Dysmenorrhoea is the term used to describe painful periods. Normal menstruation that happens to be painful is known as primary dysmenorrhoea. Period pain caused by certain reproductive disorders, such as endometriosis or fibroids, is known as secondary dysmenorrhoea.
In primary dysmenorrhoea, it is thought that the muscles of the uterus (womb) squeeze and contract harder than normal to dislodge the thickened lining (endometrium). These contractions may also reduce blood flow to the uterus, making the pain worse.
Women of any age can experience painful periods and some women find periods are no longer painful after pregnancy and childbirth.
Symptoms of dysmenorrhoea
Symptoms of dysmenorrhoea can include:
Pain low in the abdomen that can spread to the lower back and legs.
Pain that is gripping or experienced as a constant ache, or a combination of both.
Typically the pain starts when the period starts, or earlier.
The first 24 hours is the most painful. Clots are passed in the menstrual blood.
Dysmenorrhoea can be associated with:
Headaches, nausea and vomiting, digestive problems, such as diarrhoea or constipation and fainting.
Premenstrual symptoms, such as tender breasts and a swollen abdomen, which may continue throughout the period.
Pain continuing after the first 24 hours (this tends to subside after two or three days).[1]
We use various naturopathic principles to treat the cause and look for the disharmony in your body and mind to bring your body back to balance. Please see below a brief treatment (Rx) protocol and reference guide, with choices to help improve your health and wellbeing. Click on the headings and links within for more treatment information.
If you are experiencing these conditions, I can guide you into wellness – BOOK NOW for a Naturopathic Consultation.
Tissue Salt Rx
Calc Phos:
Scanty flow, difficult first periods, anaemic with colicky pains and backache.
Ferr Phos:
Painful period preceded by congestion in pelvic organs and headache. Flushing, fever and vomiting.
Kali Mur:
Painful period worse from taking cold; blood is a very dark colour.
Kali Phos:
Menstrual colic in pale, tearful, irritable, sensitive, nervous girls.
Mag Phos:
Spasm of ramp-like pain in lower abdomen causing her to bend over double; better from heat and movement.
Nat Mur:
Irregular period, scanty and dark, preceded by a frontal headache, flow is irritating; the girl is depressed and withdrawn.
Silica:
Icy coldness of entire body before and during the period with constipation, anxiety and oversensitive nature.
*I recommend taking 2 x twice a day of each of the 4 tissues salts listed below. Start one week before period is due to help prevent dysmenorrhea and for the first two to three days of your menstruation.
Eliminate wheat, dairy and sugar and increase water consumption. 2 – 4 litres a day. Include vegetable juices into your diet and as many greens as you desire.
Homoeopathy Rx
Indication:
Below is a quick reference guide for low potency (1x – 30C) homoeopathic remedies safe for home prescribing. Make an appointment for a professional consultation and prescription for more information.
Belladonna:
Pain from cysts or ovulation. Worse right side. Menstrual pain cutting and dragging with heavy, bright flow. Worse from lying down, better for moving about.
Calcarea carbonica:
When the breasts are tender and swollen.
Calcarea phosphorica:
When the period is accompanied by headaches, arrives too early or is excessive in young girls.
Chamomilla:
Colicky labour like pain with vomiting and diarrhoea. Very angry and sensitive to pain, irritable and can't be pleased. Pains down the thighs. Worse from heat.
Lachesis:
PMS better once the flow starts. Worse from pressure and tight clothes. A heavy flow of dark blood. Pain from ovulation or cysts, worse left side. Anxious, talkative and jealous.
Lycopodium:
When depression accompanies the period.
Magnesium phosphate:
Menstrual pains that are spasmodic, cramping and labour like. Heat and pressure relieve the sharp, cutting pains. Dissolve in warm water and sip as required, stir briskly before each sip.
Magnesia muriatica:
When there are cramps before and during a period.
Natrum muriaticum:
When sad and irritable before and during a period.
Nux vomica:
PMS with irritability and desire to quarrel.
Pulsatilla:
When tearful with painful breasts.
Nutritional Medicine Rx
Use Food as Medicine! Nourish your body and mind with fresh seasonal, whole foods. Clean unprocessed & unadulterated foods like nature intended. Support a back to the basic natural approach to eating. Visit your local farmer markets and buy organic produce where possible. Go vegetable crazy! Love your greens.
