TREATING MENSTRUAL PROBLEMS
NATUROPATHY
The naturopathic approach to health care is aimed at stimulating the body's own ability to heal itself. Expressions of health and disease are considered to be reflections of the dynamic interchange between the physical, mental, social, environmental and spiritual landscape of the individual. The founding principles of naturopathic practice are the healing power of nature (Vis Medicatrix Nature), identify and treat the cause (Tolle Causam), first do no harm (Primum Non Nocere), doctor as teacher (Docere), treat the whole person, and prevention.
Naturopaths deal with a wide variety of complaints, and are qualified to prescribe herbal medicines, homoeopathies, vitamins and minerals, flower essences, give nutritional advice, and perform massages and other remedial body therapies. The naturopathic healing environment aims to empower the individual, to motivate and educate them to restore, maintain and optimise wellness.
Generally speaking the naturopathic approach to menstrual cycle problems is to treat the imbalance and therefore restore a healthy cycle. Naturopaths vary widely in their experience and although they're trained to be general practitioners, by their nature, clinical experience and ongoing training, many do specialise. Seek out a naturopath who has experience and post-graduate training in reproductive health, women's health and fertility.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Traditional Chinese Medicine views health as a state of harmony or balance and not just ill health as the absence of health. Like all branches of Chinese medicine, traditional gynecology has a long history, with writings dating from the Shang Dynasty (1500-1000 BC). Chinese medicine has a profound understanding of and ability to treat menstrual and fertility disorders and uses diagnostic tools including consideration of the flow, or blockage, of energy (qi) in the energetic channels of the body (meridians), qualities of blood and menstrual blood, and the subjective experience of the patient.
Treatment can include acupuncture, massage, cupping (drawing out of stagnant energy), moxibustion (application of heat to specific areas) and use of Chinese herbs as well as lifestyle and dietary suggestions.
The menstrual cycle is viewed as an intrinsic female cycle and one that needs to be understood and supported for both a healthy cycle and a woman's overall health and wellbeing. The onset of periods in a girl is seen poetically as the flowering and flow of Kidney energy (not to be confused with our physical kidneys), when this deep female energy within the body transforms into blood and becomes menstrual blood.
AYUR-VEDA
Ayur-veda originated within the ancient Vedic tradition of India. The Veda was 'discovered' by enlightened seers, men and women, who directly perceived the structures of the universe within their own awareness.
The fundamental healing principle of Ayur-veda is to restore balance in mind, body, and emotions simultaneously by reawakening your own resources of biological intelligence. Ayur-veda understands that the mind and body are intimately connected and that consciousness is inseparably merged with both. The behavior of molecules and immune cells, for example, can't be predicted solely on a physical basis, but is strongly influenced by our mental and emotional states of consciousness.
The Ayur-vedic system identifies seven types of constitution. Each constitutional type predicts the kind of imbalances that a person may be susceptible to and the individual daily and seasonal routines for each type focus on food, rest, exercise, behaviors and lifestyle. Specific therapeutic modalities (including herbs and massage) are used to restore health and eliminate impediments to good health — the 'same' menstrual disorder may require different treatment for women with different constitutional types.
Ayur-veda views menstruation positively, as intrinsic to the health and happiness of women during their fertile years, and good health and long life in general.
SHIATSU
Shiatsu is a bodywork therapy that focuses on organ meridians (as in acupuncture). Meridians are external energetic manifestations of the visceral organs. In a professional Shiatsu treatment light clothing is worn as Shiatsu is performed as a leaning pressure. In this way energy and hormonal balances are treated from the external body, non-invasively and sensitively.
PAINKILLERS
Managing menstrual pain in a holistic way, to balance the imbalance, is the ultimate goal. But while you're getting this together there's no point in you or your daughter suffering agonising pain. If you are not sexually active, your doctor might first recommend a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, which inhibits cramp inducing prostaglandins. Although painkillers have a valuable place in acute and compassionate care, avoid using them as your only menstrual pain management, especially if you need them regularly. Find a good health practitioner who will tailor an individual and integrated treatment program to help you eliminate the problem. Kaz Cook and Ruth Trickey's book Women's Trouble has a detailed discussion of the various painkillers, which ones are effective for what problems and their side-effects and contraindications.
THE PILL
Prescribing the Pill (in some formulation or other) to adolescents is a common Western medical approach to 'treating', acne, irregular periods (actually quite normal in the first few years of menstruating), painful, heavy or prolonged periods, as well as for contraceptive use.
There are currently three general Pill groups available — monophasic, which are second and third generation progesterones and are the most commonly used; biphasic, which are less commonly used; and triphasic, which are weaker contraceptives and are often used nine weeks on and one week off for certain conditions and by choice (creating a withdrawal bleed once in ten weeks). You will find a comprehensive list of brands and types of the Pill in Ruth Trickey's book Women, Hormones and The Menstrual Cycle.
The Pill is a unique drug in that it's designed to interfere with a healthy bodily function — fertility itself. There are at least 150 bodily changes caused by taking the Pill (Roberts 1995). If you're faced with this therapeutic option for your daughter you need to be aware of the personal and familial contraindications for using the Pill, including diabetes, blood clots, migraine, adolescents who have been menstruating for less than two years, very irregular menstrual cycles or late menarche, high blood pressure, breast, liver or reproductive organ cancer (or suspected) and depression. 'Major' (life threatening) side effects including increased risk of blood clots, increased risk of heart attacks, higher risk of developing breast cancer, possible link with cancer of the endometrium, cervix, ovaries, liver and lungs. Also don't ignore the 'minor' (not life threatening) side effects which include weight gain, migraine, nausea, decreased immune response, allergic reactions, eye disorders, depression, arrest of bone growth in adolescent girls. You will find complete lists of contraindications in Pill packets, or ask your doctor.
Taking the Pill also causes deficiencies in a large number of nutrients which has a cumulative effect over time. Natural Fertility by Francesca Naish has a complete list of these deficiencies.
Although the Pill can alleviate heavy and painful periods in many cases, this is at the expense of the menstrual cycle itself — 'periods' experienced while on the Pill are no more than a withdrawal bleed, except in the case of the mini-Pill where ovulation is still present. So the Pill (and all versions of hormonal, synthetic or otherwise, contraception and cycle disrupters) is contributing to the denial of the intrinsic value of the menstrual cycle. Where the Pill is taken from a young age, especially before the menstrual cycle has had time to become regular, greater difficulty may be experienced later when wanting to reestablish the cycle (Roberts 1995). I know of doctors who explain to their patients how to use the pill to avoid bleeding altogether. On the other hand many women have told me that once they come off the Pill they rejoice in the discovery and experience of their real cycle.
The choice to take synthetic hormonal drugs like the Pill may be appropriate for acute conditions — this can then be followed up by a holistic therapeutic approach to eliminate toxins and promote hormonal balance in the long term.
When I was 15 I began having excruciating pain with my periods — I would be sent home from school, or not go to school at all. I would spend hours in bed writhing in pain. My father was a doctor and gave me intravenous valium to relieve the pain, and then when I was 16, put me on the Pill. After that I had very light, pain-free periods but I did gain quite a bit of weight. I went off the Pill at 21 and began managing my periods in other ways. (Jane)
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