Menstrual health articles

90% of menstrual discomforts do not need to be dealt with forcefully, and there is no need to blindly follow folk remedies. As long as you find an intervention method that suits you, you can get through it smoothly. Only when clear abnormal signals appear do you need medical intervention.

Not long ago, I met a little girl squatting in the corner with a pale face at the subway station. After asking, I found out that her aunt was in so much pain that she couldn't walk. I handed her an ibuprofen but she hesitated for a long time, saying that her mother said that taking painkillers hurts the body and she will become dependent on her in the future. In fact, this is also the most confusing point for most people: can I take painkillers?

Both views actually make sense: The consensus among Western medicine is that the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs we often buy, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, can be taken 1-2 days a month at regular doses. They are metabolized very quickly and will basically not cause dependence. The side effects are far less than pain, neurological disorders, and damage caused by abnormal uterine contractions. Unless you have gastric ulcers or abnormal liver and kidney function, you can take them as needed. I have asked a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine whom I am familiar with before, and she did not completely deny painkillers. Instead, she said that if the pain is so severe that I cannot eat or sleep, it is better to relieve the pain first and then treat it, rather than trying to deal with qi and blood stagnation, which will lead to slower recovery. However, if it is long-term dysmenorrhea, it is best to find out whether the root cause is cold coagulation or qi stagnation. It is safer to start with daily habits than to treat it temporarily every time it hurts.

My colleague has a typical Hanning constitution. He used to vomit twice every time he came to visit his aunt, and he took a day off to stay at home. Later, he listened to Chinese medicine and soaked his feet for 10 minutes every day for a week before menstruation. Another friend has primary dysmenorrhea for which no cause can be found. All treatments have been tried to no avail. Now he takes one pill of ibuprofen on time on the first day of each visit. He can go to work and attend meetings without any delay. After four or five years of taking it, he has not had any problems.

There is another topic that has been debated for many years: Can I eat ice or spicy food during menstruation?

Don’t be bound to death by uniform taboo requirements. I have a best friend who was born and raised in Sichuan. She has been fond of spicy food since she was a child. She still eats hot pot and skewers during her menstrual period, and she doesn’t feel any discomfort at all. ； There is also a friend who goes to school in the Northeast. He dares to chew popsicles during his menstrual period in winter and has never had any pain. But if you have a body type that makes you break into a cold sweat when you drink iced milk tea, don’t do it forcefully. There is really no need to suffer for a long time just for a cold drink. Oh, by the way, there is also the brown sugar ginger tea that everyone is accustomed to drinking, but it is not suitable for everyone: if you have a cold body, a small amount, black blood and blood clots, drinking it can relieve it. If you have blood heat and a large amount, drinking it will cause more bleeding and make you feel uncomfortable.

I have been through this trap before. One time, my aunt, who was taking a lot of medicine, heard someone say that she drank brown sugar and ginger tea to relieve blood stasis. I drank it for two days, but it took me ten days to get rid of it. Later, when I went to see the doctor and was scolded, I realized that I was not suitable.

It doesn’t mean that you can handle all discomforts by yourself. If you encounter these situations, don’t hesitate and go to the hospital for examination: Menstruation is early or delayed by more than 7 days for two or three consecutive months.； The amount of bleeding suddenly increases, and a nighttime sanitary napkin can be soaked through in two hours ； My menstrual period lasts for more than 7 days and I still feel wet. ； Or the pain is so painful that even taking painkillers can’t help it. Don’t believe the nonsense that “it will be fine once you get married” or “it will be fine after giving birth”. These abnormal signals are likely to be signs of endometriosis, adenomyosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Early intervention is far better than procrastination.

Let me tell you a little trick that I have used for many years. If you have backache and abdominal pain during menstruation, don’t just stick the baby warmer on your belly, but stick it on the lower back and sacral area, which is next to the uterus. The penetration of hot compress is much stronger than sticking it on the belly. I stick it on for half an hour each time, and the feeling of backache can be eliminated by more than half. You can try it next time.

In fact, after all is said and done, there is really no unified standard answer to menstrual health. Your physical feelings are always more reliable than all popular science articles. Don't bear it just because others say, "You are so delicate if no one else cares", and don't buy random menstruation remedies with unknown ingredients. Spending those days comfortably is more important than anything else.