Most women have experienced menstrual pain and cramping, or dysmenorrhea. While doctors often prescribe birth control or pain relievers for this common problem, Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture can provide pain relief naturally, says Panos Ioannou, acupuncturist and herbalist at Acuworx Acupuncture Studio, in Jersey City.

“Menstrual pain is one of the most common gynecologic complaints we see at the studio,” he says.

Primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain not caused by an underlying pelvic condition) is associated with hormone-triggered contractions of the uterine muscles as they expel the uterine lining.

“From a western perspective, menstrual cramps are due to a decreased amount of blood and oxygen supply to the uterus,” Ioannou says. “In Chinese medicine, pain is associated with blood and lymph not flowing properly through meridians that run up and down the body. Chinese medicine works by stimulating blood flow to the uterus, increasing nourishment to the muscles and tissues. It helps reduce chronic inflammation through stimulation of the nervous system. It also increases endorphin release and is a hormone regulator that can help minimize pain and regulate symptoms such as mood swings and irritability.”

Weekly treatments typically start yielding benefits after about three months, he says.

“We often use a combination of acupuncture with Chinese herbal medicine for optimal results,” he says. “This is a subtle medicine that works on allowing the body to heal itself.”

Location: 190 Christopher Columbus Dr., Studio 3A, Jersey City, NJ. For more information, call 201-724-3998, email [email protected] or visit Acuworx.com.