Painful Menstruation (Dysmenorrhoea)

Menstrual disgrders are quite common. However, out of a feeling of shame and embarrassment, many women do not disclose their problems and continue to suffer silently.

Dysmenorrhoea is characterised by pain in the abdomen, back, thighs and breasts during the days of menstrual flow. Moreover, there may be muscular cramps, headaches, general lassitude and mental irritability. If similar but less severe symptoms appear immediately before the menses, the condition is called pre-menstrual syndrome.

Homeopathic Treatment

Check if most symptoms of any of these medicines match with most of your symptoms:

Belladonna 30 : Sudden, acute pain in the abdomen, groins, thighs and breasts, coming in spurts (i.e., it starts suddenly and stops suddenly); backache so severe, it seems the back will break; strong bearing-down sensation in the lower abdomen making the lady believe that everything would escape through the vulva. The menstrual bleeding occurs too early, is quite profuse and offensive, and the blood is bright red.

Chamomilla 30 : Severe, uribearable, labour-like, cramping pain in the abdomen and thighs during periods, ultimately causing numbness. Profuse menstrual blood which is dark and clotted. The lady becomes irritable and angry, and desires solitude and silence. She has an aversion to eating and feels better by fasting.

Cimicifuga 30 : Delayed and irregular menses accompanied by labour-like pain (causing a bearing-down sensation) or severe electric-like pain which shifts from hip to hip and spreads into the fronts of thighs. The pain is relieved by warm applications or by eating (unlike Chamomilla). The menstrual blood is coagulated and foul­smelling. All disorders, physical and mental, become worse during the periods and there is a sensation of black cloud enveloping the head.

Mag phos 6x : Severe, stabbing, cramping pain in the abdomen, just before menses, which changes places (like Pulsatilla). The pain gets worse from cold bathing or work but is relieved by lying on the right side or by bending double and by warm applications. An important feature is that the pains disappear as soon as bleeding appears.

Pulsatilla 30 : There is a history of menstrual problems ever since puberty. Violent, shifting (like Cimicifuga) pain during periods, causing a stone-like heaviness in the abdomen. Pains are accompanied by a feeling of internal chilliness; yet the lady craves open air. The abdominal pain is better by pressure and cold applications. The periods are late and the bleeding is scanty. Other important features include: weeping nature, thirstlessness (like Belladonna) and, sometimes, nausea-vomiting or diarrhoea during periods.

Sepia 30 : Painful periods accompanied by a sensation of fullness or a ball in the pelvic organs; there is a strong bearing-down sensation, forcing the lady to keep the legs crossed, lest anything escape out of the vulva (like Belladonna). Pain in the abdomen is better from exercise (work), pressure, warm/hot applications and cold bathing. An important feature of this medicine is 'indifferent nature. The lady is indifferent to everything - even to her beloved family members.

Xanthoxylum 30 : Menses too early, with pain in the back and lower abdomen, extending down the left thigh. The discharged blood is thick and almost black.

Notes:

1. The medicine should be started a day or two before menstrual bleeding is due. Discontinue the medicine as bleeding draws to an end.
2. If none of the above-listed medicines seems matching or if the selected medicine does not help, consult a competent homoeopathic doctor.