Acupuncture for Period Pain and PMS

Most women experience period pain at some time in their lives, and for some its intensity is hard to manage even with pain killers. Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) describes mood swings and a range of other symptoms associated with the second phase of the menstrual cycle. For some women these fluctuations can be life limiting. At Islington acupuncture we see women towards both ends of these spectrums.

Acupuncture for period pain

At your first session your acupuncturist will take a detailed case history to establish what’s going on for you physically and mentally. Period pain is often accompanied with other symptoms such as bloating, breast tenderness, headaches and digestive problems.

As holistic therapists we target all these conditions. We generally recommend a course of weekly or fortnightly sessions over two to three cycles, or might advise you to visit on a particular week of your cycle. We often give dietary and lifestyle advice as part of the treatments.

What is the evidence for acupuncture for period pain?

Research increasingly points to acupuncture’s benefits for period pain lasting well beyond treatment itself. A 2025 meta-analysis (Shen et al.) found pain relief continuing for up to three menstrual cycles post-treatment, with acupuncture outperforming both no treatment and NSAIDs. This effect is thought to relate to acupuncture’s anti-inflammatory action, including reduced prostaglandins (Yu et al., 2021). It also has a consistently strong safety profile across studies.

Acupuncture for Premenstrual Syndrome – PMS

Many women experience mood swings during their menstrual cycle and a range of other symptoms:

• Irritability, anxiety, depression
• Bloating, breast tenderness and fluid retention
• Fatigue and food cravings
• Sleep disturbance
• Headaches and brain fog
• Acne

We treat PMS as a whole-body pattern and we can also target individual symptoms. Your first appointment includes a detailed assessment of your symptoms, cycle pattern and general health. We use this to build a treatment plan. We typically recommend a course of weekly or fortnightly sessions across two to three cycles.

What is the evidence for acupuncture for PMS?

A 2025 meta-analysis (Yuhong Xie et al.) found that acupuncture, electro acupuncture and moxa (heat applied to acupuncture points) significantly improved both physical and psychological PMS symptoms as compared with sham or orthodox western treatment. The researchers emphasised the need for higher quality studies to add to the evidence, but concluded that acupuncture is a safe, promising option for PMS.

PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)

PMDD is a severe form of PMS in which mood-related symptoms such as depression, anxiety, overwhelm and anger – are prominent enough to significantly impact daily life during particular weeks of the menstrual cycle. The evidence for acupuncture in PMDD specifically is limited – most studies include PMS and PMDD populations together. PMDD is often treated with antidepressants; acupuncture can be helpful in these cases too and can be used alongside drug therapy.

 

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