8 Home Remedies for Severe Menstrual Cramps

Despite the fact that pain during periods is a quite common issue, some women experience unbearable cramps that can’t be eased with OTC painkillers. In this case, it is essential to look for other ways to cope with painful periods.

Women with dysmenorrhea (pain during periods)may also experience other unpleasant symptoms that aggravate their condition. In this article, we gathered eight home remedies for severe menstrual cramps.

1. Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. It can help reduce the production of prostaglandins and ease severe cramps during periods as well. Moreover, herbal tea can also relieve stress and help you fall asleep.

2. Sex
Despite the fact that most couples don’t have sex during periods, it can be quite effective remedy to ease the pain. The reality is that orgasm contributes to the production of endorphins that act as natural painkillers. In addition, endorphins can improve your mood that can also be spoiled during periods.

In order not to spoil your shits, you can have sex in a shower or lay an old towel on your bad. However, you should understand that sex during periods can be impossible if you experience extremely severe symptoms.

3. Heating pad
The heat has a great ability to relax muscles and increase the blood flow. That’s why you can apply a heating pad in your pelvic area during periods. The heat will decrease muscle contractions and help the blood get out of the uterus.

You should be quite careful with heating pad temperature since you can get a burn. If you don’t have a heating pad, you can use a bottle with warm water or heat some cereal and wrap them into a piece of fabric.

4. Yoga
There are a lot of asanas (poses) that help relax muscles and ease painful sensations. When you practice yoga, you learn how to control your body and relax its certain areas. Moreover, any kind of physical activity (including yoga) boosts endorphins production. As mentioned above they can also ease your painful cramps. It is important to start with simple asanas that don’t require any special skills. Otherwise, you can easily hurt yourself instead of healing.

5. Take a bath
A warm bath with a few drops of essential oils, dried herbs, and Epsom salt can actually do wonders with your well-being. You can use a lavender essential oil that has pain-relieving properties. A warm bath helps ease stress, reduce cramping, and ease painful sensations. Soak in such a bath for 10-15 minutes to relax and get rid of the pain.

6. Stay hydrated
If you are dehydrated, you may experience bloating that can aggravate your pain during periods. That’s why it is essential to drink a sufficient amount of plain water a day. If it is hot weather or you are exercising, you should drink even more water.

When you drink a lot of water, your blood flow also increases and this eases painful sensations during periods. In addition, normal blood flow relaxes muscles and refuses uterine cramping.

7. Massage
Light self-massage with essential oils can significantly ease your camping and pain because it relaxes muscles. In this case, essential oils can be used not only for aromatherapy but also for pain relief. Lavender, clary sage, and marjoram oils have pain-relieving properties.

However, you shouldn’t use undissolved oils on the skin. Take a tablespoon of carrier oil (coconut oil is considered one of the most suitable oils) and add a few drops of essential oil and massage your belly with this fragrant remedy. You can also use massage oil or cream with oils for self-massage.

8. Take vitamins
A lack of vitamins (especially, vitamin D) can make you more prone to inflammatory processes and severe cramping during periods. It is important to take vitamins not only during periods to enhance their effect. Ask your doctor about the supplements that will not interfere with your other medications (if you take some).