Can acupuncture help with painful periods?

Searching for health care in Edmonton is not an easy task. Finding a doctor who is accepting new patients is hard and finding a provider who has the time to help you work through all your health concerns is even harder. I would know, I spent several years trying to find someone who would help me with my own painful periods. I’m Dr. Melanie Morrill Ac. and I had terrible periods. As a teen, I had such bad cramps I had to stay home with a heat pack and DVDs. I’d spend days hanging out in bed or on the couch waiting for the next cramp or wave of nausea to come from the pain.

It was frustrating and tiring. I was supposed to be learning, chilling with friends, and doing the things that teenage girls do and instead, I was at home with period cramps. Boo. I thought my Family Doctor would be sympathetic and understanding and she would help me resolve my cramps. My hopes were dashed after speaking with her about my nausea, cramps, and missed school days. She told me there wasn’t much to do, just take some over-the-counter medication for pain and nausea. I thought this was so unfair. How on earth can women run the world with 3-4 days of pain so bad it makes you nauseated? Nobody gets three days of sick leave each month for their period.

I knew there had to be a better way. After researching painful periods I learned it had an official name, dysmenorrhea and I found several scientific journal articles about how to treat it. (See Below) Multiple articles said acupuncture was as good or better than the Midol I had been popping like they were skittles. I tried acupuncture and it was life-changing. Seriously, I became a Doctor of Acupuncture because the relief I found was so profound that I needed to share this with everyone.

Being pain-free is joyful. I have not missed school or work since starting acupuncture. I have told all my friends about how much better I felt after acupuncture. It changed my life and now I have the honour of changing other people’s lives with this amazing medicine. No one with a uterus should be told they need to live with severe pain.

I founded Accessible Acupuncture to address Edmonton’s overwhelming need for accessible, timely, effective, and inclusive healthcare. When you go to see your Doctor they should take your concerns seriously and they should not tell you that you are going to have to get used to period cramps because they last until menopause. I am excited to tell people that we can fix period cramps with acupuncture. Part of being accessible is taking patient concerns seriously. Another part is being a safe and welcoming space for everyone including LGBTQIA2S+, disabled people, BIPOC, and neurodivergent people. We need healthcare that is not dismissive, that is supportive, and without long waitlists.

I’m here to help everyone who needs acupuncture care, but I have additional training in pain management, uterine health, fertility, and pregnancy health. If you’re living with terrible periods acupuncture might be that missing piece you have been looking for. Acupuncture has been proven to resolve many different health problems and concerns, but on top of that, my success rate speaks for itself. 90% of patients who commit to treatment reach their health goals.

More Information about Painful Periods.

Dysmenorrhea, also known as painful periods, is one of the most common ailments that people with a uterus live with. Though it is a common practice to treat these painful cramps with heat or over-the-counter medication, a research study has proven that acupuncture for period pain works better, and has fewer side effects when compared to ibuprofen. (Shetty GB, Shetty B, Mooventhan A. Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2018 Aug;11(4):153-158. doi: 10.1016/j.jams.2018.04.001. Epub 2018 Apr 12. PMID: 29654840.)

Menstrual cramps are part of menstruation, but painful cramps are not. The uterus is a muscle and it contracts to expel the uterine lining. The strength of the muscle contraction is determined by several factors including the level of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins are hormone-like active lipids that your body uses for several functions including conception, menstruation, and inflammation. The more prostaglandins a person makes, the harder their uterine contractions are going to be. Acupuncture helps by working with the body to produce fewer prostaglandins leading to more gentle and less painful contractions.

What could you do without your painful period cramps?

“My experience with Dr. Melanie has improved my quality of life immensely... My first appointment, I felt like I was finally truly heard about how this was impacting my life, and together we made a treatment plan that worked for me. Dr. Melanie was confident that within 3-5 months she could improve my symptoms. I’ve been diagnosed with Endometriosis from my gyno....I can not thank her enough and if you’re experiencing similar symptoms or problems, I highly recommend trying acupuncture with her to help. 10/10 rating from me, she’s a hero in womens health, and I hope more women learn that this option is available.”

Carolyn S. Five stars on google reviews.

Patients highly recommend Dr. Melanie Morrill Ac. for her outstanding care, but more importantly for the fact that she goes above and beyond for all of her patients. There is no question of her love for her patients; when they voice their concerns, she listens, and when they meet their health goals, she shares in their joy. If you are living with painful periods and you are ready to be pain-free call the clinic to book your same-week consultation with Dr. Melanie Morrill Ac. today.

Submission by:

Dr. Melanie Morrill Ac.

Owner and Doctor of Acupuncture

Accessible Acupuncture ltd

p: 587-879-7122

a: 600, 11010 101 St NW Edmonton, AB

w: accessibleacupuncture.ca