Using acupressure to minimize your monthly menstrual pain…without the use of needles! Most of us know that acupressure is helpful for painful conditions like back pain, or osteoarthritis of the knee. Many of us don’t realize that acupressure can be used successfully for menstrual cramps (also known as dysmenorrhea) 1.
For women who want to reduce pain caused by menstrual cramps, there is now a simple, affordable, pain-free procedure performed on the ears. It takes 5 minutes to complete, costs next to nothing and best of all, it leads to quick results. 2.
The method in question is a technique called “auricular acupressure”. It’s been around for thousands of years in China and is very popular in Europe and North America for a number of health complaints 3.
In a 2009 randomized study, three acupressure points on the ears were pressed 15 times, 3 times per day for 20 days with the use of tiny seeds applied to specific points on the ear with adhesive tape. The control group received adhesive tape on the acupressure points but no ear seeds. Results showed that “menstrual symptoms decreased significantly after auricular acupressure by the seed-pressure method” compared to the control group. The study concluded that auricular acupressure “offers a non-invasive complementary therapy for women with primary dysmenorrhea” 2.
If you are looking for a cost effective way to reduce your monthly cramps, email Drew today and mention that you are interested in the “ear seed” technique for your menstrual pain.
1. Witt CM, Reinhold T, Brinkhaus B, et al. Acupuncture in patients with dysmenorrhea: a randomized study on clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in usual care. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2008;198:166.e1-166.e8.
2. Mei-Chuan Wang, M.N., R.N.,Mei-Chi Hsu, Ph.D., R.N., Li-Wei Chien, M.D., Ph.D., Chien-Huei Kao, Ph.D. and Chi-Feng Liu, Ph.D. Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Menstrual Symptoms and Nitric Oxide for Women with Primary Dysmenorrhea. THE JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE Volume 15, Number 3, 2009, pp. 235–242
3. Luigi Gori and Fabio Firenzuoli. Ear Acupuncture in European Traditional Medicine. Evidenced Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Number 4, 2007, pp. 13-16.
