Chinese Herbs "More Helpful" Than Drugs for Menstrual Pain

HONG KONG (Reuters) - A study involving nearly 3,500 women in several countries suggests that Chinese herbs might be more effective in relieving menstrual cramps than drugs, acupuncture or heat compression.

Australia-based researchers said that Chinese herbs not only relieved pain, but also reduced the recurrence of the condition over three months, according to the Cochrane Library journal.

"All available measures of effectiveness confirmed the overall superiority of Chinese herbal medicine to placebo, no treatment, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), OCPs (oral contraceptive pill), acupuncture and heat compression," said lead author Xiaoshu Zhu from the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research at the University of Western Sydney.

The survey involved 39 trials -- 36 in China, and one each in Taiwan, Japan and the Netherlands. Participants given herbal concoctions were prescribed herbs that regulated their 'Qi' (energy) and blood, warmed their bodies and boosted their kidney and liver functions. Some of the herbs included Chinese angelica root (danggui), Szechuan lovage root (chuanxiong), red peony root (chishao), white peony root (baishao), Chinese motherwort (yimucao), fennel fruit (huixiang), nut-grass rhizome (xiangfu), liquorice root (gancao) and cinnamon bark (rougui).

In one trial involving 36 women, 53 percent of those who took herbs reported less pain than usual, compared with 26 percent in the placebo group.

Pain associated with menstrual cramps affects as many as 90% of women and teenage girls, leading to absences from school and work. While the cause is still under debate, it is believed to be linked to an imbalance in ovarian hormones.

Chinese herbal medicine has been safely used to treat menstrual related conditions for over 2,000 years. Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can alleviate the pain associated with menstrual cramps by releasing endorphins, the body’s own natural painkillers, and effecting the functioning of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. This ancient remedy can also improve the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluids, which bring fresh oxygen to body tissues. The increased oxygen flow eliminates waste products from inside the body and boosts the immune system. Chinese medicine has also been proved to decrease the stress hormone cortisol, lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, and relax muscle tissue, making it a great option for those whose menstrual pain is exacerbated by stress.

American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a non-profit institution, has provided affordable, quality health care to the public and trained professionals in acupuncture and Chinese medicine since 1980. ACTCM has been the recipient of many awards for its curriculum, faculty and clinic, and has been voted “Best of the Bay” by both the San Francisco Weekly and the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

For more information on how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can treat menstrual cramps and other menstrual related pain, please call American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine at (415) 355-1601 x12.