NEW YORK -- Menstrual cramping afflicts millions of women, leading them to try everything from heating pads to pain medication, even narcotics. Another 10 million suffer from chronic pelvic pain not related to menstruation. But what if you could relieve the pain with a non-drug, ancient healing technique?
For this, women are seeking Mayan abdominal massage -- an ancient Central American healing technique that's just now found it's way to America.
The massage is supposed to encourage a woman's uterus to go back to its correct position. The massage is reported to be helpful for a variety of problems.
"It's very good for easing menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea, and also other symptoms of PMS and menopause, things like varicose veins and hemorrhoids, and it can help reduce the swelling associated with that as well," said Dr. Mary Scanlon-O'Kelly from the Center for health & Healing.
While most mainstream medical practitioners we spoke with were a little skeptical, they said it might help, as long as serious medical conditions had been ruled out.
"[Pain] can be due to pelvic inflammatory disease, which is inflammation of the pelvic structures due to an infection," said Dr. Veronica Revnikar of St. Barnabas Medical Center. "It can be due to a bladder infection or to interstitial cystitis, and in fact can also be due to bowel problems, such as ulcerative colitis."
One attractive aspect of Mayan massage is that women can learn to do it themselves.
There are about 20 practitioners in the New York-area who say Mayan massage is also not recommended during your menstrual period if you have an IUD, if you have an abdominal aneurysm, or after surgery. But for most women, it's a low-risk approach to pain relief.
http://www.thewbalchannel.com/health/2404821/detail.html
For this, women are seeking Mayan abdominal massage -- an ancient Central American healing technique that's just now found it's way to America.
The massage is supposed to encourage a woman's uterus to go back to its correct position. The massage is reported to be helpful for a variety of problems.
"It's very good for easing menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea, and also other symptoms of PMS and menopause, things like varicose veins and hemorrhoids, and it can help reduce the swelling associated with that as well," said Dr. Mary Scanlon-O'Kelly from the Center for health & Healing.
While most mainstream medical practitioners we spoke with were a little skeptical, they said it might help, as long as serious medical conditions had been ruled out.
"[Pain] can be due to pelvic inflammatory disease, which is inflammation of the pelvic structures due to an infection," said Dr. Veronica Revnikar of St. Barnabas Medical Center. "It can be due to a bladder infection or to interstitial cystitis, and in fact can also be due to bowel problems, such as ulcerative colitis."
One attractive aspect of Mayan massage is that women can learn to do it themselves.
There are about 20 practitioners in the New York-area who say Mayan massage is also not recommended during your menstrual period if you have an IUD, if you have an abdominal aneurysm, or after surgery. But for most women, it's a low-risk approach to pain relief.
http://www.thewbalchannel.com/health/2404821/detail.html
