Understanding When Period Pain Is a Problem (Episode 485)

Full Transcript: Episode 485

Lisa: Today I’m sharing a brand new episode in my FAM Practitioner series. I’m sharing my interview with Samantha Avnet, and we talk a lot about period pain — what’s normal, what’s not. Samantha shares her personal experience with debilitating period pain and what she had to do to eventually overcome it. She is a nationally board-certified and California-licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, and also a certified Arvigo abdominal therapy practitioner. She has been working with plant medicine for over 20 years, with her roots in herbal traditions, and is a certified women’s herbal educator with expertise in gynecological and menstrual health concerns.

Samantha: I’m definitely one of these people who’s had painful periods straight from menarche. I was throwing up, had really bad cramps, and even passed out. I was put on pharmaceutical-grade painkillers. My mom also had really bad periods, so it was just kind of accepted — “this is just what it is.” As I got older, I realized something wasn’t right. The pain relievers hurt my stomach, and I started to think, “this can’t be normal.” I was living in Santa Cruz and someone handed me an herb book. That moment opened up my world. I started learning about herbs, nutrition, and gradually changed my whole perspective. I attended the Northern California Women’s Herbal Symposiums for a decade and studied with herbalists in Ireland. Then I experienced Arvigo abdominal therapy, and it was life-changing. That pushed me to train in it and deepen my practice. I even considered med school — OB-GYN or naturopath — but acupuncture made the most sense. Chinese medicine has such a deep and rich understanding of gynecology. It aligned perfectly with what I was already doing.

Lisa: I love that! It’s so interesting to hear how your personal journey led you into this work. It’s often those personal experiences with our own cycles that drive us to help other women.

Samantha: Exactly. I found “Taking Charge of Your Fertility” and was blown away. I had no idea it could be a full career path. Then I discovered the FAMM program, and realized I could deepen my work even more. I wanted to be a reliable resource for my clients, especially with so much femtech and data tracking going on now. I wanted to do more than just suggest a book or skim the surface — I wanted to really understand and educate from experience. That’s what led me to FAMM.

Lisa: That’s a powerful point. And it’s true — when women come in with painful periods, they often don’t even mention it unless you ask specifically. It’s just become part of their identity.

Samantha: Yes, and it’s important to recognize that. I also think there’s a misconception that you should never feel any pain — and while that’s true for some, it’s not the reality for all. Many of my patients have significantly reduced their pain, and a 2 out of 10 is a major win when they used to be at a 10. What’s important is that the pain no longer interferes with their quality of life. It becomes manageable. I want to hold space for that progress, even if it’s not “perfect.”

Lisa: Absolutely. I always say — mild to moderate cramping might be common, but severe pain isn’t optimal. Even if it’s common, it’s not necessarily normal.

Samantha: Exactly. And in my practice, I see a strong psycho-emotional link to period pain. That piece often gets overlooked, but it’s huge. Trauma, anxiety, stress — they all affect the nervous system and, by extension, hormone and cycle health. That’s why I love acupuncture and Arvigo. They calm the nervous system and support the whole body. It’s not just physical — it’s emotional and energetic too.

Lisa: That’s such a rich insight. And the abdominal therapy piece is so fascinating because it brings people back into their bodies — which so many of us are disconnected from. There’s often a physical component to period pain, and hands-on modalities like Arvigo help with that in such a direct way.

Samantha: Definitely. Teaching self-care massage, pelvic steams, and castor oil packs empowers people to take that healing into their own hands. And it’s not aggressive work — it’s gentle, nourishing, and deeply effective. I’ve had patients report that they felt more relaxed, more connected to their bodies, and over time, they experienced big shifts. It doesn’t always have to be invasive to be powerful.

Lisa: I’ve had clients say the same. And for those who’ve had severe pain for years, there’s often emotional trauma and anxiety tied to their cycles. Sometimes even PTSD from the monthly dread of what’s coming.

Samantha: Yes. Trauma affects the body deeply — things tighten, blood flow gets restricted, and that affects the uterus. When we create a sense of safety, things can move and shift. That’s where true healing can begin.

Lisa: Thank you for naming that. And I really appreciate your point about not chasing the one perfect fix. There’s no magic bullet — for most women, it’s a combination of things over time.

Samantha: Exactly. It’s a process, and everyone is different. I refer out often — to pelvic PTs, chiropractors, or other specialists — because sometimes it takes a team. And even in herbal medicine, it’s not always one herb that fixes everything. It takes time and layering.

Lisa: That’s why what you do is so valuable. You’re listening to what each person needs and supporting them through that individual journey. And I love how FAMM has helped you round out that support even more.

Samantha: Thank you. Since joining FAMM, I’m able to better interpret charts, educate clients about mucus, BBT, and cycle patterns — all with more confidence. It’s not just theory now — it’s practice.

Lisa: Yes, and that’s the goal. To be able to truly guide your clients. Final thoughts — what would you say to a practitioner who’s considering joining FAMM?

Samantha: If you’re even remotely curious, do it. There’s nothing else like it. You’ll gain deep, practical knowledge and learn from someone with clinical experience. It’s such a rich program. I’m so glad I did it.

Lisa: Thank you so much, Samantha. It’s been such a pleasure having you in the program and on the show. For those listening, we’ll link to Samantha’s website in the show notes.