Although still considered taboo and seldom spoken about, severe menstrual cramps are a real problem for the majority of women. They have taken the spotlight in the past couple of years, as employers everywhere are starting to advocate for period days to be considered a real issue. Women are closer than ever to having this problem recognized as a serious matter that affects their daily routine and their ability to work at full capacity.
The biggest problem regarding menstrual days are the cramps. While most women opt for painkillers when faced with this situation, others tend to turn to more natural solutions. In this spirit, we have put together for you a list of 10 home remedies for severe menstrual cramps.
Before plunging into remedies, it’s important to know what exactly causes menstrual cramps. Dividing the roots will make it a lot easier to find the suitable treatment and relieve the pain in record time, without the aid of medication.
Menstrual cramps are also called dysmenorrhea. There are two types:
Symptoms of menstrual cramps include:
The last two symptoms occur when the cramps are severe.
As far as causes go, modern medicine has come to the conclusion that the pain women feel is due to the uterus contracting in a very powerful way. The uterus is that part of the feminine reproductive system that is supposed to hold the baby during pregnancy. To prepare for said pregnancy, the uterus gets lined with a thick layer of cells every month, called the endometrium. This layer acts as a sort of cushion for the presumed baby.
Each month, the ovaries expel an egg that descends through the fallopian tubes into the uterus, preparing to be fertilized. When this doesn’t happen, the body reacts normally and begins to shed the endometrium, which it obviously no longer needed, since there is no baby. The shedding is basically the rupture of the endometrial tissue from the uterus. It’s accompanied by blood, which is expelled through the cervix and via the vagina.
For it to shed the unnecessary cells, the uterus contracts, which causes the pain. Some women experience more pain than others, for different reasons, which may include the following.
As mentioned above, most women opt for painkillers when faced with this condition, seeing as it’s the easiest way to deal with pain on short notice. However, you should know that taking painkillers on a regular basis, meaning every month during your period is not a viable option. At some point, your body will get used to the pills, and you will have to slowly, but surely increase the dosage. Addiction to painkillers is not advisable, which is why you should try the following natural home remedies.
Indeed, this idea might sound a bit farfetched in the beginning. As most women will tell you, they can barely move with pain during those days, let alone exercise. However, studies have shown that engaging in mild sporting activities does indeed alleviate the pain. When exercising, your body releases endorphins, which counteract the prostaglandins, thusly reducing the pain.
To try out this remedy and ease cramping, you can jog for 15 minutes, walk briskly, roller blade or ride your bike.
Heat has a relaxing effect on the muscles. As shown above, the primary cause of menstrual pain is the uterus’ muscles contracting to shed the unnecessary cells. Help them along the process by applying some heating pads to your lower belly. You can buy them at any drug store as over-the-counter remedies. They are cheap and even reusable.
If you want to make this remedy even more homely, you can always heat some water, put it in a bottle and keep it close to your abdomen. Be careful not to heat the water up to scolding point and to get rid of the bottle after you’ve finished.
The Journal of Agriculture and Chemistry published a paper which shows that chamomile has pain alleviating properties. The study conducted encouraged the participants to drink chamomile tea and then present a urine sample. 14 of those samples had increased levels of hippurate, a natural anti-inflammatory. Just like exercising, these anti-inflammatory substances decrease the production of prostaglandins. In this way, they reduce the cramps and the pain.
Researchers discovered a previously unknown link between severe menstrual cramps and Vitamin D. When present in high doses in the body, this vitamin reduces pain significantly. The studies they performed on a group of Italian women show how the pain levels decreased a staggering 41% for those who were given Vitamin D.
You can find this natural ally in foods such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon, as far as fish are concerned, dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, liver, egg yolks, and cereals. You can also introduce it fast into your diet via supplements.
Although you might tend to place it in the physical activity division, intercourse helps as well. However, for it to have full effect on your severe menstrual cramps, doctors point out it needs to be followed by a climactic point. Prior to this moment, the uterus relaxes, and the blood flow increases a lot. This will relieve some of the pain. Apart from that, climactic moments release endorphins into the body, which counteract the pain you’re feeling. Thirdly, both the act in itself and the climactic moment relax the entire body and chemically induce sleep. This means you won’t feel the cramps at all.
A traditional part of the Chinese medicine, acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years. The procedure involves small, sharp needles pinned into the skin in the major points of your body. The link between menstrual cramps and acupuncture has been studied as well, indicating the latter as a treatment. When all the correct pressure points were lightly pierced with the needles, the pain was relieved in most of the cases.
There are certain herbs, seeds, and spices which you can include in your diet that will alleviate the pain you feel during those severe menstrual cramps.
This is an ancient remedy for severe menstrual cramps, being used by generations of women. It’s rich in all sorts of nutrients, such as iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, selenium, vitamin B6, and, as if that wasn’t enough, it fights against blood clots and calms the uterus’ muscles.
You can consume it by adding one teaspoon to a cup of warm milk. The drink is absolutely delicious, making it a favorite among natural remedies for cramps. You can start on it as soon as you feel the cramps coming on and continue as needed.
Apart from exercise, spices, herbs, heating the area, and other localized remedies, you can also eat specific things during those days in which severe menstrual cramps are bothering you immensly. They have calming properties which will help with the pain.
Apart from all the things you need to do and eat during the painful menstrual days, there are also a few things you should avoid doing at any cost, as they will only increase the level of pain and discomfort and cause your severe menstrual cramps to flare.
Period days are all about self care. If you have done any kind of research on the entire menstrual cycle, you will know that your body, as a woman, is always in a constant state of change all month long. Constantly cycling through the changes of having high energy and motivation, low energy and sadness, and everything in between. The lunar phases of the cycle are part of all this, and it is a good idea to recognize the point sin time where you need to be a bit easier on yourself. If there is ever time for self care, it is during your period days. You will likely feel sluggish, tired, and maybe even sad and upset. Give yourself grace for this. We have already given you things to avoid, but now it is time to get some ideas for self-care things to do.
Menstruating is a difficult period through which all women go every month. Even if it happens with such a tremendous recurrence, that doesn’t mean it should be taken lightly. These home remedies for severe menstrual cramps are designed to relax and bring you comfort in a time of distress, so why not try them out the next time you get your period?
