What are the acupuncture points that can treat menstrual cramps in women

Acupuncture points that can treat women with dysmenorrhea include Di Ji, Zhong Ji, San Yin Jiao, Guan Yuan, and Shu San Li. Dysmenorrhea is a disorder in which women experience cyclical abdominal pain or lumbosacral pain, or nausea and vomiting during or around the time of menstruation. Dysmenorrhea is categorized into solid and deficient symptoms with different treatments. The solid evidence is dominated by abdominal pain during menstruation, which manifests as severe pain in the lower abdomen, with painful spots that refuse to be pressed. Cold pain in the lower abdomen, which can be relieved when there is heat, and scanty menstrual flow with dark purple color and blood clots. The treatment is based on Zhongji, Diqi, Jiusao, Seventeen Vertebrae and Sanyinjiao. Qi stagnation and blood stasis (blood stagnation due to lack of Qi circulation) with Taichong and Blood Sea, and cold-congealed blood stasis with Guanyuan and Guilai. The main symptoms of the deficiency syndrome are lingering pain during or after menstruation, pain that likes to be pressed, which may be accompanied by vague pain in the lumbar-sacral region, scanty menstruation, pale complexion, accompanied by dizziness, palpitations (rapid heartbeat, often accompanied by panic attacks), and shortness of breath. Treatment is based on Guanyuan, Jirong, Sanyinjiao, Ashigaru, and Seventeen Vertebrae. The allied acupoints for kidney qi deficiency are taixi and kidney yu; the allied acupoints for qi and blood deficiency are qihai and spleen yu. The treatment of dysmenorrhea in Chinese medicine is based on the identification of evidence, and massage or acupuncture points need to be performed under the guidance of a professional doctor.