3 acupressure points to soothe period pain

Mayra Paterson

Journalist and translator specializing in health, well-being and natural food

May 16, 2023 21:51

Pressing with the fingers on three acupuncture points for one minute each in the days before the period, the intensity of menstrual pain, the number of days that the pain lasts and the use of medication are reduced. And you can do it yourself at home, without having to go to a therapist.

This was verified by German and Swiss scientists who studied the effects of self-treatment with acupressure in a group of 221 women between the ages of 18 and 34 over six months. They published their results in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The plants that we show you in the following video help alleviate period discomfort.

4 plants that calm and regulate your menstruation.

How to apply pressure to relieve menstrual pain

It is important to locate the points well, apply pressure appropriately and do it with some frequency following some guidelines:

How to locate acupuncture points: In the illustrations and descriptions of each photo that we present below, you will see where each point is located. You will notice that you are on the correct point because it will be more sensitive than the surrounding area.How to massage each point: When you have located the point, massage the area with your thumb with circular movements. Don’t rub back and forth.How much pressure to apply: You must also do it with a moderate pressureneither too strong nor too weak, without hurting you.Which side to start: Concentrate on the points while you are massaging them and do it on both sides of the body. First on the right and then on the left, or vice versa.How long should it last: The massage or pressure should last about a minute on each point.At what point in the cycle should you start: You should start 5 days before the period date planned and find a place where you can sit comfortably. How often do you have to do it: In the days before the period, perform acupressure twice a day. On days when you can’t do it twice, do it at least once. During the painful days of the rule, try to do it at least twice. If you wish, you can apply acupressure up to five times a day.

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It can help you put on a mobile reminder –in the calendar or in one of the many applications that exist to control the menstrual cycle– so that it notifies you on the days when you must perform acupressure.

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Hegu: point 4 of the large intestine

It is probably the best known acupressure point, especially for the relief of headaches and other types of pain.

It is located on the back of the hand between index finger and thumb. Specifically between the first and second metacarpal. It will be easier for you to locate and press it if you pinch the thumb and index finger of the other hand: slide them between the two metacarpals towards the base of the wrist, as if they wanted to touch each other through the hand. The point is more or less half way.

is a point very sensitive to touch and acts on the meridian of the large intestine.

Sanyinjiao: point 6 of spleen

The Sanyinjiao point is commonly used to treat pelvic area disordersincluding pain and menstrual cramps.

It is located on the inside of the leg, about four fingers above the ankle bone. You can place your fingers on the ossicle to help you locate it. It lies on the tibia and is also usually a painful point.

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Taichong: liver point 3

This point is used to resolve stagnations of the chi liver and treat problems such as anxiety. Also to regulate menstruation and reduce pain.

It is located about two finger widths below the area where the skin on the big toe meets the next toe. That is to say, between the first and second metatarsals.

Ease menstrual pain with acupressure

All the participants in the study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suffered from dysmenorrhea, that is, a painful rulewho on a scale of 1 to 10 had scored at least 6. Half of them followed acupoint pressure regimens and the other half followed their usual care.

In both groups the women used a app to visualize the menstrual cycle and make notes. Those in the acupressure group also received instructions on how to press the points and reminders of when to do so through the mobile application.

Every day, starting to count from five days before the periodthey had to press on the three acupuncture points, agreed by several expert acupuncturists from China, Germany and the United States.

Less intense and shorter lasting pain

In women who practiced acupressure the improvement was increasing from cycle to cycle. After the first three months of treatment, they rated their pain at an average of 4.4 points (compared to scores of 5 in the control group).

At six months, the reported pain intensity had decreased significantly compared to the women in the control group, specifically by an average of 1.4 points. Almost 60% of women saw their pain cut in half.

The mean days with pain it was 1.1 in women who used acupressure and 1.5 in those who limited it to usual care.

Less need for drugs

Among the women in the acupressure group there was also a less use of medicationwhich also decreased slightly after six months, something that did not occur in the control group.

This is especially important if we take into account that 9 out of 10 women experience pain at some point during menstruation and that many resort to analgesics and anti-inflammatories It is not free of side effects.