Having a menstrual cycle is a boon for all women as it keeps many health problems away and is the only way to nurture a new life within oneself.

But painful periods can trash all the good thoughts about being a woman. And I’m sure all the girls and women who experience severe period pain will 100 per cent agree with me.

But thanks to ancient medicine and home remedies that can help to relieve menstrual cramps. Here I’m sharing top 8 tips to ease menstrual pain.

These remedies include easily available ingredients right in your kitchen and garden. So let’s check on how can get relief from painful periods.

Why do you have painful periods?

As we all know that every month uterus lining sheds and comes out in the form of bleeding through the vagina, called periods or a menstrual cycle.

For this process uterine muscle contracts and relax more than usual to facilitate the shedding, and this overuse of uterine muscle is a common cause of pain in the lower abdomen during periods. This common period pain is also called primary dysmenorrhea.

Girls who just started menstruating are more likely to have intense period cramps. And heavy menstrual bleeding also causes severe menstrual cramps.

It is completely normal to have abdominal cramps, pain or discomfort during your periods but extreme or severe pain that forces you to stay at home or in bed can also have other causes.

Causes of severe menstrual cramps

If your pain increases with periods or you have lower abdomen cramps without periods then the possibility of secondary dysmenorrhea are there.

Always remember you are looking for home remedies or useful tips to get rid of dysmenorrhea ( primary) and you need to consult a physician if your condition and symptoms fall in the secondary dysmenorrhea category.

Secondary dysmenorrhea indicates recognizable organic disease and here are a few causes

• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Irregular periods
• Infertility
• Pelvic abnormalities
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Endometriosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Adenomyosis
• Cervical stenosis
• Uterus fibroids

Make sure to consult a physician or a gynecologist if your pain is worsening with time.

For mild period pain or temporary menstrual cramps, a few home remedies can give relief. Keep on reading to know tips to relieve period cramps fast and what changes you can make in your lifestyle to prevent pain during menstruation.

1. Hydrate yourself

During periods your hormonal levels reduce and may cause water retention. It impacts your natural body detox and causes bloating or disturbed stomach and sometimes causes a dip in your blood pressure.

To prevent bloating, digestive problems and hypotension make sure to drink plenty of water during your periods.

Flushing out the toxins also helps to reduce the chances of period acne and keep your skin hydrated and beautiful.

2. Use heating pads

Heat therapy is the ancient way to keep you cosy, and reduce pain and inflammation, this is why heating pads or hot water bottles are so popular for ages.

Heating pads or hot water bottles help to improve the blood supply to the local area, reduce pain and relax uterine muscles too.

You can also make a few natural heating bags at home those are supper easy and effective.

How to make a homemade heating pad

Making a reusable homemade heating pad is super easy and effective. You just need

1. Take any of these long-grain rice, corn, millet or barely,
2. Microwave them for 2-3 minutes,
3. Now take an old socks or make a pouch of a cotton cloth for you or belly,
4. Fill this pouch with microwaved grain,
5. Apply it gently on your abdomen for heat therapy.

3. Essential oils massage to relief menstrual cramps

There are few essential oils that are rich in linolic acid and help in relieving pain naturally. For centuries, Ayurveda is using these essential oil to sooth multiple conditions ranging from headaches, migraines, heartburn and musculoskeletal pains.

Sesame, lavender and cinnamon essential oils are amazing to reduce menstrual cramps naturally.

How to use essential oils for period pain

Using essential oils to relieve menstrual cramps is super easy, just make sure to add any carrier oil of your choice such as coconut, avocado, almond or olive oil and massage gently on the abdomen at least twice a day.

4. Ginger cinnamon tea

Consuming raw ginger on regular basis helps to lower down the inflammation and also corrects irregular periods and hormonal imbalance.

Cinnamon tea is very popular home remedy of ancient times that helps to reduce inflammations, loosing weight, maintaining insulin levels, boosting fertility and many more.

And the combination of these both ingredients is helpful in dysmenorrhea. It relieves severe period cramps and also reduces heavy blood flow.

5. Yoga for period pain

Many women do not feel pain during menstruation but for a few, it is very uncomfortable and a day spoiler. For women who experience a lot of pain, bloating or other uncomfortable symptoms, yoga is a must.

Regular practice of yoga helps your body to feel comfortable during menstruation days. Here are some yoga postures that you can do comfortably during menstruation.

1. Suptbhadra asana
2. Matsayasana
3. Supt Vakrasana
4. Setu Bandhasana
5. Ushtrasana
6. Shavasana
7. Makrasana

All these above-mentioned asanas specifically target the pelvic muscles and back which helps in reducing abdominal and back pain during periods.

6. Food

‘You are what you eat’ yes, if you desire to be fit and healthy you have to eat good and healthy food. In the same manner to reduce period cramps eat healthy, anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic food.

1. Consume fennel seeds in your tea or eat them raw
2. Banana, chickpeas, avocado and peanuts are boron-rich food that helps in reducing the severity and duration of menstrual cramps.
3. Eat plant-based food such as almonds, flaxseed, sunflower seeds and walnuts.
4. Minimise the intake of dairy products and processes food during periods.

7. Supplements

Generally, there are no supplements to take during periods that help reduce abdominal cramps. Women who experience excessive bleeding and pain are 80% iron deficient, which can be one of the main causes of premenstrual pain.

So make sure that if you are deficient in iron then you must take iron supplements for at least 3 months.

8. Foods to avoid during menstruation that can worsen the pain

There are certain types of foods that can worsen menstrual pain and you need to avoid all of these during periods and a week before periods.

1. Avoid high-salt food such as chips, and packed snacks. High-salt food will increase menstrual pain as well as cause bloating.
2. Don’t eat pickles, papad, chutney and salted nuts.
3. Avoid eating fatty foods which can cause excessive pain and bleeding.
4. Try to avoid sweet treats.
5. Don’t consume alcohol and caffeine.

These 8 home remedies to reduce menstrual pain will work wonders for you if you follow them religiously. If you have any specific queries regarding your menstrual cramps then you can also put your question in the comment section, I will love to help you out.

I hope this article was informative. Be sure to sign up for my free newsletter so you can receive new health-related posts where I offer an alternative approach to medical conditions.

Thanks for Reading!!!