Acupuncture Keeps Menstrual Pain at Bay

Are you still suffering from cramping, mood swings and bloating on a monthly basis?  Menstrual symptoms can range from mild to severe, and when they happen on a regular basis they can have a serious impact on your quality of life.   And, while many women resort to an over-the-counter pain killer to find relief, a German study following 201 women has shown that acupuncture offers a valid alternative.

The research was conducted at Charité University Medical Center in Berlin, and studied 201 women who agreed to randomly receive acupuncture or no treatment.  After a three month period, which included an average of 10 acupuncture sessions, 63 percent of the women receiving this treatment reported at least a 33 percent improvement in their symptoms, compared with 24 percent of women in the control group. Researchers concluded that acupuncture can render benefits to women suffering from menstrual discomfort and should be considered by health insurance companies as a viable option for treatment.

Source: American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2008