Menstrual Cramps — Going Through Your Period Without Painkillers, Through Korean Medicine's Root-Cause Treatment
Table of Contents
Two Korean medicine causes of menstrual cramps
Many women rely solely on painkillers for severe menstrual cramps that recur every month. Korean medicine broadly distinguishes two pathologies behind dysmenorrhea. The first is qi-blood stagnation (gicheheoleo, 氣滯血瘀): when stress or suppressed emotions block the flow of qi (氣), blood (血) also stagnates, accumulating as blood stasis in the uterus and producing pain. The pain has a stabbing quality, and tends to ease once blood clots are passed.
The second is cold-coagulation blood stasis (haneunghyeolche, 寒凝血滯): when cold foods or environments chill the uterus, blood becomes stagnant as if frozen. The lower abdominal pain has a heavy, dull quality, and warm compresses bring some relief.
Prescriptions — Danggui-jakyak-san and Ongyeong-tang
- Danggui-jakyak-san (當歸芍藥散): Used for deficiency-pattern dysmenorrhea where blood deficiency (heoleo, 血虛) and dampness (suseup, 水濕) coexist. Dong-quai (Angelica sinensis), white peony (Paeonia lactiflora), and Sichuan lovage (Ligusticum chuanxiong) nourish blood and dispel stasis, while atractylodes (Atractylodes macrocephala), poria (Poria cocos), and water plantain (Alisma orientale) drain dampness. Suited to women with a slim build and pale complexion.
- Ongyeong-tang (溫經湯): A formula for the cold-coagulation blood stasis pattern. Evodia (Evodia rutaecarpa) and cinnamon twig (Cinnamomum cassia) warm the uterus, while dong-quai, white peony, and Sichuan lovage promote blood circulation. Effective for those with irregular cycles and a chilled lower abdomen.
Moxibustion at Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Guanyuan (CV4)
Sanyinjiao is located four finger-widths above the medial malleolus, where the liver, spleen, and kidney meridians meet. Called the universal point for women's conditions, it improves blood flow to the uterus and ovaries. Guanyuan, three cun (about 8 cm) below the navel, directly warms the lower abdomen and provides immediate relief for cold-pattern menstrual cramps. Daily moxibustion starting 5–7 days before the expected period can help prevent pain.
Daily care
Beginning a week before menstruation, avoid cold drinks, ice cream, and chilled draft beer; instead, drink warm ginger or cinnamon tea. Light stretching and pelvic exercises improve uterine blood flow and reduce cramping. Diaphragmatic breathing for stress management also helps relieve qi-blood stagnation.