Menstrual pain manifests in various ways. Symptoms include pain in the abdomen, lower back, and pelvis, as well as fatigue, headaches, breast pain, acne, and constipation. Additionally, some individuals may experience anxiety, depression, or concentration difficulties. When pain cannot be controlled with painkillers, traditional Korean medicine treatments may be considered. Especially since April, health insurance coverage has been applied to menstrual pain herbal medicine (herbal pills), reducing the financial burden.

Menstrual pain is mostly caused by uterine contractions. It is known that during uterine contractions, high pressure occurs within the uterus, leading to decreased blood flow and resulting in pain. In traditional Korean medicine, the cause is diagnosed by comprehensively examining the pattern of pain, menstrual history, and overall physical condition. It is broadly divided into 'deficiency and excess' (虛實), with 'blockage causing pain' (不通則痛) and 'insufficiency causing pain' (不榮則痛). The former is further categorized into 'Qi stagnation and blood stasis' (氣滯血瘀) and 'cold dampness response' (寒濕應滯), while the latter is divided into 'Qi and blood deficiency' (氣血虛弱) and 'liver and kidney depletion' (肝腎休損), with treatments tailored accordingly.

The Qi deficiency and blood deficiency type experiences discomfort and pain as if their breasts and sides are swollen before menstruation, and the color of their menstrual blood is often dark red or clotted. This is common in individuals who usually experience high levels of stress and physical or mental tension. The cold-dampness type tends to feel cold easily, and their menstrual pain is often accompanied by lower back pain. Applying warmth to the abdomen or body tends to alleviate the pain. These patients often have cold limbs, pale complexion, and tend to have a small amount of menstrual blood that is dark in color.

The qi and blood deficiency type experiences a faint pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation, with severe cases feeling as if something is falling out, and pressing on the abdomen provides relief while rubbing alleviates the pain. There is frequent fatigue and dizziness. The liver and kidney deficiency type often has a sore and aching lower back, frequently accompanied by dizziness and tinnitus.

Therefore, traditional Korean medicine treatments for menstrual pain include herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and pharmacopuncture, tailored to each individual's symptoms and physical condition. Herbal medicine prescribes drugs to eliminate blood stasis or boost qi and blood depending on the cause. Acupuncture mainly helps to dissolve blood stasis, regulate pain, release tense energy, and promote circulation of qi and blood. Moxibustion enhances yang energy, improves cold symptoms, and increases health benefits. Additionally, combining aromatherapy light therapy, which uses light wavelength to induce gentle vibrations in cells and improve metabolism, can maximize the effectiveness.

In particular, herbal medicine treatment for menstrual pain has become more affordable since the herbal prescription health insurance system was implemented in April. This pilot project for herbal prescriptions covers up to 20 days of treatment under health insurance for one of six conditions: menstrual pain, allergic rhinitis, facial nerve paralysis, lumbar disc herniation, functional dyspepsia, and sequelae of cerebrovascular disease. Depending on the hospital, patients can take herbal prescriptions at a cost with a personal burden rate of 30-40%.

Basically, healthy lifestyle habits help alleviate menstrual pain. Regular light exercise and maintaining adequate sleep are important. It is advisable to limit cold foods and avoid staying in humid or cold places for extended periods. Reducing fluid and salt intake is also important to prevent swelling. It is better to wear clothes that allow good ventilation and warmth rather than tight pants or short skirts.