How to Relieve the Pains of Dysmenorrhea

Aching pain in your belly? Feeling of pressure and pain in your hips, lower back and inner thighs? I used to struggle with horrible Dysmenorrhea myself, and I can certainly sympathize with how frustrating this can be. There are days I can’t get up, thus, affecting all the activities I planned for the day. Having Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common, annoying parts of a woman’s period. It can strike right before or during that time of the month. Many women get them routinely. During this period, the muscles of our womb contract and relax to help shed built-up lining. Sometimes we experience cramps, which are our muscles at work. Some women and girls may experience nausea, vomiting, headaches, or diarrhea as well. For mild to temporary cramps, some home remedies can help provide relief. Here are some natural ways you can do at home on getting fast relief and how to potentially lessen the pain during your next cycle:

Hot Compress

Applying heat to your abdomen and lower back may relieve pain. A 2012 study focused on women 18 to 30 years old who had regular menstrual cycles found that a heat patch at 104°F (40°C) was as effective as ibuprofen.

Improve Your Diet

During menstruation, it’s a good idea to avoid foods that cause bloating and water retention. Some of the biggest culprits include fatty foods, alcohol, carbonated beverages, caffeine and salty foods. Reducing or cutting out these foods can help alleviate cramps and decrease tension.

Turn to Tea to Calm Menstrual Cramps

Certain teas may help relieve menstrual cramps. Research on herbal teas for menstrual pain relief is scarce, say experts, but teas have been used traditionally and can help. Because some of the herbs may act as estrogens, ask your doctor first before using one, especially if you have a history of a hormone-related cancer or take blood-thinning drugs.

Exercise

The idea of exercise immediately before or during your period may not appeal to you. But exercise releases endorphins. Research suggests exercise is effective at reducing menstrual pain to the extent it may also eliminate or reduce the need for pain-relief medication. Moderate activity such as walking can be beneficial during your period in place of more strenuous activity.

Needle Away Period Cramps

Acupuncture can help relieve cramps, says Jeannie Bianchi, a licensed acupuncturist in San Francisco. “Were relaxing the nervous system” she says, which causes more robust blood flow to the internal organs. The acupuncture is thought to have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Massaging with essential oils

Massage therapy for about 20 minutes can help reduce menstrual pain. Massage therapy for menstruation involves pressing specific points while the therapist’s hands move around your abdomen, side, and back. Adding essential oils for an aromatherapy style of massage may have additional benefits. A study divided 48 women experiencing menstrual pain into two groups: One group received a cream containing essential oils, while the other received a cream containing a synthetic fragrance. The group who used essential oils experienced a significant reduction in amount and duration of pain. The researchers used blend of lavender, clary sage, and marjoram oil in this study.

Watch this video for a tutorial on massaging for menstrual pain:

Every time I have this nasty cramps, I give my belly a massage only with Oleia Topical Oil. It’s very safe and all natural, it relieves my menstrual pain fast, allowing me to feel good and get going.

About The Author

Charlotte has tried every buffet restaurant in the Metro and is on the quest to try the ones in the provinces soon. She's an active blogger and you can find her in her think tank in Marco Polo on weekdays. She used to think Oleia Topical Oil can help her loose weight since it's good for inflammation only to realize it's better for after work massages.