eventually those series of painful periods take a toll on the body, mind, and emotions. Maybe those early years of painful periods motivated her to go on birth control to catch a break, but now she is ready to start a family and finds out her endometriosis is causing her infertility. Whether painful periods are interfering with high school attendance, ability to conceive, the ability to go to work, to play with your children on the floor-Acupuncture is the answer to easing painful periods, improving period health, and helping you get back to living the your life.
Painful periods are known as Dysmenorrhea, which is different from the symptoms of PMS, Premenstrual Syndrome. There are 2 types of Dysmenorrhea: Primary Dysmenorrhea and Secondary Dysmenorrhea. Primary Dysmenorrhea are painful cramps not caused by another condition, while Secondary Dysmenorrhea are a symptom and result of another condition such as Endometriosis, or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Either way, both produce painful cramping that is debilitating for women. The cramping are “colicky spasms of pain in the suprapubic area — occurring within 8–72 hours of menstruation, and the pain usually peaks with the increase in menstrual flow during the first few days of a woman's menstrual cycle. In addition to painful cramps, many women with primary dysmenorrhea experience other menstrual-related symptoms, including back and thigh pain, headaches, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting." [2]
Painful periods for young women in their teens and early twenties are very common. Most of the time, many brush it off with a Midol, Tylenol, heating pack, or a slap on the shoulder to “suck it up and welcome to womanhood”. This frame of mind does not help those in pain and there are many reasons for painful periods. Luckily, we have seen a shift in women’s medicine and an increase demand for further study, understanding, and respect to experiences women have. The physical and emotional pain caused by cramping is not “all in our heads”. There are many physical causes to severe cramping.
One of the main reasons for cramping are higher levels of “the hormone prostaglandins F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) in the period blood. When this hormone is released into the bloodstream as the endometrial lining (the tissue we bleed out each month) breaks down, the uterus spasms leading to cramping pain” (1). If a woman is prone to higher stress levels (who does not today?) and eats a poor high-carb, low-fat diet will more likely have levels of the prostaglandins F2 leading to increase cramping (1). The big take away from this is to balancing these hormones through lifestyle choices: nutrition, de-stressing practices, and Acupuncture. Balancing these eicosanoids is the foundation of treating cramping pain alongside providing pain relief.
How can Acupuncture help with Painful Periods and Severe cramping? Acupuncture is part of a complete medical system of Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture can help address symptoms and underlying causes of the painful periods. Studies have shown how Acupuncture can influence the uterus to calm down in its cramping locally and influencing through the mid-brain.
Locally, Acupuncture helps release the tension on the tissues pulling on the uterus, it calms the uterine muscle by increasing blood flow to the area, it releases opioid like hormones for pain relief, directly influences the female hormones of estrogen, progesterone, and more (2). Usually a combination of abdominal points and distal points on the legs will be used to customized a treatment plan for cramping relief. How would acupuncture away from the cramping help? Well, for example: The “acupoint SP6 (Sanyinjiao) may be distal, but it is effective for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, ‘likely due to the fact that SP6 is segmental to the uterus… This segmental activation at the level of sacral spinal nerve 2 (S2) may lead to reflex sympathetic inhibition of the uterus resulting in increased uterine blood flow’ (5).'“ Acupuncture influences the electrical network of the nervous system by working through the interstitial space, the space in between the skin and the muscles. The acupuncture influences the nervous system to either turn on, or off. Each major nerve has a zone it influences. For example, some nerves from the sacrum (tailbone) control muscle movement, nerve feeling, circulation, organ function from the tail bone all the way down to the top of the foot. Acupuncture placed within this zone will influence the local area and the entire zone itself.
Painful periods not only disrupts a women’s quality of life for a time, but may effect her quality of sleep, energy levels, emotional well-being, and relationships. It is important to listen to the body when it is communicating through pain because it will provide insight to what is out of balance. Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture provides a non-drug, safe, and effective option to easing painful periods.
References
Northrup, Christine, M.D. “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom”.
