Dysmenorrhea‧痛經

Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual Cramps) is a common gynecologic complaint, reported by 25% of women, and by up to 90% of adolescents. It has been reported to be one of the most common causes of periodic absenteeism from school or work in young women. 　　Dysmenorrhea is commonly categorized as ‘primary’, i.e. in absence of proven pelvic pathology, or ‘secondary’, i.e. in presence of pelvic pathology. Pain is the dominating symptom, and several other symptoms, may contribute to the pre-menstrual syndrome. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are at least partly effective in relieving primary dysmenorrhea in about 90% of sufferers and completely effective in 65%. 　　Acupuncture is the standard treatment for severe dysmenorrhea in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is commonly used to treat chronic pelvic pain, and its use has been recently recommended by the National Institute of Health for the treatment of several diseases, including dysmenorrhea. 　　Acupuncture points are stimulated by inserted needles, by heat generated from moxibustion, or by manual pressure at the site. It is well tolerated and free of relevant side effects and has been approved by FDA.

痛經是指女性月經期前後或行經期間，出現以下腹部痙攣性疼痛為主，嚴重時還可能影響日常生活的一種常見婦科疾病。 　　其有原發性和繼發性兩種。經過詳細婦科臨床檢查未能發現盆腔器官有明顯異常者，稱原發性痛經，也稱功能性痛經。多發生於月經初潮的青春期少女或已生育的年輕婦女。經過詳細臨床檢查生殖器官有器質性病變者所致的痛經，是為繼發性痛經。 　　痛經發作時，輕者小腹疼痛明顯在經期或其前後，伴腰部酸痛，無全身症狀，有時服止痛藥即可解除痛疼。較嚴重者可見經期或其前後小腹疼痛難忍，伴腰部酸痛，噁心嘔吐，四肢不温，止痛藥物可暫緩疼痛但不能解除。最嚴重者常見經期或其前後小腹疼痛難忍，坐臥難安，須臥床休息，伴腰部酸痛，面色蒼白，冷汗淋漓，四肢厥冷，嘔吐腹瀉，或肛門墜脹，甚至會因痛而休克，止痛藥不能明顯緩解痛症。 　　關於痛經，在中醫最早見於《金匱要略·婦人雜病脈症並治》稱為“經行腹痛”。其理論認為該病乃由於氣血運行不暢所致，蓋經水乃氣血所化生，血隨氣行，氣載血運，氣血充沛，氣順血和則經行暢通。在中醫“通則不痛”的治療原則下，可以取血海和內關或中極、關元、三陰交、足三里等穴，借助毫針的刺激和艾灸的溫熱以調氣和血後，經血順暢則痛疼自然得解。