I was suffering terribly every month with menstrual discomfort, heavy bleeding, cramps and nausea after my childbearing years and was advised that I could consider having, as the gynecologist put it -the top of your uterus lopped off- as a way to address my ongoing misery. Lucky for me I ran into a friend that manages an acupuncture office who strongly encouraged me to consider acupuncture and herbs before giving the go ahead for an invasive procedure. I am happy to report that after several sessions, along with a prescribed chinese herbal formula, my menses occurred without any discomfort. Now that I am in menopause, acupuncture is helping me once again, this time with minimizing hot flashes and difficulty with sleeping. The crazy thing about acupuncture is even the annoying day-to-day aches and pains we believe we have to live with (for example, achy jaw, GI distress, fatigue) are often part of the treatment for whatever ailment first brought you to acupuncture. It is truly an amazing health modality and I am forever grateful for its healing value in my life. I only wish that I had known about it as a teenager and thus could have avoided many years of menstrual-related misery.