Home Remedies for Menstrual Pain

Sometimes they are hardly noticeable, but they may also be truly painful. What am I talking about? Menstruation and the accompanying ailments. Remember that during menstruation you have the right to feel worse. Do not wait patiently until the pain is gone because there are many safe and effective ways that alleviate persistent ailments. Let me show you some of them.

 

Get yourself a hot water bag

A hot compress in the abdominal area can be helpful in relieving menstrual pain. So get yourself a hot water bag or an electric pillow. A warm bath or even better a warm shower can also bring relief. But you should remember that the water shouldn’t be too hot as it will increase menstrual bleeding.

 

Drink herbal teas

Herbs may turn out helpful for your menstrual pain. Raspberry leaf tea is the most popular but chamomile and peppermint are also great for relaxation. Common yarrow has a similar effect. It is usually used in chronic conditions and needs to be taken longer to be effective. Other herbs recommended for feminine ailments are chasteberry and bugleweed. In practice, however, you should start with chamomile and only try the other, stronger herbs if it doesn’t help. Remember that herbs, just like medicines, should be used in moderation.

 

Try ginger

Research studies conducted on female students have shown that ginger can have anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic effects on menstrual pain.

 

Reduce stress

It seems that ailments that occur with menstruation may be exacerbated by factors such as stress and excessive tension. Some relaxation methods such as listening to your favorite music or meditation help you to relieve stress. More information on the fight against stress can be found here.

 

Don’t forget about physical activity

Physical exercises may be helpful in relieving menstrual discomfort. The most effective are mild aerobic exercises and cardio-respiratory exercises. Yoga can be helpful in relieving stress and menstrual pain. The results of scientific research have shown its beneficial effect on relaxation and, therefore, on the reduction of perceived discomfort. It is worth remembering, however, that it is important to determine the duration and frequency of physical exercise. According to the American Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the exercises should be performed for at least 30 minutes during the day and repeated at least several times a week.

 

What about diet supplements?

Many of us try to relieve menstrual pain with diet supplements. But are they effective? Some scientific data suggest the potential benefits of using zinc, fish oil and vitamin B1 in relieving pain related to menstruation. However, the efficacy of melatonin has not been demonstrated.

 

How about acupuncture?

It seems that acupuncture (the stimulation of points on the body using needles) and acupressure (the stimulation of points on the body through pressure) can also be effective in the treatment of menstrual pain. However, we still lack scientific data that would definitely confirm their effectiveness in relieving this type of discomfort.

 

Remember that menstrual pain can usually be treated at home. Although complete elimination of pain may be impossible, effective measures are available to ease or reduce it. Exercises, warm compresses or a warm bath can help reduce pain. Massage and relaxation techniques may also relieve it.

 

Bibliography:

1. Hansen SO, Knudsen UB. Endometriosis, dysmenorrhoea and diet. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2013 Jul;169(2):162-71.
2. Mirabi P, Alamolhoda SH, Esmaeilzadeh S, Mojab F. Effect of medicinal herbs on primary dysmenorrhoea- a systematic review. Iran J Pharm Res. 2014 Summer;13(3):757-67.
3. Pattanittum P, Kunyanone N, Brown J, Sangkomkamhang US, Barnes J, Seyfoddin V, Marjoribanks J. Dietary supplements for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Mar 22;3:CD002124.
4. Pellow J, Nienhuis C. Medicinal plants for primary dysmenorrhoea: A systematic review. Complement Ther Med. 2018 Apr;37:13-26.
5. Smith CA, Armour M, Zhu X, Li X, Lu ZY, Song J. Acupuncture for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Apr 18;4:CD007854.