Massage Your Tummy With Essential Oils
Research suggests that some essential oils can help ease period cramps when massaged onto the abdomen, especially when used in a blend of oils.
Oils that seem to be most effective at reducing period cramps, due to their ability to boost circulation, include:
- cinnamon
- clove
You can find essential oils online, or at your local health food store. Some drugstores may sell them, too.
Before using essential oils, youll want to mix them with a carrier oil, like coconut oil or jojoba oil. Carrier oils work by safely carrying the essential oil into your skin, and helping to spread the oil over a large area.
Once your oil mixture is ready to use, rub a few drops between your hands and then give your tummy a gentle massage.
Experts say massaging in a circular motion for just five minutes a day before and during your period may help lessen cramps and boost circulation in your abdomen.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen , naproxen , and aspirin are effective treatments for period cramps.
These medications work best if theyre taken at the first sign of cramps or pain.
You can find ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin, at any drugstore. Be sure to take only as directed, and talk to your doctor first if you have a history of heart, liver, or kidney problems, or if you have asthma, ulcers, or bleeding disorders.
recent study , low-to-medium intensity aerobic exercise can help reduce pain caused by period cramps.
What Helps With Cramps
Here are a some things that can help ease cramps:
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Over-the-counter pain medicine like ibuprofen , naproxen , or acetaminophen . Always follow the instructions on the bottle. Talk with your doctor before taking pain medication if you have an allergy to aspirin or severe asthma.
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Exercise.
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Hormonal birth control .
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Acupuncture and acupressure.
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Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation therapy that uses mild electric currents to stimulate your nerves to relieve pain.
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Certain vitamins and herbs like vitamin B1, fish oil, fenugreek, ginger, valerian, zataria, and zinc sulfate.
Cramps are a pretty normal part of getting your period, but sometimes people have period cramps that are so painful its hard to do everyday things . If your period pain is really bad, and over-the-counter medicine doesnt help, talk with your doctor. They can help with other ways to manage the pain, or they may want to check to see if theres something more serious going on.
Cramps that are really bad may be a sign of:
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease an infection in your reproductive organs.
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Endometriosis a condition where the lining of your uterus grows outside of your uterus.
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Adenomyosis when the tissue that lines your uterus grows into the muscle wall of your uterus.
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Uterine fibroids non-cancerous tumors that grow inside your uterus, in the walls of your uterus, or on the outside of your uterus.
When All Else Fails Call The Doc
If nothing seems to be helping, talk to your gyno. They can check for any underlying causes, like endometriosis, that might be making your cramps extra-painful. She may also recommend birth control pills, which can thin the uterine lining and make cramps less intense. Cramps may be common, but they shouldnât interfere with your life, so if youâve tried everything and youâre still in pain every month, definitely let your doc know.
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A Sprinkle Of Cinnamon
In a study of young women, those who took capsules containing 420 milligrams of cinnamon 3 times a day for the first 3 days of their menstrual cycle had less menstrual bleeding, less pain, and reductions in nausea and frequency of vomiting compared to those who took a placebo. The women didn’t report any side effects associated with taking cinnamon pills. Try a sprinkle of cinnamon on your cereal or cup of hot cocoa. It can’t hurt and it might help your cramps and other period symptoms.
Massage With Essential Oil
Simply massaging your abdominal muscles relaxes the uterine contractions. This may help divert blood away from the uterus. Doing this repeatedly may help stop your flow early and fast. This procedure will also help relieve some of the symptoms accompanying your period, such as cramps and bloating.
This is what you need to do:
- Mix some amounts of lavender oil and sage oil
- Into the mixture, add three some amount of warm almond oil
- Use the oil to massage the abdominal and pelvic area
- Do this twice or thrice to stop your period
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Acupuncture May Help By Relaxing The Nervous System
Acupuncture can help relieve cramps, says Jeannie Bianchi, a licensed acupuncturist in San Francisco. This ancient Asian healing method is thought to relax the nervous system, allow more blood to flow to internal organs, and quell inflammation, Bianchi says.
