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Can alternative therapies treat my pain?

Some women choose alternative medicine to treat their pain.1 Although there is little evidence on how effective these remedies are for treating pain, alternative treatments may help in some cases.

For instance, the following approaches may help relieve menstrual pain:2

  • Vitamin B1 or magnesium supplements
  • Acupuncture, acupressure, and nerve stimulation therapies

If you are thinking about trying an alternative product or therapy to cope with your pain, make sure to talk to your health care providers first. Ask them what the scientific evidence indicates about the safety of the product or therapy and how well it works.1 Keep in mind that dietary supplements can interact with other medicines you might be using or can cause problems if not used correctly.3

Citations

  1. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. (2017). Chronic Pain: In Depth. Retrieved June 13, 2017, from  https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/chronic-pain-in-depth
  2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2004). ACOG practice bulletin no. 51. Chronic pelvic pain. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 103, 589–605.
  3. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2015). 5 Tips: What Consumers Need To Know About Dietary Supplements. Retrieved May 26, 2016, from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/tips-what-consumers-need-to-know-about-dietary-supplements
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