Why Does the Abdomen Feel Like It's Being Wrung with Colic When Dysmenorrhea Is Severe?
Many women have experienced this: during those days each month, the lower abdomen suddenly feels as if it is being viciously wrung by an invisible hand, hurting so much that cold sweat breaks out, sometimes even causing nausea and vomiting, leaving no choice but to hurriedly reach for painkillers. This sensation of abdominal colic, from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is actually a bodily signal worthy of in-depth exploration. Why colic specifically? Why do some people hurt so much that they must rely on painkillers? Behind these questions lies TCM's unique understanding of female physiology. Have you ever considered that although painkillers can temporarily suppress the pain, when the next menstrual cycle arrives, will the same colic return?
From a TCM Perspective, How Do Severe Dysmenorrhea and the Sensation of Colic Arise?
TCM holds that the root cause of dysmenorrhea lies in "obstruction causing pain" or "malnourishment causing pain." When dysmenorrhea is severe enough to cause abdominal colic, it mostly falls under the category of "obstruction"—the movement of qi and blood is impeded, and the meridians are blocked. It is like a river: if silt accumulates, the water flow becomes turbulent or even crashes against the banks, producing intense pain. So what causes this kind of "stagnation and blockage"? Common causes include: cold congealing and blood stasis (such as exposure to cold during menstruation or consuming cold drinks), qi stagnation and blood stasis (such as high stress or emotional fluctuations), and damp-heat stasis obstruction (such as greasy diets or irregular daily routines). Have you noticed whether, before each onset of dysmenorrhea, you had experienced getting chilled, staying up late, or getting angry? Behind this abdominal colic, the body is actually reminding you: there is a problem with the movement of qi and blood. In TCM meridian theory, Guanyuan (CV4) of the Conception Vessel, and Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Xuehai (SP10) of the Spleen Meridian are particularly closely related to the qi and blood of the female uterus. Guanyuan, also known as Dantian or Cimen, is located on the anterior midline of the lower abdomen, 3 cun below the umbilicus. It belongs to the Conception Vessel and is the Front-Mu point of the Small Intestine. The Classic of Difficult Issues calls it "the place where men store essence and women store blood," and it is where the body's original qi gathers. Sanyinjiao, also known as Taiyin, Chengming, or Xia Sanli, is located on the medial side of the lower leg, 3 cun above the tip of the medial malleolus, on the posterior border of the medial edge of the tibia. It belongs to the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian and is the intersection point of the three meridians of Foot Taiyin, Jueyin, and Shaoyin. The Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing records its location as "3 cun above the medial malleolus, in the depression below the bone," and it communicates with the qi and blood of the liver, spleen, and kidney. Xuehai, also known as Baichongke, is located on the medial side of the thigh, 2 cun above the medial end of the base of the patella, at the bulge of the medial head of the quadriceps femoris. It belongs to the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. The Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing states it is "2 cun within the white flesh at the medial border above the kneecap," and it is where the blood and qi of the Spleen Meridian gather. The locations and meridian affiliations of these acupoints reflect TCM's understanding of the relationship between the body's meridians and the uterus.
Why Do Painkillers Provide Temporary Relief but May Only Treat the Symptoms, Not the Root Cause?
The mechanism of painkillers mainly involves inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins to block the transmission of pain signals. This is like placing a piece of tape over an alarm—the pain signal is temporarily suppressed, but the root cause of the pain (such as blood stasis in the uterine cavity, cold congelation, or qi stagnation) has not been cleared away. Licensed TCM practitioners have observed in clinical practice that women who rely on painkillers long-term often experience increasingly severe dysmenorrhea, and may even develop problems such as reduced menstrual volume and delayed menstrual cycles. Have you ever thought that painkillers only make you "temporarily pain-free," but when the next menstrual cycle arrives, will the same colic strike again? The TCM approach to regulation tends to improve the movement of qi and blood from the root, rather than simply suppressing symptoms.
What Daily TCM Methods Can Help Relieve Abdominal Colic During Dysmenorrhea?
Since painkillers are not a long-term solution, are there any universally applicable TCM regulation methods? First, hot compress is a simple and effective option—applying a hot water bottle or heat patch to the lower abdomen can warm and unblock the meridians and dispel cold pathogens, and is especially helpful for dysmenorrhea of the cold congelation and blood stasis type. Second, in terms of diet, one can appropriately increase warm-natured foods, such as ginger and brown sugar water, or red date and longan tea, while avoiding raw and cold fruits and iced drinks. Additionally, acupoint massage is worth trying: press with the thumb. Each session should last 3-5 minutes, with pressure adjusted to a sore and distended sensation. However, these methods need to be adjusted according to individual constitution—for example, people with a damp-heat constitution are not suited to excessive warming and tonifying. Have you ever thought about which regulation method actually suits your constitution? Licensed TCM practitioners suggest that if you want systematic regulation, it is better to go to a licensed medical institution for tongue and pulse diagnosis to determine treatment based on pattern differentiation, rather than blindly imitating others' methods.
When Dysmenorrhea Is Severe Enough to Cause Abdominal Colic, When Should We Be Alert to Other Problems?
Although most dysmenorrhea is primary (without organic pathology), if the colic becomes increasingly frequent, painkillers become less and less effective, or if it is accompanied by symptoms such as a sudden surge in menstrual volume, abdominal pain outside of the menstrual period, or fever, then one should be alert to conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease. TCM emphasizes "preventing disease before it arises," but it does not reject modern medical examination methods. Have you ever encountered a situation where dysmenorrhea suddenly became different from before? At such times, it is advisable to go to a licensed hospital for a gynecological ultrasound. After ruling out organic pathology, TCM regulation can then be combined. Licensed TCM practitioners often remind the public: popular science knowledge can only provide direction; specific regulation plans must be formulated by a licensed physician after an in-person consultation. Do not self-diagnose or abuse traditional formulas.
Summary: When Dysmenorrhea Is Severe, What Else Can We Do Besides Painkillers?
Returning to the original question: when dysmenorrhea is severe enough to cause abdominal colic, do you just have to tough it out with painkillers? The answer is clearly no. From the perspective of "obstruction causing pain," TCM can help improve the movement of qi and blood and reduce the frequency and intensity of dysmenorrhea attacks through daily care methods such as hot compress, dietary adjustment, and acupoint massage, as well as pattern-based regulation by professional physicians. Of course, this requires patience and persistence, rather than seeking a "once-and-for-all" solution. Have you ever thought that when the next menstrual cycle arrives, perhaps you could try these methods instead of immediately reaching for painkillers? After all, the body's signals deserve to be listened to and responded to with care.