In a review published in April 2016 in the CochraneDatabase of Systematic Reviews experts looked at 42 studies that observed the effects of acupuncture on period cramps. Each compared acupuncture with no treatment, conventional treatment , or a sham acupuncture procedure. Many of the studies found that the acupuncture group had less period pain and no side effects. The researchers emphasize, however, that the quality of all of the studies was poor.
Cut Back On Caffeine And Alcohol
Pre-menstrually, alcohol can enhance PMS symptoms like breast tenderness, mood swings, and bloating, says Dr. Bitner. And coffee can overstimulate the digestive tract and irritate the bowels, not to mention dehydrate you, which causes you to retain water. Hey, you’ll save some serious $ by bypassing your morning latte, too.
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What Can I Do To Make My Period Less Painful
Do light exercise at least once a day. Though you get cramps and feel sore during your period, working out can help to reduce these symptoms. Try to schedule in light exercise at least once a day, even on the days when you have your period. Getting your body moving can improve your mood and regulate the symptoms of your period.
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Is It Safe To Try And Stop Your Period
Whether its for a week, a month or even long-term, its possible to stop your period.
Some people want to stop or delay their period because of special events like a wedding or honeymoon. For others, the desire to stop their period stems from a medical reason like:
- Heavy bleeding.
- Uterine fibroids.
While its safe to stop your period, remember that your body is normally on a cycle, which ranges from 21 to 35 days. And it all has to do with hormones.
Estrogen is the hormone that makes tissue build up in your uterus, which provides a nice cushiony lining for a pregnancy to implant, says Dr. Jhaveri. If you dont get pregnant, that tissue needs to shed, and thats your period. After you ovulate, another hormone, progesterone, is released and helps to keep you pregnant. But if you dont get pregnant that cycle, the progesterone goes away and thats when the period comes.
That decrease in progesterone causes your uterus sheds its lining, which results in a period.
If you can prolong the progesterone, thats the most effective way to stop your period, says Dr. Jhaveri. Youre faking your body into thinking youre pregnant.
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Painful Periods With Blood Clots
Blood Clotting during menstruation can also cause menstrual cramps in a woman. Blood clots usually dont cause you any problem but sometimes due to massive bleeding can lead you to painful periods.
Your body releases typically anticoagulants which keep menstrual blood from clotting. But if you are suffering from massive and blood is being rapidly expelled. In this case, anticoagulants dont have enough time to work which causes blood clots.
Note: If you are having excessive clotting or clots larger than a quarter during period, you should see your doctor.
Can Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Cause Menstrual Cramps
Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the female reproductive tract that is most commonly caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections. Left untreated, PID can cause inflammation, scarring, painful menstrual cramps, and infertility.
most often occurs because sexually transmitted infections that cause PID can create scar tissue and adhesions in the pelvic region. During menstruation, hormones influence the uterus and surrounding structures including the scar tissue and adhesions which can increase inflammation, bleeding, and pain, says Shilpi Agarwal, MD, a board-certified family medicine and integrative physician in Washington, DC, and a columnist for Everyday Health. If caught early, PID can be treated with antibiotics, but antibiotics wont undo any structural damage caused by the infection. Practice safe sex, and get tested frequently for any sexually transmitted infections, especially if you have severe period pain, Dr. Agarwal advises.
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Food And Drink To Relieve Menstrual Cramps
Maintaining a healthy diet can lessen the severity of menstrual pain. Generally, eating foods that are high in fiber and plants and removing high-processed foods is a good rule of thumb to follow.
In fact, following this diet can reduce estrogen levels, which can cause painful periods.
- whole grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and flaxseeds to provide fiber and vitamin B
- fruits like papaya, watermelon, celery, mangoes, and berries to provide hydration and curb sugar cravings
- nuts and seeds like walnuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds to help reduce inflammation
- legumes like lentils and chickpeas that contain protein and zinc
- vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and spinach that are rich in essential nutrients
- chicken and fish that are high in iron and protein
Drinking plenty of water is important, too. Not only does it reduce your chances of getting dehydration headaches, but it can also stop you from retaining water and bloating.
Meanwhile, some foods can exacerbate symptoms and increase prostaglandins in your body, which worsens pain. Some things to avoid if you can are:
- refined grains, like white bread, pastries, and cereals
- foods high in saturated fat
- foods high in sodium
Additionally, research from 2015 found that curcumin, a natural compound in turmeric, can significantly reduce PMS symptoms.
