Cramping, bloating, mood swings, lower back pain, headache, fatigue, heavy bleeding – This ‘natural process’ is our passage into womanhood? Seriously? Why can’t I just be a boy!?” (Yes that’s me complaining every 28 days, while being curled up in bed with a hot water bottle).
Did you know that dysmenorrhea i.e. extreme period pain interferes with the daily activities of 1 in every 5 women. Research shows period pain can at times be as “bad as having a heart attack.” Heart attack.
Take a minute to think about that. “Men don’t get it and it hasn’t been given the centrality it should have. it’s something that should be taken care of, like anything else.
To make sure you don’t suffer every month and toss and turn in pain, we’av listed 7 effective home remedies to ease period pain and even prevent menstrual cramps.
1. Massage with sesame oil
Sesame oil is traditionally used for abhyanga i.e. the daily Ayurvedic self-massage. It is rich in linoleic acid, and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. You can use sesame oil and massage it on your lower abdomen while you’re menstruating. It helps a lot.”
2. Fenugreek Seeds
Fenugreek seeds are known to facilitate weight loss, is good for your liver, kidneys and metabolism. Turns out, that they could be a good companion during your period too. You can reduce period pain with the help of fenugreek seeds. All you need to do is soak it in water for 12 hours, and then drink up.”
3. Heat
Applying heat on the lower abdomen helps relax the contracting muscles in the uterus. A hot water bottle always does the trick for me, but you can use over-the-counter heating pads or patches for comfort as well. Sipping on warm fluids or taking a hot shower also helps to relieve pain and make you feel more relaxed.”
4. Exercise
This may seem crazy to you, considering you can barely move (let alone brisk walk) when you’re dying in pain. But exercising increases circulation to the pelvic region and releases endorphins to counteract the prostaglandins (hormone-like substances that cause the uterine muscles to contract during menstruation). Do yoga asanas such as pranayama and shavasana (the corpse pose) while menstruating, as it eases pain and helps the body to relax. It also helps if you lie on your back with your knees bent.
5. Ginger and Black Pepper Tea
Make herbal tea using dried ginger and black pepper. Add a little sugar for taste, but avoid milk. Ginger can effectively reduce period pain, as it plays a key role in lowering the levels of prostaglandins. As an added bonus, it also helps make irregular periods regular and fights fatigue associated with premenstrual syndrome.
6. Cumin Seeds
You can make a herbal tea out of cumin seeds to reduce period pain. Cumin has a relaxing effect, and its anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties are useful for for getting rid of menstrual cramps.
7. Chamomile Tea
According to a study, Chamomile tea has pain-relieving properties. It helps relax the uterus and decrease the production of prostaglandins, thus reducing period pain.
