There are a few significant steps which you can take to reduce stomach cramps and soreness during periods. Before the introduction of painkillers and other medication, women all over the world opted for certain effective home remedies for painful periods. Let’s return to nature and find out more about the herbal alternatives it offers for reducing pain during menstruation.
Pain during periods is a natural phenomenon. Nonetheless, there are some women who undergo severe pain during their regular menstrual cycles. The pain can be unbearable and debilitating, making it almost impossible to go on with daily schedule and lifestyle. While medications do help a lot to alleviate the pain, it tends to create a mental block and a certain level of dependency.
Medications tend to become ineffective, once the body recognizes its effect. Making us want to increase the dose with every increase in cramps. Which is why certain herbal and self-help techniques can go a long way to make ourselves resist these menstrual aches and pains. Here are some tried and tested home remedies being enlisted that aid in alleviating menstrual cramps and bloating.
Natural Remedies for Painful Periods
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile flower extracts have anti-inflammatory properties and is a great stress buster. It has helped many women get out of bed and live normal lives during their periods. Drink this tea every few hours, as and when the pain is getting too excruciating. It will help you feel relaxed and will reduce the body ache substantially.
Parsley and Beetroot Juice
I know this combination does not sound appetizing, however nor does the idea of curling up in pain seem appealing. Parsley has some wondrous properties which helps women especially. The reason being that, parsley has apiol in it. Apiol is also said to be a constituent of estrogen, the sex hormone found only in women. It seems that apiol in parsley helps reduce the intensity of the menstrual flow and reduces the pain to a great extent. Beetroot too, has pain reducing tendencies, and is a rich source of iron. Iron gives strength and reduces the clots which cause the cramps and body ache, among many women. So make some beetroot juice blended with fresh parsley and drink twice a day during your periods. Especially on the days when the flow is really heavy and arduous.
Ginger Lemon Tea
The lemon is optional, it just makes the drink more bearable. Ginger has been used for its medicinal properties since ages, and is very well-known for reducing bloating and pain. All you need to do, in order to make this tea, is to cut a few ginger slices, mash them and boil them in water. Once the water has soaked in all the ginger extracts, you will need to drink the ginger tea along with the mashed residue.
Banana and Papaya Fruit Plate
It can get really difficult to eat during periods, especially when you’re in pain and you’ve lost your appetite. However, bananas are rich in potassium, which helps increase the blood circulation and reduce the overall soreness in the body. It has been proven that low potassium increases the occurrence as well as the intensity of muscle pull and contraction among humans. Similar results as also shown when magnesium levels drop. Papaya has both potassium and magnesium in high content, which will help reduce the pain. So eat up and relax!
Milk Therapy
You would be surprised to know how much relief a warm glass of milk can bring to your sore muscles and mind. It has potassium, magnesium, calcium and vitamins which will ensure that your body gets some essential nutrients back into its system.The reason being that during hormonal changes such as during periods, the body loses a lot of its energy, water and nourishment, which can be replaced to a small extent by providing fuel for the body to work on. Which is through foods rich in energy. Drinking warm milk, soups and tea helps in easing the menstrual cramps and provides a lot of relief.
Some Home Remedies
- Take warm water showers or lay down and relax in a hot tub. Heat helps reduce the pain by relaxing the muscles. When the muscles contract, the pain increases. The heat from the water will relax the uterus muscles and reduce the cramps.Warm water bags help a lot too. When you’re getting ready to sleep or have just woken up. Ask someone to get you a warm bag. Place the bag on your tummy, or wherever the pain is intense. You will begin to feel better instantly! Just remember to not have the water too hot, or else it will burn you.
- I know it is too much to ask, but believe me when I say that exercising during your periods actually helps. Doing simple exercises such as walking on the treadmill, stretching and yoga exercises will help. The reason being that endorphins and adrenaline are released while exercising, both of which help make you feel happier and rather energized during and after a workout session. These chemicals reduce the pain and helps your mind get distracted from your condition.
- When you are sleeping or simply resting, keep a couple of pillows under your legs and knee. And a few under your neck. This will help add some pressure to your stomach. Pressure helps dissipate the pain to a large extent. If you find this position too uncomfortable, you can try sleeping on your tummy. This helps a lot too.
- Some women feel better if they tie a bathrobe belt on their waist. Tie the belt a bit tightly but make sure your comfortable enough. After which try squatting while pressing your stomach with your hands. The pain will reduce in some time.
The above mentioned home remedies really do help a lot to ease the pain during periods. I have known a lot of women who have benefited and experienced respite from these remedies. However if the pain is still too much, seek medical help.