3. Ko, J. H., & Kim, S. N. (2018). A Literature Review of Women's Sex Hormone Changes by Acupuncture Treatment: Analysis of Human and Animal Studies. Evidence-based complementary and alt
4. Yang, M., Chen, X., Bo, L., Lao, L., Chen, J., Yu, S., . . . Liang, F. (n.d.). Moxibustion for pain relief in patients with primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized controlled trial.
5. Armour, M., & Smith, C. A. (2016). Treating primary dysmenorrhoea with acupuncture: a narrative review of the relationship between acupuncture ‘dose' and menstrual pain outcomes. Acupuncture in Medicine, 34(6), pg 422.
Acupuncture For Peripheral Neuropathy
Acupuncture can help with the following Neurological Pain:
Neuropathy
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Postherpetic Neuralgia (Nerve Pain from Shingles)
Thoracic, or Lower Back Radiculopathy
Peripheral Neuropathy is a common condition affecting the quality of life for many. There are different causes of Peripheral Neuropathy with limited ways to traditionally treat its effects directly. Peripheral Neuropathy is when the small nerve fivers in the hands and feet start to become damaged. This leads to a series of odd sensations till the hands and feet are deadened by numbness. This will start interfering with day to day activities. Peripheral Neuropathy may start to effect the way one can grasp with their hands, or perception of their feet. The ability to write, hold their cup of coffee, or walk around the golf field can be hindered. As one gets older with Peripheral Neuropathy, it effects the ability to walk and “feel” where they are placing their feet. Sometimes, this may lead to a misstep, a fall, and commonly, a fractured hip, or bone. Peripheral Neuropathy may start gradually for years; but if ignored, it can lead to life alterating events.
How does Peripheral Neuropathy Affect our Hands and Feet? Within the body, there are 2 types of nerve fibers helping with the communication between the body and brain. These nerve fibers contribute to our ability to move our muscles and feel. The 2 types of nerve fibers include : Large fiber nerves and Small fiber nerves. Peripheral Neuropathy usually affects the Small Nerve fibers and the side effects start in the hands and feet. When damaged, the Large Nerve Fibers can effect balance and sense of equilibrium.
What are the causes of Peripheral Neuropathy? There are 3 main causes of Peripheral Neuropathy all leading to the deadening of the nerve fibers.
Structural blockage to Nerve Health: It is quite common for structural imbalance of the spine and hips to effect the peripheral nerves of the feet. When one experiences lower back pain and sciatica, they can feel how some parts of the toes, sides of the feet and leg can have some sharp, burning pain, or numbness. The spinal cord runs in the center of our vertebrae (Spine bones). There are nerve branches coming out of the sides of the these vertebrae that help control the muscle motor movement and skin sensation for the certain areas they serve. When the spine ends at the lower back area (lumbar and the coccyx-the tailbone), certain nerves branch out, winding out from the holes of the sacrum (on the side of the glutes), branching into smaller networks of nerves from large fibers to smaller fibers ending at the feet. Spinal conditions such as herniated disc, bulging disc, disk degeneration, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, bone spurs, and postural imbalances can throw off this nerve flow. When this nerve flow is pinched, or narrowed; then, the area that these nerves serve will be effected. Leading to sharp pain, tingling, numbness, and loss of balance and ability to move the toes, feet, and legs, properly. With Peripheral Neuropthy, there is usually a chain of effect. When one thing is out of balance, the rest of the system will be effected over time. Structural events leading to Peripheral Neuropathy may include lumbar damage from epidural from birth, prolonged sitting while pushing during labor, car accidents causing disc herniations, or bulging discs, arthritis, osteoporosis or osteopenia leading to damage of the vertebrae, poor posture such as desk sitting all day, and more.
