Menstrual pain
Many women have pain with their periods, especially when they are in their teens. In most cases, menstrual pain does not mean a more serious problem, although sometimes it can be associated with endometriosis or uterine fibroids, non-cancerous tumors in the uterus.
The medical term for menstrual pain is primary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea usually starts 2 - 3 years after the first period, as a woman begins to ovulate regularly. Pain usually starts a day or two before menstrual flow, and may continue through the first 2 days of the period. Often, pain gets better as a woman gets older, or after she has a child.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is caused by underlying conditions, such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Signs and Symptoms:
Symptoms and degree of pain vary, but they may include the following:
Heavy menstrual flow
Headache
Nausea
Constipation or diarrhea
Frequent urination
Vomiting (not common)
What Causes It:
Primary dysmenorrhea is caused by strong contractions of the uterus triggered by prostaglandins, chemicals in the body that are involved in inflammation and pain. Generally, the higher the levels of prostaglandins, the more menstrual pain.
Secondary dysmenorrhea can be caused by:
Blood and tissue being passing through a narrow cervix
Uterine fibroid or ovarian cyst
Infections of the uterus
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Intrauterine device (IUD)
Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's constitutional type -- your physical, emotional, and intellectual makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate remedy for a particular individual.
Belladonna -- for acute menstrual pain that often resembles labor pains; for pain often described as sharp, throbbing pressure in the pelvis accompanied by heavy bleeding; and for pain that may extend to the back and tends to worsen with walking or moving.
Chamomilla -- for menstrual pain with mood changes, including irritability and anger, and pain occuring after bouts of anger. The individual may have the sensation of a weight on her pelvis.
Cimicifuga -- for pain that moves from one side of the abdomen to the other and that is worsened by movement.
Colocynthis -- for sharp pain accompanied by anger and irritability.
Lachesis -- for pain and pressure that extend to the back. Symptoms tend to worsen at night.
Magnesia phos -- for cramps or sharp, shooting pains that are relieved by warmth, pressure, and bending forward.
Nux vomica -- for cramping pains that extend to the lower back; these pains are often accompanied by nausea, chills, irritability, and a sensitivity to light, noise, and odors.
Pulsatilla --
for menstrual pains accompanied by irritability, moodiness (including feelings of sadness), dizziness, fainting, nausea, diarrhea, back pain, and headaches; there may be more pain when there is no menstrual flow.
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