Menstrual cramps (or Dysmenorrhea) are throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen (lower back and thighs – sometimes) that are experienced by most of the women during their monthly periods. It is caused due to prostaglandin hormone, which causes the uterine muscles to contract during this menstruation process.
Reaching puberty at an early age, heavy bleeding during the periods, genetics, certain medications, smoking, stress, excessive alcohol intake, sedentary lifestyle, etc. are some of the factors that cause these menstrual cramps.
You may experience symptoms like sweating, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, pain in the lower back and thighs, loose stools, bloating, etc. Women suffering from this painful problem have low or no interest in doing their regular activities.
For most of the women, this problem may lessen with age and thereby disappears once they give birth to their babies. Fortunately, there are some natural remedies that help you to deal with this menstrual cramps.
Home Remedies for Menstrual Cramps:
Instead of using over the counter pain relief medications, you can try this natural and effective remedies at home to deal with the pain, discomfort, and inflammation caused during the monthly periods.
Let’s get started…
Remedy – 1: (Hot Compress)
Applying heat or hot compress on the lower abdomen will help to ease the menstrual cramps. The heat from this compress helps to relax the contracting muscles in the uterus and thereby relieves your pain.
- Place a heating pad or hot water bottle wrapped in a hot towel on your lower abdomen.
- Or take a warm bath or else apply a hot towel over your abdomen.
- Also, you can create a heating pad by simply cutting and sewing together 2 pieces of fabric and then leave a hole at the top. Fill the cloth with rice and tie it properly. Microwave for 2 – 4 minutes and place it on your abdomen to get rid of the problem.
- Or else take a hot shower to get relief from pain and thereby helps you to feel relaxed.
- But remember that it should not be too hot as it burns your skin.
Remedy – 2: (Chamomile Tea)
Chamomile is one of the best time to drink while suffering from menstrual cramps. It has antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties that relax the uterus and ease your spasmodic contractions causing pain during your menstruation.
- Place 1 cup of chamomile tea bag in 1 cup of boiling water and cover it.
- Let it steep for about 10 – 15 minutes and squeeze out the tea bag.
- Then add some lemon juice and honey to it and stir well.
- Consume this chamomile tea for 2 times daily during the week before the period.
Remedy – 3: (Ginger)
Ginger is a herbal remedy that lowers the levels of pain-causing prostaglandins and also helps to fight the fatigue that caused due to premenstrual syndrome. It also calms your stomach and prevents bloating and upset stomach.
- Grate a small piece of ginger and pour it in a teapot filled with 1 cup of boiling water.
- Let it steep for 5 – 7 minutes and strain it.
- Then add some honey and fresh lemon juice to it and stir well.
- Drink this ginger tea for 2 – 3 times daily to ease your menstrual cramps.
- Regular usage can help to make you irregular periods into regular.
Note:
- Also, eat raw ginger slices (or) you can include ginger in your daily diet (or) suck on some ginger candies, cookies, snacks (or) drink ginger ale.
- Or simply boil few slices of ginger, honey and a pinch of salt for 4 – 5 minutes and drink this concoction for 1 – 2 times daily.
Remedy – 4: (Basil)
Basil has caffeic acid that exhibits analgesic (or) pain relieving properties which help to clear menstrual cramps and its symptoms.
Here are few ways of using basil for treating menstrual cramps.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of basil leaves in 1 cup of boiling water. Cover it tightly and let it cool for few minutes. Drink this concoction for every few hours to ease the cramps.
- Crush a handful of basil leaves and extract its juice. Then take 2 teaspoons of this basil juice to 1 cup of warm water. Drink it 3 times daily whenever you’re suffering from pain.
- Add fresh basil leaves to your food and consume it to get rid of the menstrual cramps.
Remedy – 5: (Peppermint)
Peppermint acts as a natural muscle relaxer and also suppresses your appetite that reduces your menstrual cramps.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves (or powder) into 1 cup of boiling water.
- Cover and let it steep for 3 – 5 minutes and strain the tea.
- Drink this warm peppermint tea for 1 – 2 times daily till you get rid of the menstrual cramps.
Note: Or simply suck on some peppermint candies or include mint in your diet to get rid of the problem.
Remedy – 6: (Cinnamon)
The antispasmodic, anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory properties of the cinnamon will help to relieve you from the menstrual cramps. It also has a rich source of calcium, manganese, dietary fiber and iron that helps to relieve bloating and other menstrual cramps symptoms.
