Natural Ways to Relieve Period Cramps


If you dont want to use medication to help get relief from your period cramps, thats great because you dont need to if you dont want to. While no one is going to end up totally pain free with either type of remedy, whether natural or from big pharma, these ideas go a long way to helping relieve period cramps.

* Heating Pad  Sometimes nothing works better than curling up in your favorite chair (or the bed) with a heating pad on your tummy to feel better. Since its not a permanent condition, there is nothing wrong with slowing down and taking this time.

* Exercise  Moving more can help with cramps a lot more than you may think. But try doing gentle stretching exercises that focus on your core and your breath, like yoga and Pilates. You dont want to do anything too strenuous unless youre an athlete. 

* Hydrate Yourself  Keeping your body hydrated by drinking a lot of water, plus eating food that is hydrating like melon and citrus (plus all raw produce) and food low in sodium, will reduce the inflammation causing the cramps substantially. 

* Rest  Dont beat yourself up about being down and out sometimes. Its okay to rest and take care of yourself. Try going to bed a little earlier so that you can get more sleep. If possible, dont schedule anything strenuous during your period days.

* Eat the Right Food  Eating anti-inflammatory food like leafy green veggies and other water-rich produce will make you feel a lot better. Try eating beets, blueberries, and pineapple to get the benefits of magnesium to relax you more.

* Try Essential Oils  Many essential oils are purported to help relieve menstrual cramps and other symptoms of your period. Try lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, and orange. 

* Take a Supplement or a Herb  Pycnogenol supplements, dill powder, curcumin, cinnamon, fish oil, vitamin B1, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, chasteberry, black cohosh, turmeric, and others can help. You will have to experiment and consider your other health issues as you choose.

* Get Out in the Sun  Getting plenty of sunshine during your cramps can help almost more than a heating pad depending on where you live. Try getting at a minimum of ten minutes of sun a day on as much skin as you can.

* Eliminate Caffeine  This is probably one of the hardest to give up, but if you can lower your dependence on caffeine, you will also lower your pain. Caffeine hides in lots of places nowadays, so read your labels. 

* Massage  If you can schedule a massage during the time youre most likely to suffer from cramps, you can get some major relief with a deep tissue or another type of massage (your preference). Youll get pampered and relaxed and feel ready to take on the world (or go to bed). 

Everyone is slightly different, so one solution that works for you may not work for someone else. The best thing to do is give a few different ideas a try, then document your results so that you can find out what works for you to relieve period cramps.






