http://www.care2.com/greenliving/ancient-chinese-secret-to-ease-painful-periods.html
Ancient Chinese Secret to Ease Painful Periods
Ancient Chinese healers knew of an incredible healing technique that eliminated menstrual cramps in minutes. They knew that there are points on the body, that they called acupoints, or acupuncture points, that ease pain and illness, often in seemingly miraculous ways. To help the body heal from many kinds of ailments, they stimulated its innate healing powers using acupuncture needles. But you don’t need needles to experience their powerful healing techniques-relief is right at your fingertips.
These ancient Chinese healers knew that there is a secret point on the body that could quickly eliminate painful cramps from periods. They passed on their findings to acupuncture practitioners who continue to use their secret weapon against menstrual pain-with astounding results. Now, modern research even proves that this acupoint, not only lessens menstrual cramps, it even helps balance the underlying hormones that may be causing painful periods and PMS.The point lies along the Spleen meridian, an energy pathway that governs hormones, digestion (particularly of sweet foods), and the immune system.
In multiple studies published in the journal Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, scientists found that stimulation of this acupoint, called Spleen 6, on the leg, known in Chinese medicine to balance hormones, was more effective at alleviating painful periods than drugs. Numerous other studies show the effectiveness of stimulating this acupoint in the treatment of PMS and menopausal symptoms, labor pain during childbirth, endometriosis, and other hormone-linked concerns, as well as in the regulatation of most female hormones and menstrual cycles.
Research in the Journal of Advanced Nursing and the Korean journal Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi found that stimulating this point with finger pressure was effective at reducing pain linked to menstrual cramps. Another study in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine found that acupressure applied to this point was as effective at alleviating menstrual pain as the medication ibuprofen.
To locate this powerful point place one hand with your baby finger in line with the base of your ankle bone, on the inside of your leg. Just above your forefinger, along the edge of the bone, you’ll find a point that is quite tender to touch, particularly if you’re suffering from painful periods. Simply hold the point until your menstrual cramping diminishes. It can take five to ten minutes for some women. You’ll know you’ve found the right point because it will feel tender when you press it. Repeat as necessary throughout the day for best results.
Michelle Schoffro Cook, DNM, DAc, CNC is a best-selling and six-time book author and doctor of natural medicine, whose works include: The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan. Learn more at: www.TheLifeForceDiet.com.
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19 comments
add your comment »I was having chronically painful periods & taking 3-4 anti inflamatories a day during my period. I started seeing a doc of chinese medicine & homeopath. He treated me with acupunture, moxy sticks, chinese herbs, laser therapy & light therapy. After about 4 months of treatment every 2 weeks. I am now taking 1-2 anti-inflams & noticing a healthier flow.
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I recommend lots of water and plenty of yoga to regularly remove toxins from your body. In a Bikram yoga practice you literally sweat them out.
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I have found that what works best for me is making sure my diet includes enough iron.
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I recently got off birth control, then had to use the emergency pill... So I'm really glad I found this, because my body's going to be really busy re-adjusting my hormones.
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This accupressure really does work. I use it all of the time. You can do it almost anywhere. The point will be sore, but just put a little pressure on it. I do it when sitting on the bus. I can't take anti-inflamatories because of my colitis, so i used this method. If you're just going to be sitting, you could use one of those "sea bands" that put constant pressure on that one spot as long as it fits in the right spot.
As for the B vit., it's Vit. B6 that focuses on women's reproductive health. It comes in diff. strengths, but ask a health food store person, or just try it out. I think i'm taking 150mg now. Some just straight Vit. B6 and some in a B complex vit.
When i take it regularly, it makes me cramp less and my flow lighter, but i'm close to 50, so my body is doing weird things.
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Wow, that Sp6 point sure sounds useful!
Though I have been lucky in having relatively pain-free periods, on the occasions when I do get mild cramps, I find taking a 50mg strength Vit.B *complex* to be very helpful. For me, the pain goes away after 20 min. Some of the B vitamins are involved in female hormonal regulation.
Many of us may unknowingly be deficient in our intake of B. complex vitamins. Remember RDA is merely the intake level to prevent deficiency disease (e.g. beri-beri for B. vit.) not necessarily the individual, optimum level required by our bodies to thrive.
As well, I've been told the B-complex can help with menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes. One would need to supplement at least once a day on an ongoing basis. Not tested by myself as I have not reached menopause yet.
It's good to have an additional way to help ourselves with this acupressure point.
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just me tryng to find 'a way' x
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if you are also suffereing pain of the heart at the same time, woo, ladies, thats always a humdinger! ouah!! anyway, aswell as these pressure points, make a big list of things that make you happy, also possibly some things that you have alwyas wanted that might be musical instruments, like a harp if you are a lady of the music, a biiiig white and gold one, samp0ling machines etc, some reeeeal lovely microphones, and some of that jazz, you know, ....whatever,,,,,,and then as you are pressuring this point, which i wll be later, imagine your loved one, suprising you with all these lovely things and ,,,,hey presto,,, the pain of the heart, maybe, just maybe, will dissappear, and you will come up the other side smelling of roses!! promise. xx love you................you'll be ok too, i know this is all hurting baby, ill see you soon xxxx
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Great article!
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Sp6 in combination with correlating points can also be used for borborygmus, abdominal distension, loose stool with udigested food, uterine bleeding, leukorrhea, prolapsed uterus, amenorrhea, sterility, difficult labor, seminal emission, pain of the external genitalia, hernia, dysuria, enuresis, muscular atrophy, insomnia, incontinence, hemiplegia, eczema, uticaria, neurodermatitis, neurasthenia, motor impairment, paralysis, and pain of lower extremities;
this is a meeting point of the spleen, liver, and kidney meridians, so it can have an effect on all these channels.
Massage techniques include pressing and holding, doing rotations clockwise or counterclockwise for xu or shi conditions; press with both thumbs slowly and releasing quickly. Also use fingertip percussion.
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