Chronic pelvic pain is a severe issue that affects up to 20-25% of women. The sources of chronic pelvic pain can be gynecological, digestive, musculoskeletal, hormonal, neurological, and may be aggravated by psychological and social conditions. It severely hampers daily life and can interfere with mood, work, relationships, sexuality, and more. Acupuncture and herbal medicine can be great allies when working to heal from chronic pelvic pain.
We always recommend that you visit your western medicine provider to see if it is possible to get a diagnosis for your chronic pelvic pain and to rule out treatable diseases. Acupuncture and herbal medicine can be supportive whether or not you have a diagnosis from your physician.
How Does Acupuncture Help?
Many people know that acupuncture is famous for relieving pain. Inserting acupuncture needles causes your nervous system to release certain chemicals, known as neurotransmitters, that help to relieve pain and stress. Acupuncture helps to bring the body from a sympathetic “fight or flight” state into a parasympathetic or “rest and digest” state. In other words — by releasing chemicals in your brain, acupuncture helps your body feel less pain and less stress.
Specifically for pelvic pain, however, your acupuncturist may be able to discern from your pulse whether your issue is related to digestion, hormones, psychological state, or other source. We have many techniques to address pain from these sources:
- Digestive related pain: If pain is due to something like chronic constipation, acupuncture and herbal medicine can both help to increase peristalsis (movement of food through the digestive system) and can help improve your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Herbal medicine and other supplements can also help you to recover from leaky gut if that is part of your digestive difficulties.
- Gynecological pain: When your pain is related to your reproductive system (ovaries, uterus, and related anatomy), acupuncture can support pain relief by improving blood flow to the area and reducing inflammation.
- Hormone related pain: Some chronic pelvic pain is due to dryness in the reproductive tract. Using acupuncture and herbal medicine to increase estrogen levels can help to decrease pain due to dryness.
- Neurological or musculoskeletal pain: If your pelvic pain is related to nerves in the pelvic region or tightness of local muscles, tendons, and ligaments, acupuncture can be used directly to lessen activation of the nerves and to loosen tight musculoskeletal structures.
- Psychological related pain: If you are experiencing physical pain as a ramification of emotional pain or past trauma, acupuncture and herbal medicine can be supportive in releasing stuck emotions and calming the nervous system. In these cases we typically recommend working in tandem with another practitioner skilled in trauma recovery and emotional release (such as an EMDR therapist, tapping therapist, somatic experiencing therapist, or other modality).
Do not let chronic pelvic pain continue to get in the way of living a fulfilling and easeful life. If you or loved ones are suffering with chronic pelvic pain, reach out to Inspire Family Acupuncture to find out how acupuncture and herbal medicine can be supportive in relieving pain.
