As many women start their monthly menstrual cycle, they experience severe cramping and pain which can last anywhere from 2 days to the entire duration of their monthly cycle.
In fact, Women’s Health Concern reports a whopping 80 percent of women experience period pain at some point in their life – with up to 10 percent of women claiming the pain is so severe their entire life is disrupted.
Each body is different, and some women have pain that remains in their abdominal area, while other ladies experience it in their lower back and even down their legs.
The pain is typically caused by the uterine muscles contracting and depending on how severe it can completely disrupt a woman’s day.
And while many women are quick to reach for the bottle of pills just to make the pain stop, there are natural ways to soothe painful cramps and provide relief.
So before you reach for that bottle – check out our tips below.
- Warm Heating Pad
Ladies, during “that time of the month” heat is your friend!
One of the best ways to beat painful cramps is to place a warm heating pad on your stomach which often provides instant relief.
The heat helps the contracting muscles taking place in your uterus to relax, which then helps ease the pain you may be experiencing.
Don’t have a heating pad handy?
You can use a heated water bottle too and place it directly on your abdomen (wrapped in a towel). Just be sure the temperature isn’t too hot to cause burning on your skin.
Nowadays, they even make heating stick-on patches you can wear under clothes! Thanks to this convenience, you can pop one on and go about your daily routine.
- Epsom Salt Baths
Freedom Health News has reported several times about the benefits of Epsom salt baths here, here, and here.
And there’s a reason – they work!
A nice warm bath will help soothe tired and aching muscles and help relieve cramps.
Plus, it will help you sleep better too.
Remember to drink plenty of water while soaking in the tub and step out if you feel hot or dizzy.
Start off with 2 cups of Epsom salt and soak in the tub for about 15 minutes to help melt the pain away.
- Massage With A Twist
Sometimes putting light pressure on the painful area can help reduce the painful cramps you may be experiencing.
Medical News Today recommends women who suffer cramps try massages with essential oils.
Freedom Health News has long recommended the amazing benefits of essential oils, but some critics still claim essential oils are “just hype.”
NIH was determined to put the theory to the test, and actually performed a study on women who were menstruating
The study took a group of women who received aromatherapy abdominal massages daily for seven days before their period began. The second group of women received massages, but used a standard oil (almond oil) and didn’t use the essential oils. The groups then switched regimens.
After the study was complete, the results were clear – massaging with essential oils is a proven and natural way to ease period cramping.
National Institutes of Health reported:
“Level and duration of pain and the amount of menstrual bleeding were evaluated at the baseline and after each treatment phase. During both treatment phases, the level and duration of menstrual pain and the amount of menstrual bleeding were significantly lower in the aromatherapy group than in the placebo group. These results suggests that aromatherapy is effective in alleviating menstrual pain, its duration and excessive menstrual bleeding. Aromatherapy can be provided as a nonpharmacological pain relief measure and as a part of nursing care given to girls suffering of dysmenorrhea, or excessive menstrual bleeding.”
So ladies, next time you are having severe cramps, consider a self-massage with essential oils such as lavender or clove – just be sure to properly mix it with a carrier oil like almond or jojoba!
- Ginger
Finally, consider checking out natural herbs to provide pain relief.
Ginger is often a favorite of many ladies with stomach cramps, as the warm properties of ginger are soothing to the body.
Very Well Health reported:
“This warming herb may help ease cramps and soothe menstrual troubles by lowering levels of pain-causing prostaglandins (as well as fight the fatigue commonly associated with premenstrual syndrome). In a 2009 study, women who took 250 mg capsules of ginger four times a day for three days from the start of their menstrual period experienced a level of pain relief equal to that of study members who treated their menstrual cramps with ibuprofen.
Another study, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 2012, analyzed the use of ginger root powder or a placebo in 120 women with moderate or severe primary dysmenorrhea and found that there were significant differences in the severity of pain between the ginger and placebo groups. Those taking ginger root powder two days before the onset of their menstrual period and continuing through the first three days of their menstrual period had the shortest duration of pain.”
Consider adding ginger tea to your daily routine, or starting a ginger root powder routine before your cycle is set to start.
Not only can ginger help you beat painful cramps, but it has amazing health benefits and can help with everything from nausea to inflammation.
You can even buy ginger root in the store and add it to your morning smoothie!
Ladies, menstrual cramps can cause serious pain in the body and are often so severe many women miss school or work.
Try these natural methods and see if they help lessen the degree or pain, or even eliminate it altogether.
But if you are experiencing abnormal symptoms such as prolonged bleeding or spotting or debilitating cramps that don’t seem to go away no matter what method is tried; you may need to see your doctor as something else may be happening within your body.
Have you suffered from painful menstrual cramps before? If so, what natural methods have you tried?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to share this article with your friends and family to let them know how natural ways can beat painful cramps!
