Is it “that time of the month” again and you have to deal with menstrual cramps, bloating and all the possible types of period pain? Well, a lot of women go through this horrible period pain every single month and some even resort to taking over-the-counter pain reliving tablets, which in the long run isn’t good for the body and health as it can cause damage to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, can damage your kidneys etc.
Menstrual pain or period pain is also medically known as ‘Dysmenorrhea’, which is caused due to uterine contractions. Dysmenorrhea is of two types primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is the common menstrual cramps that are recurrent and aren’t due to any other diseases. The pain can range from mild to severe and it lasts for 1 to 3 days, which can be in addition to the other menstrual cycle symptoms. This can reduce as you get older or once you have a baby. Secondary dysmenorrhea is when a woman has painful periods due to a disease, disorder or infection (like endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), cervical stenosis, fibroids etc) in the female reproductive organs. The pain of secondary dysmenorrhea lasts longer than usual and common (primary) menstrual cramping.
Here are some remedies to help you ease the pain and provide you some relief from the pain:
1. Keep yourself hydrated:
Drinking lot of water and consuming lots of fluids can be beneficial during your period. During the initial days of your period or before your period starts, a lot of women experience bloating, which makes the abdomen feel heavy and swollen. Drinking water and staying hydrated can help alleviate the bloating and can help women experience fewer cramps and period pains. During periods, there is a fluctuation in the hormones of the body and it can result in dehydration, which can make you feel weak and light-headed as well.
2. Heat therapy:
Heat therapy helps to provide relief from menstrual pain as it helps relax and ease the muscles of the uterus and increases the blood flow. So maybe taking a hot shower or bath or using a heating pad or heated bottle can help reduce the pain.
How to use heat therapy:
- Add some sea salt into your bath water, as it can help relieve muscle tension and aid pain relief.
- If you do not have a heating pad at home, you can simply fill in warm water (around half to three fourths of the bottle) into a good quality glass bottle (Caution: do not make the water boiling hot, as the glass bottle will crack) and place that over your areas of pain like the lower abdomen or lower back. Shift the bottle from time to time and be careful not to burn yourself.
- If you do not have access to a heating pad or glass bottle, then in a bucket of warm water, add in handful of rock salt, mix till the salt has dissolved and then with a mug, pour this warm salt water over the pain areas, very gently, little by little. (Caution: do not make the water too hot, or you can burn yourself. Check the water temperature, before pouring onto your skin). READ MORE – 10 Healthy Herbal Teas To Cure All Your Problems
3. Eat the right kind of foods:
- Bananas are rich in potassium and can help relieve the pain and reduce muscle cramping and bloating.
- Nuts, seeds, eggs, green leafy vegetables can help nourish the body as they are rich in iron, magnesium, omega-3 and vitamin B-12.
- Drinking caffeinated drinks aren’t advisable as can increase the cramping and bloating, causing headaches and mood swings.
- Ginger tea or other herbal teas can help relieve nausea and stomach upsets.
4. Ginger Tea for period pain
Ginger along with fennel and carom seeds are best-known remedies to treat painful cramps, bloating & indigestion. They are an excellent muscle relaxant and also can be used for irregular periods.
- Fennel seeds – 1/2 tsp
- Carom Seeds – 1/4 tsp
- Fresh Grated Ginger – 1 tsp
- Water – 2 cups
In a saucepan, add 2 cups of water along with fennel seeds, carom seeds, and grated ginger. Simmer on low for 5 mins and then strain and drink this water 2-3 days before the period’s cycle and also during the periods. ** Do not exceed the quantity of the seeds.
5. Cacao powder for menstural cramps –
Indulging in some dark chocolate (but in moderation, of course), can help act as a natural pain reliever as it a powerful source of magnesium, which can soothe the cramped up muscles and muscle spasms.
Raw cacao powder is rich in magnesium and have been shown to ease period cramps and happens to be a natural pain reliever. Just add it to your morning smoothie for a natural PMS relief.
6. Massage the pain affected area with warm oil:
Gently massaging the pain affected areas can stimulate blood circulation and provide relief from menstrual cramps.
You can slightly warm up some coconut oil and apply some on your fingertips. Rub your fingertips together and then gently massage the pain affected areas using circular motions. (Caution: Do not heat up the oil too much, as you can burn yourself, let it just be warm). READ MORE – Healthy Ayurveda Water to flush out toxins, boost immunity and more…