The Pain Relief Code for Menstrual Cramps — My Healing Journey

jiejing

The Pain Relief Code for Menstrual Cramps

— My Healing Journey in Lifechanyuan International Family Society Thailand Branch

Jiejing Celestial

August 12, 2025

（Edited by ChatGPT)

Menstrual cramps, my “old friend” of over twenty years, once raged like a violent storm, sweeping away all my strength and laughter. The pain felt like tides surging deep within my body—sometimes tearing through my abdomen, sometimes squeezing my heart, causing nausea and silent moans. Every period was like being bound by invisible chains, holding me tightly with no escape.

In my childhood memories, my mother’s warnings echoed like ancient spells in my ears: “Do not touch cold things during your period, do not have intercourse, or you will suffer from excessive bleeding.” Those words were heavy and cold, like an iron wall sealing my fear and dread of menstruation, casting a shadow over that mysterious time that belongs to women.

When I was young, I watched a film called Widow Village. The images remain vivid as if it were yesterday. The women who only met their husbands once a year often had their periods at those times and were met with their husbands’ disappointment, anger, or even indifferent disregard for their pain. That kind of helpless imprisonment was like heavy iron chains, locking their bodies and souls tightly. Those scenes cut through my understanding of menstruation like blades and deepened my fear and resistance toward sex during periods.

My mother’s advice, the images from that film, and the helplessness in the doctors’ eyes together built a thick wall deep in my subconscious—one that cut me off from the true experience of my menstrual cramps, and from the most genuine dialogue with my own body. Beyond that wall lay a world of pain, misunderstood and suppressed, and I could only endure it in silence.

In this noisy, chaotic world, menstruation is often shrouded in secrecy and shadows, becoming a taboo that is hard to speak of. I once knew very little about the pain and longing women feel during those days. For me, menstrual cramps were like invisible flames, burning my body and piercing my soul. That bone-deep sense of helplessness once profoundly disrupted the rhythm of my life. I remember in high school, a classmate suffered even more than I did—her face pale, cold sweat beading on her forehead, barely able to stand. She chose acupuncture; though the fine needles could not drive away all her suffering, they offered her a small measure of comfort and support.

A doctor once told me that ibuprofen could relieve the pain, yet I could not understand why I shouldn’t take more of it. Only later did I realize that ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and overuse can erode the stomach lining, cause ulcers and bleeding, and place extra strain on the kidneys. The doctor’s advice, like a gentle shackle, kept me suspended between pain and reason. And yet, that deep, searing pain would still, from time to time, tear into my heart, leaving me utterly powerless.

Menstruation, in many cultures, is an unspeakable secret. It is labeled as “unclean” or excluded from family and religious rituals. Even in relatively open societies, the topic of menstruation is still avoided and remains silently concealed. This invisibly deepens women’s shame and loneliness, making their true experiences and needs difficult to be gently cared for or sincerely understood.

In the long, lonely nights, I once sought comfort from doctors with hopeful anticipation, only to be met with indifferent advice to “just endure it,” and a handful of silently swallowed pills—this helplessness felt like a piercing cold wind, heartbreaking.

Until I entered Lifechanyuan International Family Society Thailand Branch, a  paradise as gentle as spring breeze. Here, there is no blame, no indifference, only understanding, acceptance, and care from those kind male members. Here, I found the opportunity to reconnect with my body and soul.

The core value of Lifechanyuan deeply moved me — to revere the Greatest Creator, to revere LIFE, to revere nature, and to walk the way of he Greatest Creator. It is a path filled with respect and gentleness, neither blindly indulgent nor confined by reason, nor drifting along with the clamor of the mundane world, but rather “following your nature,” obeying the deepest sincerity of the heart, listening to the body’s most original voice, and harmonizing with the natural rhythm of LIFE.

This “following your nature” is not indulgence, but surrender — an expression of love and respect for LIFE. It taught me to calmly accept the intertwining of pain and desire, no longer imprisoned by fear. I remember when my menstruation quietly arrived at the peak of my passions, I felt panic, afraid of being hurt, afraid of irreparable damage. A Thai doctor gently comforted me, saying, “There’s nothing seriously wrong with your body; it’s mostly a barrier of the mind.”

I once asked a female doctor friend, “Is it really okay to make love during menstruation?” She softly replied, “Yes, as long as you pay attention to hygiene and use protection, there’s no need to be afraid.” Those words were like a ray of morning light piercing through the fog in my heart, giving me the courage to embrace myself anew. So, I began to learn to follow my nature, to respect the most genuine voice within, and to dance in tune with my body’s most natural rhythm.