Food Sensitivity Testing is an easy way to take the guess work out of what may be contributing to you feeling unwell, suffering digestive problems, inflammation, bloating, skin conditions, asthma etc. A whole food natural diet is excellent to follow but what some people don’t realise is one man's food can be another man’s poison. Give your digestive tract a break and feed your body with food that heals. A stressed and inflamed digestive tract (gut) suffering dysbiosis needs help to build up a good microbiome balance. It is not only important for your ability to absorb and utilise nutrients but your gut health and immune system are inextricably linked. Seventy to eighty percent of your immune tissue is located within your digestive system and ninety percent of serotonin is made in the digestive tract. Serotonin is a key player in mood, anxiety, fear, and the general sense of happiness and wellbeing.
The intestinal microbiota (gut flora) helps in proper development of the host immune system, which in turn regulates the homeostasis of the microbiota. Good nutrition promoting good gut health microbiome promotes a healthy immune system.
The gastrointestinal tract is also sensitive to emotion. A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. Therefore, a person's stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression.
Don’t diet! Listen to your body. Eat mindfully in a relaxed environment and choose quality, not quantity. Enjoy fuelling your body and treating it well.
Flower Essence Rx
- Bach Flower Essences
- Australian Flower Essences
- Futurplex
Lifestyle Medicine Rx
Exercise and Fitness Management:
Select an exercise activity or sport you enjoy. Choose something that works for you and aim for the 80/20 % approach and always listen to your body.- Walking is a wonderful activity for all ages, shapes and sizes.
- Build up slowly but aim for 10,000 steps a day.
- I recommend investing in a motivational health monitor like ‘Fitbit’ and or an app like ‘MyFitnessPal’ to motivate you to have a go and strive to improve your fitness and maintain a healthy weight.
Hydration:
Aim for 2 – 4 litres of clean, filtered water a day. One of the easiest ways to improve your health is to stay hydrated as your body is made up of 60% water and it needed by every cell of the body. Sugar, Salt and Coffee is dehydrating for the body. Often if you feel thirsty this is an early sign of dehydration. Make it a habit and drink throughout the day. Benefits include:- Natural Detox – a naturally hydrated body purges the cells, eliminating stored toxins and bodily wastes.
- Digestion and Elimination – eliminates constipation, boating and helps improve general digestive disorders.
- Speeds Metabolism and helps with weight loss.
- Combats Fatigue – water is an important source of energy for your body.
- Reduces High Blood Pressure and Lowers Cholesterol.
- Speeds up Joint and Cartilage repair.
- Skin Health – improves Acne, Dermatitis, Eczema, Psoriasis and Premature Skin Ageing.
- Slows the Ageing Process.
Sleep Hygiene:
- Aim for 7 – 8 hours quality sleep.
- Turn off all electronic devices and avoid technology and hour before bed as this allows your brain to switch off and make it easier to fall asleep.
- Keep your bedroom just for sleeping & loving. Fresh Air – open a window. Light can make or break a good sleep cycle. Darken your room as much as possible.
- Don’t eat late in the night. Avoid caffeine and stimulants.
- Set your alarm to get to bed and wake at the same time every day.
- Night Cap: – Drink a warm lemon drink, herbal green tea or Golden Milk (Almond & Coconut Milk with beneficial spices) – “Turmeric Latte”, before bed.
- Create a nice environment with indoor plants, aromatherapy diffuser, soft relaxing music and anything that helps you promote a routine to wind yourself down to get much-needed sleep.
Fun:
Life is about balance and taking time out to play and enjoy activities you like with friends and family as it has a huge benefit on your health. Laughter is the best Medicine. Having fun and enjoying activities that you like has the benefit of reducing stress and lowering the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone” and spikes to unhealthy levels when you are continually stressed with one of the side effects being weight gain. Having fun increases serotonin, which is the hormone that regulates sleep patterns, body temperature, memory and mood. When you do activities you enjoy, that help you to relax and connect with people the body will naturally increase serotonin levels. Research has proven that making time to relax, engaging in activities you enjoy, spending time with people that make you happy improves positive emotional, mental health and overall wellbeing.Conditions We Treat
- Abscess
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