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon powder in 1 cup of hot water.
- Let it steep for about 5 – 8 minutes and then add a little honey.
- Stir and sip it slowly.
- Drink it 2 – 3 cups of cinnamon tea from 1 – 2 days before starting the period to prevent cramps.
- Regular intake will help you to get regularize the period problem.
Note:
- Or mix 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder and 1 tablespoon of raw honey in 1 glass of warm water. Stir well and drink it thrice during the first day of your period to get rid of the problem.
- Also, sprinkle some cinnamon powder to your breakfast, toast or on sweet rolls and consume it.
Remedy – 7: (Fennel)
Fennel exhibits antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and phytoestrogenic properties will help you to relax the muscles in the uterus, which in turn, helps to relieve your cramping and discomfort.
- Pour 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds and 1 cup of boiling water in a pan.
- Simmer it on low heat for 5 – 7 minutes and remove it from heat.
- Strain the tea and stir 1 teaspoon of honey.
- Drink this hot fennel tea for twice daily in the beginning 3 days before the starting days of the cycle.
- Repeat the same whenever you’re suffering from pain.
Remedy – 8: (Diet Plan)
Diet will play a major role in increasing or reducing the menstrual cramps. So, choose the diet the mentioned which is enriched with essential nutrients and thereby give relief to your problem.
- Consume water – based fruits and vegetables that help to increase hydration and relieve your cramps.
- Intake of foods that are enriched with vitamins (B, B6, C, D, and E), calcium, magnesium, fish oil, iron, etc. that helps to reduce the menstrual cramps and its symptoms.
- Avoid the intake of fatty foods, chocolates, carbonated beverages, alcohols, salty foods, smoking, etc. during your menstrual cramps, as they increase water retention and causes bloating to worsen your problem.
- Replace the intake of coffee and other caffeinated products with soothing herbal tea or hot lemon water to reduce the pain and enhance your hormonal balance.
- Always drink plenty of water and other healthy fluids to stay hydrated and to get rid of bloating, abdominal pains and other symptoms of menstrual cramps.
- Consume banana, yogurt and other healthy fresh fruits and vegetables to soothe your cramps.
- Flaxseed has essential fatty acids that help to stabilize the production of progesterone. It improves the uterine function and also treats fertility problems. So, consume 1 – 2 tablespoons of flaxseed daily (or) simply sprinkle ground flaxseed over the cereal, yogurt or salad or smoothie and have it.
- Swallow apple cider vinegar water by mixing 2 teaspoons of ACV in 1 cup of lukewarm water after each meal to get rid of cramps.
Tips and Suggestions:
- Blackstrap molasses is enriched with iron, manganese, calcium, potassium, magnesium, selenium and vitamin B6 that helps to reduce the blood clots and thereby soothes the muscles of the uterine walls. The usage will reduce the cramps during menstruation. So, drink 1 – 2 teaspoons of blackstrap molasses in 1 cup of warm milk as soon as you get cramps and repeat it as needed.
- The apiol and myristicin in parsley help to stimulate the menstrual process and thereby relieves cramps. So, drink parsley tea for twice daily during the periods to minimize the pains and also it helps to regulate the irregular cycles.
- Papaya has essential nutrients and anti-inflammatory property that helps to soothe the uterine walls, eases your muscle contractions and thereby treats menstrual cramps. So, consume before or during the period by including papaya in your diet to minimize the pain.
- Do some yoga and cardiovascular exercises to get rid of the menstrual cramps. Also, perform meditation and deep breathing exercises to reduce your stress levels and to clear the menstrual cramps.
- Consult your doctor if you’re suffering from severe menstrual cramps for proper diagnose and treatment.
- Engage yourself in any of your interesting activity like relaxing or listening to a soothing muscle, reading a book or sleeping, etc.
- Take a soothing bath by mixing 1 cup each of sea salt and baking soda in your bathtub filled with warm water. Soak in this water for 10 – 15 minutes to relax your muscles and to get rid of cramps.
- Also, remember that women who stay warm will experience less menstrual cramps.
- Follow some warm olive oil (or other natural oil) massage on your abdomen and back for few minutes and rinse off the area after 15 – 20 minutes.
- Acupuncture or acupressure, which concentrates on the specific pressure points to help you deal with the problem but make sure to practice these things with the advice of your doctor.
Try these Menstrual Cramps Remedies to get rid of the problem. Do you know any other successful remedies for menstrual cramps? Then share it with us in the below comments box.
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