11 Acupuncture and Acupressure Eleven
As a result of the Chinese, women with severe menstrual cramping have access to two additional treatments: acupuncture and acupressure. The treatments date back to 3000 B.C., although experts believe they were practiced even earlier. The treatments target the acupoints of the body.
A slender needle is used in acupuncture to stimulate the acupoints, whereas acupressure uses firm pressure to massage the acupoints. Acupoints are trigger points located on the skin that, when stimulated, generate the desired effect. Multiple medical conditions, including severe menstrual cramping, have been found to be effectively treated by the two modalities.
A skilled acupuncturist inserts a thin needle at these pressure points to induce a calming effect. If it makes you feel any better, early practitioners of this treatment used animal bones instead of needles. To alleviate menstrual pain, acupuncture and acupressure can be administered to the back, abdomen, and feet.
