Painful menstruation (causing fatigue to a woman) is called dysmenorrhoea. It can interrupt patient's normal activities. Dysmenorrhoea is of two types:
- Spasmodic
- Congestive
Spasmodic dysmenorrhoea mostly occurs in young patients between 18-30 years.
Congestive dysmenorrhoea occurs in elderly patients beyond 30 years.
General causes of dysmenorrhoea:
• Small cervix
• Inadequate uterine muscles
• Ischemia (lack of blood supply) of uterine muscles.
• Physical and mental exhaustion
• Hormonal (prostaglandis release)
• Uterine fibroid (tumor)
• Pelvic inflammation
• Endometriois (inflammation inside the uteras)
Symptoms of dysmenorrhoea:
• Colicky & cramping pain in lower abdomen; spreading to the thighs in spasmodic dysmenorrhoea.
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sometimes fainting.
• In congestive dysmenorrhoea, pain is dull, aching in the back or lower abdomen.
Acupressure treatment of dysmenorrhoea:
P 6
LI 4
H 5
GV 12, 20
Sp 6, 9, 10
St 36, 44, 24, 25
CV 17, 23, 24, 25, 27, 31, 32, 62
Liv 3, 13, 14
GV 12, 20
GB 1,6
Sp 6, 9, 10
K 2, 3, 6, 13
Reflex points: all glands, thyroid reproductive system.