During a woman’s menstrual cycle (her period), the uterus contracts as a way to assist in shedding the lining.  What causes the uterus to constrict, is what is called prostaglandins. This hormone-like trigger causes the inflammation and pain, and that overall is what causes the menstrual cramps.

Symptoms

The cramping usually happens around the lower abdomen and last two or three days during your period but can start one to three days before it. The pain can also come and go or be constantly there. You could even feel the pain in your upper thighs and lower back.

Some women suffer from menstrual cramps worse than others and it can cause headaches, nausea, loose stool, and dizziness.

Home Remedies for Menstrual Cramps

1. No Alcohol or Tobacco

The chemicals in both of these can make the cramping worsen which is not worth the trouble. If you are feeling daring, use your next menstrual cycle as the reason to quit smoking. There is nothing wrong with needing a little motivation, especially if quitting can reduce how painful your cramps are.

2. Heat

Using a heating pad, hot water bottle, whatever you have, can be a great way to lessen the cramping. The heat helps to loosen muscles and slow the production of the prostaglandins.

 

3.  Painkillers

There are different kinds of over the counter painkillers that you could buy such as Aleve, ibuprofen, or Naproxen. There are even different kinds that are made specifically for menstrual cramps.

 

4. Pleasure

Studies show that one of the best ways to ease menstrual cramps is to pleasure yourself. By ejaculating, your brain sends out oxytocin and endorphins. The latter can stop or lessen pain. On top of that, ejaculating give your muscles something else to do rather than just constantly trying to push out the same thing.

 

5. Remove Bad Things from Your Diet

There are a couple of foods that can increase your menstrual cramping, but it should be easy to avoid them. Do not eat foods that are heavy in salt or fat and do not drink things that are carbonated, alcoholic, or caffeinated.

 

6. Herbs

Like there are foods that can make things worse, there are plants that can make things better. These herbs can help to clean out your a little faster and others can calm and soothe inflammation. Try teas or recipes that contain ginger, chamomile, cinnamon,  fennel seeds, or pycnogenol.

7. Other Foods to Add to Your Diet

Foods that are high in fiber, minerals, and vitamins are usually a safe bet. Just an idea for something that help a lot of women, there is flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, papaya, broccoli, chicken, almonds, olives, leafy greens, walnuts, and fish.

 

8. Boron

Boron is amazing because it helps to lessen the pain and length of menstrual cramps by absorbing phosphorus and calcium better. You can get a pretty decent amount of boron from avocados, prunes, bananas, peanut butter, and chickpeas.

 

9. Calcium

Since absorbing calcium is important, then calcium itself must be, right? So, if you are between the ages of 19 and 50, it is suggested to that you eat 1,000 mg of calcium a day to help with the shortening of menstrual cramps. To help you to get that 1,000 mg a day, you can eat dairy products, almonds, leafy greens, and sesame seeds since they are all high in calcium.

 

10. Water

Some the cramping and bloating that you might suffer during a period can actually come from too much water retention, so drinking water can cycle it through slow enough to still help you with normal body functions, but quick enough that it doesn’t make you bloat. Just be careful that you do not drink too much. Warm water can be used to relax your muscles while helping your blood to get moving.  

 

11. Exercise

Walking, doing yoga, and other light exercise can release endorphins from the brain and ease pain from menstrual cramps. Gentle exercise can also lighten the flow a bit which can help with cramps as well.

12. Vitamin B1 and Fish Oil

Whether you take just one or both, cramping is less in both pain and length of time.

 

13. Essential Oils

You can add a couple of drops of marjoram, lavender, and clary sage essential oils to an unscented lotions and massage it into your lower abdomen. You can also just use aromatherapy. Through studies, these oils have been found to help ease menstrual cramps.

 

14. Birth Control

Talking to your doctor about birth control can be a good idea. Being on a planned birth control can get your body onto a real cycle, so it is your body does not cramp up suddenly a week or so before trying to give itself a boost. Usually, within two days after you are off the pill, your flow will start. Some cramping may start a day after you are off the pill but a day before your flow starts.

 

15. Magnesium

Magnesium, either in supplements or food, can help with getting your muscles and nerve functions regulated. This alone can help to ease whatever menstrual cramps you might be feeling.

 

16. Stress

Try not to get too stressed. Too much stress can over set the brain and can actually make the menstrual cramping worse because of the brain sending out the wrong signals.

17. Pickle Juice

Pickle, if drank right when you first feel the menstrual cramps set in, can lighten the cramps because of the sodium content. The sodium will also hydrate you quicker. All you need to do is drink a half cup of pickle juice a day. A quick note, however, try not to drink pickle juice on an empty stomach because it can cause nausea.

 

18. Epsom Salt

Epsom salts are high in magnesium and magnesium is a gold mine when it comes to easing muscle cramps, including menstrual cramps. So two or three days before your period is supposed to start, take a 20 minute soak in a warm bath with one or two cups of Epsom salts.

 

19. Foot Massage

There are pressure points all over your body and each one can do different things. One of these pressure points is three finger widths up from your ankle bone. When you find the point, massage it carefully with. The one little spot can actually calm your menstrual cramps, insomnia, dizziness, and bloating.

20. Lemon Juice

There is a lot of iron and blood and women lose a lot of blood while menstruating, right? Lemons are high in vitamin C and vitamin C  helps your body to absorb the needed iron. The thing that is even than that is that lemons are packed with anti-inflammatory properties that can ease the menstrual cramps.

Cut a lemon in half, squeeze as much of the juice as you can into a glass of water and add honey to your taste. Results happen the best when this drank on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.  

 

21. Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera is often used for anti-inflammation. When dealing with menstrual cramps, it can also make your flow easier to deal with and that can also make your cramps better.       

Which of these home remedies will you try? Comment below

Sources

https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/home-remedies-to-relieve-period-cramps/#PickleJuice

https://www.everydayhealth.com/treatment/womens-health/ways-to-relieve-period-cramps/

https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/menstrual-cramp-remedies

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menstrual-cramps/symptoms-causes/syc-20374938

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-managing-your-menstrual-cramps/