Secondary Causes from Autoimmune Conditions: It is quite common for Peripheral Neuropathy to be caused by Diabetes Type II because this autoimmune conditions can effect the blood system and nervous system health. Treatment would have to focus on balancing blood sugar levels, lifestyle of nutrition and exercise, while using maintaining and healing the nerve pain. Other Autoimmune conditions may cause Peripheral Neuropathy include Thyroid imbalances, Celiac, Crohn’s, or digestive disorders because of the lower absorbing of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to nerve damage because B12 is used for nerve health. In spite of exhaustive workups, no cause is identified in one-third of PN cases, and they are considered to be idiopathic. (1).
Chemotherapy Induced Neuropathy: Chemotherapy and radiation can effect the health of the nerves near the areas they are treating. For example, treating Breast cancer with chemotherapy will be treated near the breast tissue and lymph area (near the armpit). The chemotherapy will effect the nerves that reside under the armpit and branch out down the arm and fingers.
What are the stages of sensations of Peripheral Neuropathy & Common Conventional Treatment Options?
There are 3 stages of Peripheral Neuropathy progression, which can be determined by the level of and type of sensations.
Level 1 of Nerve damage includes sharp, burning pain sensations.
Level 2 of Nerve damage includes tingling, pins-n-needles, and feeling of “ants crawling on the skin”. Here, the nerve damage leaves some sensations.
Level 3 of Nerve damage is numbness. This is the most severe stage because the nerves are deadened. Course of treatment includes the question: Can the Nerve damage be reversed?
Conventional Medicine will do a biopsy of the small nerve fibers to determine which nerves have been affected and damaged. The go-to medication for nerve pain is Gabapentin. We have seen this medication to help with nerve pain, maybe tingling, but have lowered relief for numbness. Remember, everyone responds to medication differently. We have helped some patients wean off of Gabapentin alongside the help of their doctor by using Acupuncture to decrease the withdraw symptoms, while healing the small nerve fiber damage of Peripheral Neuropathy. There are not many treatment options for small nerve damage and numbness for conventional medicine besides pain medication management.
How Can Acupuncture be on the of the top options in treatment for Peripheral Neuropathy?
This depends on whether the Peripheral Neuropathy is affecting the large nerve fibers, or small nerve fibers. and how long the person has had this nerve damage. Acupuncture has excellent results with reversing and treating small nerve fiber damage of the hands and feet. Acupuncture needs more studies to determine if it can help reverse Large fiber neuropathy, but it has been shown to help manage the nerve pain and numbness. The best therapy is Electroacupuncture, where a tens unit is clipped onto the Acupuncture at a very low frequency on selected Acupuncture points. This a very gentle sensation creating a relaxing experience. The benefits of using Electroacupuncture is decrease numbness, decrease sharp/burning pain, no more “ant crawling sensation”, healing nerve damage, improve balance, improved ability to walk on uneven surfaces, and able to improve grip while drinking coffee. Acupuncture is very effective for Chemotherapy induced Neuropathy when Acupuncture treated is started the very beginning of Chemotherapy to restore nerve function.
How fast can Acupuncture help with healing Peripheral Neuropathy? This depends on how long the person has had the nerve damage. In hindsight, the treatment time is much shorter than how long the person has had the Peripheral Neuropathy, which is usually years. The average treatment plan is between 10 to 20 visits, which can span over 6 weeks to 3 months. The frequency per week depends on the medical case history, how debilitating the pain is, and how it is effecting their day-to-day life. The longer one has had the nerve damage, the more work it will take to restore the nerve health. The Licensed Acupuncturist will provide clear answers how many treatments, its frequency per week, what changes to expected, and cost of treatment.
Resources:
Dimitrova A. (2017). Introducing a Standardized Acupuncture Protocol for Peripheral Neuropathy: A Case Series. Medical acupuncture, 29(6), 352–365. https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2017.1242
Wong, R., & Sagar, S. (2006). Acupuncture Treatment for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy – a Case Series. Acupuncture in Medicine, 24(2), 87–91. https://doi.org/10.1136/aim.24.2.87
Dr Sven Schröder, Jarrestraße 42, 22303 Hamburg, Germany (tel.: +49 40 27075901; fax: +49 40 27075905; e‐mail: dr.schroeder@praxis‐jarrestadt.de)