Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual pain — known as dysmenorrhoea — affects a significant proportion of women and can range from mild discomfort to debilitating cramps that interfere with daily life. While over-the-counter pain relief provides temporary symptom management, acupuncture offers an approach that aims to reduce the severity of pain over successive cycles by addressing the root cause of the problem.

In TCM, menstrual cramps are most commonly caused by Qi and Blood stagnation in the uterus — essentially, the flow of energy and blood is not moving smoothly, causing pain. Other contributing patterns include Cold in the uterus (often worse in winter or with cold food intake), Blood deficiency, or Liver Qi stagnation related to stress. Identifying which pattern is dominant allows Josephine to select the most effective acupuncture points and treatment strategy.

Treatment is ideally timed around the menstrual cycle. Sessions in the week before menstruation can help promote smooth Qi and Blood flow, reducing the likelihood of painful cramping when the period arrives. Additional sessions during menstruation may provide direct pain relief. Over several cycles, many patients notice that their pain levels decrease progressively and their reliance on painkillers reduces.

Chinese herbal medicine is particularly effective for menstrual pain and is often prescribed alongside acupuncture. Warming herbs may be used for Cold-type pain, while Blood-moving herbs address stagnation. Josephine also provides dietary and lifestyle advice — such as avoiding cold drinks and raw foods around menstruation, applying warmth to the lower abdomen, and managing stress — to support the treatment between sessions.