Whenever I have a new female patient and I ask about her menstrual cycle, a very common answer is ‘it’s normal.’ After a little digging, we find that ‘normal’ includes cramping, pain, swelling, headaches, mood swings, and a laundry list of other symptoms that all occur once per month and last around one week. Most are surprised and hopeful when I tell them that that is not how a normal cycle should look and that we can help. Maybe they came in for mood issues, maybe for low energy or sleep, but more often than not, there is also menstrual disfunction. It happens so often and to so many women that it is thought of as being normal. That means it is common, but not that it is normal.
Maybe this describes you and you want to avoid taking birth control, or maybe you are on birth control but want to get off, or maybe you are thinking about getting pregnant one day and want to give yourself the best chance at success. Maybe you just want to feel better. No matter what the reason, acupuncture can help. Recent studies and articles have shown a significant reduction in negative symptoms in the majority of women when using acupuncture, and these results can often last for up to a year or more. In a recent blog post, I mentioned that it has been shown that acupuncture is safer, cheaper, and more effective than traditional western medical treatments for a variety of issues. It turns out that menstrual health is one of them.
If you are having issues with PMS, PMDD, fertility, or any other type of menstrual issue, acupuncture can help, and often in time for your very next cycle.