What is the best home remedy for menstrual cramps

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01/11It is not okay to tolerate the pain without doing anything about it

While we all think it to be common to experience menstrual cramps, it is actually not okay to tolerate the pain without doing anything about it. Many women bury their pain under responsibilities and chores and move on in their daily work every month despite having the bone-breaking pain.

Menstrual cramps are common. Along with cramps several women experience nausea, vomiting, headaches, and diarrhea during menstruation.

Sometimes these pain are tolerable and do not affect the individual much, or may be because the person gets used to the pain over several months, some other times the pain shoots up to a higher level.

It gets difficult to carry out normal activities during menstruation days when one is experiencing severe cramps.

There are several home remedies that can actually help get immediate relief from menstrual cramps:

02/11​Avoid salty food and caffeine

Foods that can cause water retention should be avoided as these cause bloating and add to the pain of period cramps. Salty foods, fatty food items, caffeine, and alcohol should be avoided during menstruation.

Instead one should eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and fatty fish during menstruation.

03/11​Drink more water

Do not cut down your water intake during this time of the month. Staying hydrated will actually help you in easing the cramp pain.

Dehydration can worsen the pain of period cramps.

04/11​Heating pads

Hot water bags are widely used to get relief from cramps. Heat helps in proper blood circulation in the abdomen region and eases the pain.

However, a long term solution to refilling hot water bags is using heating pads that can be wrapped around the abdomen. These keep the abdomen region warm for a longer duration.

05/11Massage with essential oils

Essential oils like lavender, rose, clove, cinnamon help in easing the cramps when massaged on the abdomen. Experts suggest using a base oil like coconut oil with the essential oil so as to maximise the effect of the massage on the cramps.

06/11​Having herbs and herbal drinks

Herbs are said to be anti-inflammatory in nature. These also contain anti-spasmodic compounds that can ease the pain associated with muscle contractions that happen during menstruation.

Various herbs like fennel seeds, cinnamon, and ginger help ease the pain.

07/11​Try yoga poses

Few yoga poses can actually help you during periods. These are easy to do and can soothe your pain.

You can try cat-cow pose, child's pose, plank pose and cobra pose during menstruation for quick relief.

08/11​Do not miss sleeping hours

Those with sleeping issues can have severe health complications, one of which is definitely extreme pain period cramp.

It is very essential to practice good sleeping habits everyday. During menstruation you can take a warm bath, sip a cup of herbal tea and get adequate sleep instead of indulging in other activities that you assume can take your mind off the pain.

09/11​Have turmeric

Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties which makes it effective against cramps. The bioactive compound, curcumin present in turmeric actually works against period cramps.

Turmeric is widely used in Indian households. No Indian dish is complete without adding a pinch of turmeric.

During periods you can up your turmeric intake, by having a pinch of it in a glass of warm water.

10/11​Aerobic exercise

Low intensity aerobic exercise can reduce period cramps. Exercises like riding a cycle, brisk walk, slow dance can work wonders on period cramps.

11/11​Sit inside hot bath

Sitting inside a hot bath or soaking yourself inside one can pull out the pain from your body. You can add a few drops of essential oils or epsom salt to it as well.

Experts recommend sitting in a hot water bath for atleast 15 minutes can help ease the pain.

• November 14, 2018

Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) are throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen. Many women have menstrual cramps just before and during their menstrual periods.

For some women, the discomfort is merely annoying. For others, menstrual cramps can be severe enough to interfere with everyday activities for a few days every month.

Conditions such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids can cause menstrual cramps. Treating the cause is key to reducing the pain. Menstrual cramps that aren't caused by another condition tend to lessen with age and often improve after giving birth.

Things you may want to try at home include:

• Exercise.
  Studies have found that physical activity may ease the pain of menstrual cramps.
• Heat.
  Soaking in a hot bath or using a heating pad, hot water bottle or heat patch on your lower abdomen may ease menstrual cramps. Applying heat may be just as effective as over-the-counter pain medication for relieving menstrual cramps.
• Dietary supplements.
  A number of studies have indicated that vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B-1 (thiamine), vitamin B-6 and magnesium supplements may effectively reduce menstrual cramps.
• Avoiding alcohol and tobacco.
  These substances can make menstrual cramps worse.
• Reducing stress.
  Psychological stress may increase your risk of menstrual cramps and their severity.

Alternative medicine

Most alternative therapies haven't been well-studied for treating menstrual cramps and need further study before experts can clearly recommend one treatment or another. However, some alternative treatments may help with menstrual cramps, including:

• Acupuncture.
  Acupuncture involves inserting extremely thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. Some studies have found that acupuncture helps relieve menstrual cramps.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
  A TENS device connects to the skin using adhesive patches with electrodes in them. The electrodes deliver a varying level of electric current to stimulate nerves.TENS may work by raising the threshold for pain signals and stimulating the release of endorphins, your body's natural painkillers. In studies, TENS was more effective than a placebo in relieving menstrual cramp pain.
• Herbal medicine.
  Some herbal products, such as pycnogenol, fennel or combination products, may provide some relief from menstrual cramps.
• Acupressure.
  Like acupuncture, acupressure also involves stimulating certain points on the body. In acupressure, this is done with gentle pressure on the skin instead of needles. Although research on acupressure and menstrual cramps is limited, it appears that acupressure may be more effective than a placebo in easing menstrual cramps.

This article is written by Mayo Clinic staff. Find more health and medical information on mayoclinic.org.

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