what patients are saying:
"When I first met Dr. Malik, I was three months pregnant, depressed, and anemic. I was so exhausted that even standing for too long wiped me out. Doctors and my nurse midwife had suggested various remedies for my anemia, which could have been an underlying cause of the depression, but Dr. Malik put me on a much more aggressive treatment plan that included high doses of iron and a better diet. By the time I gave birth, my anemia and depression had subsided. I was stronger and more confident." |
what patients are saying:
"I had a c-section and lost so much blood that I almost had to have a blood transfusion. I am convinced I would have had one had my anemia still been an issue. My recovery from the birth —and loss of blood— was swift, again thanks to Dr. Malik. Today, I feel better than I have in years, and my son, now five months old, has already benefited from Dr. Malik’s advice as well in terms of nutritional support for breastfeeding. I look forward to having Dr. Malik in my life as we make all the next important nutritional steps, like starting on solids. His practical and straightforward guidance has made all the difference in my life." |
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| Relieving Painful Periods |
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By Richard Malik, ND
As published in the Lakeville Journal, Millerton News, & Winsted Journal
6 April 2007 |
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The medical term for painful periods is dysmenorrhea - “dys” coming from the greek word for difficulty, painful, or abnormal; “meno” meaning month; and “rrhea” meaning flow. There are several factors that may contribute to dysmenorrhea.
Painful periods are a problem for many women. Often, women experience menstrual pain although gynecological evaluations have found no cause. However, just because menstrual pain is usual or common does not mean that it is necessary, unavoidable, or even healthy. |
| Why do I have painful periods? |
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Natural chemicals, called prostaglandins, which are produced by the inflammatory cascade in the body seem to be commonly associated with dysmenorrhea. A specific family of prostaglandins (series 2) and especially one member of that family (F2alpha) have been found to be elevated in many women experiencing painful periods.
How do these prostaglandins and other natural chemicals cause menstrual pain? It seems as though these substances send signals that encourage the muscles in the uterus to tighten or contract. If these increased contractions are sustained, blood flow to the uterus is reduced. Period pain may be due to the contractions causing cramps, to the reduced blood flow starving the uterus of oxygen, or a combination of the two.
Not all prostaglandins and chemicals of the inflammatory cascade are bad. Other families of prostaglandins (series 1 and 3) are anti-inflammatory and may help to encourage blood flow to the uterus.
Pharmaceutical management of dysmenorrhea includes anti-inflammatory drugs that affect prostaglandin levels. Some patients find that their period pain is relieved by birth control pills, indicating that dysmenorrhea may be related to an imbalance in the levels of the hormones, estrogen and progesterone. |
| Reversing the Tendency for Painful Periods |
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Natural therapies for dysmenorrhea address the same physiological factors as pharmaceutical approaches. Dietary choices can affect the production of prostaglandins and the relative levels of estrogen and progesterone.
Series 2 prostaglandins that encourage uterine contraction and reduce blood flow are derived from arachidonic acid. Our bodies naturally make arachidonic acid, but when we consume more in our diet, the levels of arachidonic acid the body increases. This makes it easier to synthesize series 2 prostaglandins, so their levels increase and the likelihood of menstrual cramps rises.
Arachidonic acid is found in meats and animal products. To be clear, I am not suggesting that all women with dysmenorrhea need to be vegetarian. However, many will benefit from reducing their intake of meat and animal products while increasing the intake of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Other foods will increase the body’s production of the anti-inflammatory and blood flow encouraging prostaglandins (seies 1 and 3). The specific components that should be increased are: linolenic acid, linoleic acid, dihomogamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), and docosahexanoic acid (DHA).
That was a mouthful! To simplify things, look to increase the intake of vegetables; whole grains; raw nuts; healthy seed and vegetable oils (including raw borage oil and evening primrose oil); and cold water fish and their oils (cod, wild salmon, mackerel, herring, anchovies, and sardines).
To help balance hormone levels naturally, the first step is to eat fibrous foods. Fiber helps prevent the reabsorption of metabolized hormones so that the liver does not have to do double duty when working to remove them from the body. Herbs can also be helpful for re-balancing hormones for a more healthy menstrual cycle.
Please remember to have your regular gynecological exam. If you are experiencing a sudden change in the amount of menstrual pain or blood flow, or if your symptoms are steadily getting worse, getting an examination is particularly important.
© 2007 Richard Malik, ND |
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