I am going to be 100% honest and just say that being a woman stinks sometimes. Overall, I love womanhood, but not when Aunt Flow comes into town. She spends my money, makes a mess, causes me pain, and also makes me cry. Sometimes I wish I could just push her out of my bathroom window. Raise your hand if you struggle with bad cramps like I do. Raise your hand again if you don’t like swallowing golf ball sized painkillers. Well you’re in luck because this article provides some natural remedies for menstrual cramps. Trust me on this, I have tried most if not all of these solutions.
Why menstrual cramps happen.
It’s common to feel discomfort around your abdomen, lower back, and thighs when you’re menstruating.
During your period, the muscles of your womb contract and relax to help shed built-up lining. Sometimes you’ll experience cramps, which means your muscles are at work. Some people may also experience:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Diahorra
Doctors are not sure why some people who menstruates experience painful symptoms and others don’t. Some factors associated with more intense pain include:
- having a heavy menstrual flow.
- having your first child
- being under the age of 20 or just starting your period
- having an overproduction of or sensitivity to prostaglandins, a type of compound in the body that influences your womb
For mild to temporary cramps, some home remedies can help provide relief. Read on for tips on getting fast relief, and learn how to potentially lessen the pain during your next cycle.
Natural Remedies.
- The Hot Sock.
The hot sock is basically the layman’s – or should I say laywoman’s term – for a heating pad. This DIY heating pad is simple to make. Firstly, you find an old tube sock. Next, go to the kitchen and get some rice. Then fill the sock up about ¾ of the way with rice and tie the end with a rubber band. Lastly, throw it in the microwave for 45-50 seconds. You can adjust the time depending on how hot you want it to be, and it will stay warm for around 45 minutes.
- Ginger.
The last natural remedy I will talk about today is ginger. Ginger is a spice that has significant anti-inflammatory effects. The NCBI discussed a study that concluded that if “ginger may be an effective and safe therapy for relieving pain in women….if administered at the onset or during the 3 days prior to menstruation” (Rahnama et al.). You can add ginger to hot or cold tea, your food, or you can eat it plain – although I wouldn’t recommend this.
- Essential Oils.
According to a health line article the best essential oils for cramps are as follows:
- Lavender
- Cinnamon
- An oil blend of cinnamon, clove, rose, and lavender mixed with almond oil
To use these you simply mix them with a carrier oil and massage them into your lower abdomen. For example, coconut, avocado, almond, or olive oil are all options you can use.
- Exercise.
Doing light exercise is another great natural remedy for menstrual cramps. For instance, going on a light walk, practicing yoga or even Pilates can be extremely beneficial. The Journal of pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology, found that yoga poses helped relieve the intensity and duration of menstrual cramps in a 2011 study of 18–22-year-old women.
5. Water.
It sounds odd, but drinking water keeps your body from retaining water and helps to avoid painful bloating during menstruation. Warm or hot water is usually better for cramps, as hot liquids increase blood flow to your skin and may relax cramped muscles.
When to see a doctor.
You should contact your doctor if you have severe pain and very heavy bleeding. See a doctor if:
- the pain consistently prevents you from doing day-to-day activities
- the pain worsens or bleeding gets heavier over time
- you’re over 25 and severe cramps are a new development
- OTC medication doesn’t work
For severe cases, the best way to get treatment is for a doctor to diagnose the cause of your menstrual pain.
