Period cramps are one of the most common reasons people come to acupuncture, and one of the places where a little self-care at home genuinely helps. These are the points I teach patients to use between visits. They will not make a bad month painless, but many people find they take the edge off, especially paired with heat.
Press each point for one to two minutes, on both sides where there are two. Firm, steady pressure or slow small circles with the thumb, enough that it feels achy but not sharp. Breathe out longer than you breathe in.
Three Yin Intersection (SP6, Sanyinjiao)
On the inside of the lower leg. Put your little finger on the top of the inner ankle bone and lay four fingers up the leg; the point is just above your index finger, right behind the edge of the shinbone. It is usually tender, which is how you know you have found it.
This is the point we use most for menstrual cramps. Press it firmly for a minute or two on each leg, and come back to it as often as you like through the worst days.
Do not use this point if you are or might be pregnant. SP6 is traditionally avoided in pregnancy.
Earth Pivot (SP8, Diji)
Also on the inside of the lower leg, higher up. Find the soft hollow just below the bump of bone on the inside of your knee, then move about a hand-width down along the back edge of the shinbone. It is often very tender during a period.
In clinic we reach for this one when cramps are sharp and sudden. Press and hold rather than rub.
Great Surge (LV3, Taichong)
On the top of the foot, in the dip between the big toe and the second toe. Slide your finger up from the web between the toes until it stops where the two bones meet. Press toward the bone of the second toe.
Useful when cramps come with irritability, tension, or a headache. It is also a good point for anyone who carries stress in their jaw and shoulders the week before a period.
Below the navel (CV6 and CV4, Qihai and Guanyuan)
On the midline of the lower belly. Qihai (CV6) is about two finger-widths below the navel; Guanyuan (CV4) is about four finger-widths below it. You do not need to be exact here. Rest your palm flat over the whole area below the navel and press gently, or make slow circles.
These points respond best to warmth. A heat pack laid over them for fifteen or twenty minutes is often the single most comforting thing on a bad day. The heat therapy guide covers packs and wraps, and the heating pads guide is worth a look if your cramps travel into the low back.
Microwavable heat pack, long or belly-sizedPairs with the belly points
A heat pack draped over the lower belly while you press the leg points is the combination most of my patients stick with. Cordless, so you can curl up on the couch with it. Take it off before you fall asleep.
- Warms the area around CV4 and CV6
- Molds to the belly
- No cord, no auto-off to think about
A simple routine for a bad day
- Warm the pack and lay it over the lower belly.
- Sit or lie with your knees bent.
- SP6 on each leg, one to two minutes.
- SP8 on each leg if the cramps are sharp.
- LV3 on each foot.
- Leave the heat in place and breathe slowly for another ten minutes.
Do this once or twice a day during the first two days of your period. Some people also start pressing SP6 a day or two before they expect cramps to begin.
What about Hegu (LI4)?
LI4, in the web between the thumb and index finger, is a well-known pain point and many people already use it for cramps and tension headaches. It is fine to add if you are not pregnant. Like SP6, LI4 is traditionally avoided during pregnancy, so leave it out if there is any chance you are.
When to see a provider instead
Cramps that are part of a familiar monthly pattern are one thing. These are not, and they need a proper evaluation rather than acupressure:
- sudden, severe pelvic or belly pain, or pain that is much worse than your usual
- pain with a fever, chills or unusual discharge
- very heavy bleeding, soaking a pad or tampon every hour or two, or passing large clots
- cramps that are new or much worse after about age 25, or that keep getting worse month to month
- pain during sex, or pain that lasts well beyond your period
- any chance you might be pregnant
Conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids and infections can hide behind “bad cramps” for years. If your periods keep you home from work or school, that is worth taking to your doctor or gynecologist, and acupuncture can sit alongside that care rather than replacing it.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That does not change what I recommend or what you pay. How I choose products.
Content on this site is educational and is not a substitute for individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk with your own healthcare provider before starting any new therapy, especially if you are pregnant, have a medical condition or take medication.