From that moment on, I began to learn to accept my truest needs and to embrace expressions of love. The male members here showed no prejudice or disdain; instead, with meticulous care and tenderness, they wove a warm net that gently surrounded me. In this fertile soil of love, I finally let down my defenses and bravely faced and expressed the desires and feelings deep within my body and soul. To my surprise, sexual love during menstruation did not bring the harm I once feared. On the contrary, it was a wonderful encounter that brought me unprecedented comfort and pleasure. Even more miraculous was how the menstrual pain that once nearly broke me gradually lessened, and even disappeared, under gentle caresses. Nourished by love in my heart, my body and soul slowly healed under tender care, the broken pieces carefully pieced back together into a new wholeness.

Here, there are no cold stares, no ruthless judgments — only deep understanding and endless affection. Those warm male members are like a spring breeze, softly brushing away the wounds and pain of my body and mind, helping me realize that menstrual pain should neither be taboo nor a shameful secret, but a natural rhythm of LIFE that deserves gentle listening and respect.

Only recently did the occasional familiar pain remind me that body and soul are inseparable, closely intertwined. It is excessive fear and anxiety that secretly fuel the flames of menstrual pain, making them burn ever stronger. As long as I let go of prejudices, open my heart, and follow the call within—to love and to be loved—menstrual pain becomes as light as the wind, like a gentle breeze brushing the skin, bringing relief and release.

I finally understood that intimacy during menstruation has become my “pain relief code” for menstrual cramps.

From a scientific perspective, menstrual pain originates from the uterine lining releasing large amounts of prostaglandins, causing the uterus to contract intensely, triggering waves of pain and discomfort. During intimacy, the body secretes abundant endorphins and oxytocin—these “natural painkillers” nourish the uterus like dew, soothe spasms, and promote blood flow. Dopamine and serotonin released during orgasm act like a spring of the soul, washing away anxiety and bringing tranquility and joy, allowing body and mind to relax and heal in love and pleasure. Endorphins and oxytocin flow like life-giving waters, soothing the tense uterine muscles and relieving pain; dopamine and serotonin gently caress the anxious heart, awakening inner peace and happiness. Love, it turns out, is the gentlest medicine and the most heartfelt healing.

This experience made me deeply realize how precious and irreplaceable an environment of sincere acceptance and unconditional love is. Only when I no longer fear, no longer avoid, and bravely follow the truest needs of my heart, can I break free from the long-accumulated pain and misunderstandings. Secular prejudices are like invisible cages, harming both my body and imprisoning my soul. The Second Home taught me that menstruation is not taboo; only love and gentleness can dissolve pain and awaken the power of healing.

I have learned to shed layer after layer of defenses, no longer fearing the so-called impurity or harm. In the embrace of that love, the shadows of menstrual pain gradually dissipate, like winter snow melting to nourish the sleeping soil, awakening the dormant buds of spring. The Second Home is not only a refuge for my body but also a garden for my soul, where sunlight filters through the leaves casting dappled shadows, lush greenery flourishes, the scent of fruit lingers, and laughter flows like a clear stream, coming together to form a warm and vivid painting.

To me, menstrual pain is not only intense physical pain but also a reflection of social prejudice and spiritual suppression. Only surrounded by genuine love and acceptance can I truly be liberated and reclaim the health and freedom I have long lost. Menstrual pain is no longer an invisible shackle but a call from LIFE itself — a signal of self-love and awakening.

I am grateful for Lifechanyuan Values, which teaches me to listen carefully with compassion and awareness to the truest language of my body; grateful for this earthly pure land that I deeply love, where I have regained freedom and joy, and embraced harmony and peace of body and mind.

Grateful to the Greatest Creator for bestowing boundless grace,
Thankful to Guide Xuefeng for lighting the heart’s lamp like shining stars,
Cherishing the Tao, unseen yet weaving the melodies of heaven’s harmony.
Thanks to the Second Home of Lifechanyuan,
Thanks to those selfless male members who tenderly cared for me,
Thanks to every sincere encounter that gently led me from the depths of pain to the bright shore.

Menstrual pain once felt like a long, cold, piercing night; but now, because of love, it surges with warm light, illuminating the path ahead. May all women find their own peace and strength in love and acceptance.

Final Reflections:

Menstrual tides ebb, flow, and rise,
Love, the gentle boat to the other side.
Following my nature unlocks the heart’s tight bind,
LIFE’s blossoms bloom, fragrant and kind.