Can plugging alcohol cotton balls into the ears treat dysmenorrhea?

Women have their menstrual period for several days every month. Many people experience dysmenorrhea during their menstrual period, which makes many women very uncomfortable. So in order to solve the problem of dysmenorrhea, some people choose to take medicine, some people choose to drink brown sugar water, etc. At the same time, there are many folk remedies for treating dysmenorrhea in life. For example, there was a rumor on Weibo that plugging the ears with alcohol cotton balls can treat dysmenorrhea. Is this statement reliable?

First, ear plugs can cure dysmenorrhea

Recently, a simple pain relief method for relieving women's dysmenorrhea has become popular on Weibo. According to the Weibo post: "There is a simple way to treat dysmenorrhea in women. Just put an alcohol cotton ball in the ear to relieve the pain. If you do it at the right time, the problem can be solved in five minutes. The cotton balls sold in pharmacies are just right. If it doesn't solve the problem, then take medicine."

Once the Weibo post was released, many women suffering from dysmenorrhea saw the "dawn of hope". Ms. Liu, a citizen, said, "I suffer from dysmenorrhea every month. Today I tried plugging alcohol cotton balls in my ears, and the severe pain turned into a dull pain. Today I finally don't have to take a leave and can go to work on time." Some women with dysmenorrhea say that this method is of no use to them at all. Others questioned this approach: “What is the right time?”

Second, this method currently has no scientific basis

Regarding the claim that stuffing an alcohol cotton ball in the ear can cure dysmenorrhea, Lu Yanyan, director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the 303 Hospital, said that she had never heard of this claim and that there is currently no relevant research or theory in medicine to prove that this method is effective in relieving dysmenorrhea.

Why do some women feel less pain after plugging their ears with alcohol cotton balls? Director Lu believes that if it really works for some people, it is most likely because the stimulating effect of alcohol causes the patient's "pain to be diverted" and the attention is focused on the ears, so the abdominal pain is alleviated. "It is also possible that, under the stimulation of the alcohol cotton ball, the human body's microcirculation is improved and the blood flow is smoother. But this situation only applies to people with blood stasis type dysmenorrhea."

Third, more rest and hot soup are more effective in relieving pain

Many women tend to be irritable during menstruation, especially those who suffer from dysmenorrhea. Therefore, experts remind you to pay attention to mental conditioning during menstruation, eliminate psychological barriers, make your mind happy, and let your qi flow smoothly. You might want to try soaking your feet in Chinese medicine at home. However, different physical conditions or different syndrome types will have different choices in medication. It is recommended to soak the medicine at home under the guidance of an expert.

"When dysmenorrhea is severe, it is best to rest in bed for a day or half a day, which can greatly relieve abdominal pain." Experts say that many women often experience discomfort such as lower abdominal pain, weakness in the waist and knees, and general fatigue before each menstruation. If there is severe pain accompanied by symptoms such as sweating, cold limbs, and a cyanotic complexion, you should go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible to find out whether it is primary dysmenorrhea or secondary dysmenorrhea, so that you can know the answer.

Regular meridian and acupoint massage in daily life can also dredge qi and blood and relieve pain. For example, massaging the Zusanli point, Guanyuan point and Qihai point, etc., can have a very good effect on regulating dysmenorrhea if you persist for a long time. The simplest way is to massage the lower abdomen, which can increase blood circulation to the internal organs in the lower abdomen, promote microcirculation in the lower abdomen, and has the effect of relieving pain and regulating menstruation.