Abdominal pain during menopause is a common event. Even when undiagnosable in western medical terms, it can still be treated effectively with Chinese medicine by following channel theory. In cases where the pain is quite strong, it requires strong stimulation at the points of treatment. In my clinic, to achieve the strong stimulation effects, I often use thicker gauge needles in addition to manual stimulation.
Case Description
A forty-four year old woman had been experiencing menopause symptoms for over a year. She had ceased menstruation in the last 6 months, and her hot flashes and emotional mood swings had been reduced to some degree by estrogen replacement. What brought her in to try acupuncture was an excruciating pain that had occurred in her right lower abdomen 2 days earlier. The pain was so intense that it caused her to break into a cold sweat, and she was taken to a nearby hospital emergency room for help. Several tests were conducted, but as no cause could be ascertained, the doctors were unable to arrive at a diagnosis. She was given an injection which decreased the pain to a degree, and sent home with no further treatment. The following morning when she found the pain returning, she decided to come in for acupuncture.
Upon examination, her pulse was wiry, and the area of sensitivity on her abdomen appeared to be along the Spleen channel on the right side of her lower abdomen. A very sensitive ah shi point on the left leg in the vicinity of Spleen 7 was located; Spleen 6 and Spleen 9 were also sensitive to palpation. On the right leg, a point near Stomach 39 was found to be sensitive as well.
For treatment, a strong Qi sensation was necessary in this case, so a 30 gauge Chinese needle was selected. The first point needled was the Spleen 7 ah shi, and a strong Qi sensation was indeed generated, causing the patient to scream. However, 1 minute later, the pain began to diminish. The other two Spleen points were then needled, followed by the Stomach 39 ah shi point on the right leg. In all, only four needles were used. The needles were twirled every 5 to 10 minutes, and at the end of the treatment, about an hour later, the pain was completely gone.
The next day, she reported that the pain had returned overnight, only this time it was not as intense—reduced to only a dull ache. Her pulse was wiry and rolling, suggesting that she would soon have another menstrual period—her first in over 6 months. The treatment given this time consisted only of the Spleen 7 ah shi on the left and the Stomach 39 ah shi on the right. At the end of this treatment, the dull ache was completely gone. The next day, her menstruation did indeed start in the morning. Initially, there were many dark clots, followed by a more normal flow. After this short menstrual period, she felt much better overall. Returning for a follow up treatment a week later, she was given only an herbal formula, because acupuncture was no longer necessary in this case.
Case Discussion
Menstruation problems are often related to the Spleen, especially when irregular as during menopause. The discovery of the sensitivity along her Spleen channel points helped to verify the fact that the Spleen was the key imbalance contributing to the abdominal pain. It is important to note that even though acupuncture is one of the safest healing modalities that can be employed, it is still necessary to determine that the patient is stable enough to receive treatment, especially when stronger stimulation with a thicker gauge needle is involved.
This article was taken out of Dr. Tan’s book Twenty-Four More in Acupuncture.
About the Author
Dr. Richard Tan is a leading authority in acupuncture, herbs, feng shui and qi cultivation. His skills represent the culmination of years of study in the disciplines of Zang-Fu, Five Element and Channel Theory. Dr. Tan authored Twelve and Twelve in Acupuncture, Twenty-Four More in Acupuncture, Dr. Tans Strategy of Twelve Magical Points, and Acupuncture 1,2,3, among others.
To learn more about Dr. Tan’s Balance Method, click here [2] to view a complete list of courses by Richard Tan.