Q How Many Days Should One’s Period Last
A. Ideally, the menstrual cycle lasts for five days and on average women bleed for three to five days. For some women, it can go up to seven days. It is completely normal to bleed up to seven days, and there is nothing to worry if the dates are a little delayed or early than the previous cycle. There is a problem if your bleeding does not stop for 15 days or your periods come thrice a month, that is when you need to consult a gynaecologist. This usually happens because of the hormonal changes in a woman’s body.
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Do Some Light Exercise
This may sound like the worst idea ever, especially when you barely have the motivation to get off the couch to change your tampon. But dont worry, you dont have to run a 5K or anythinga short walk or a few minutes of yoga is enough to get your circulation going and loosen up your muscles. Stretching and aerobic exercise help with the production of endorphins, which are your bodys feel-good hormones, Dr. Winter says. Endorphins actually change the way your brain processes pain, so if you can power through those first few I-dont-wanna-do-this minutes, a sweat sesh can help you feel a lot better.
Food That Helps: Tofu
Research shows that calcium can ease menstrual pain. That may be because the mineral helps muscle cells work properly. Like milk, yogurt, and other dairy products, tofu packs lots of calcium. Half a cup of firm tofu has enough to meet a quarter of your daily needs. Other good sources include fortified orange juice and cereal.
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Try Some Yoga Poses To Ease Menstrual Pain
Whether it’s the stretching of your muscles or the relaxing effect of the poses, a regular yoga practice can indeed help your cramps.
When 20 undergraduate students did an hour-long yoga program once a week for three months, they had less menstrual cramping and period distress than 20 women who didnt, according to researchers for a study published in September 2016 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
The Journal of Physiotherapy review that sanctioned heating pads also found benefits for yoga.
You can practice during your period or between them, but some instructors advise women against doing inverted poses in the midst of menstruation, so as not interfere with your natural flow.
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Lifestyle Changes That Help Relieve Stomach Pain During Periods
It may be possible to find ways to deal with the painful days so they are less of a problem. For example, many women try to take things a bit easier in those days. Some find that relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, yoga or tai chi help them feel more relaxed and reduce stress. Getting a lot of exercises also helps relieve stomach pain during periods in some women.
Measures that may reduce the risk of Menstrual Cramps Include:
- Eating fruits and vegetables and limiting the intake of fat, alcohol, caffeine, salt, and sweets
- Exercising regularly
- Reducing stress
- Quitting smoking
If these also do not help over 2-3 months, then you can ask a gynecologist, to rule out infection or growth. Hence invasive procedures might be done for diagnostic purposes.
There is Another Type of Pain known as the MittelschmerzMittelschmerz is one-sided, lower abdominal pain associated with ovulation. German for middle pain, mittelschmerz occurs midway through a menstrual cycle about 14 days before your next menstrual period.
The Exact Cause of Mittelschmerz is Unknown, but Possible Reasons for the Pain Include these Just before an egg is released with ovulation, follicle growth stretches the surface of your ovary, causing pain. Blood or fluid released from the ruptured follicle irritates the lining of your abdomen , leading to pain.
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Yoga Positions To Help Period Cramps
Heading to your yoga mat may not seem intuitive when your cramps are bothersome, but yoga can provide multiple benefits.
According to a 2017 review of fifteen studies, yoga can relieve premenstrual syndrome symptoms, such as:
- bloating
- stretches lower back and spine
- increases blood circulation
- promotes relaxation
To do this pose, get on all fours and bring your big toes together as you widen your knees. Lean your upper body over your lower body as you stretch forward with your arms and take big, deep breaths.
Roll downs
- improves body and spinal mobility
- improves body alignment
- activates abdominal muscles
To do this pose, Agénor recommends starting with a deep inhale through the nose and exhaling out through the mouth. Tuck your chin to your chest, and roll down your spine, vertebrae by vertebrae.
As you roll back up, you find a soft bend in the knees and feel each vertebrae stack one on top of the other, until your head is the last to come up, she says.
Keep in mind that its important to listen to your body without pushing yourself. If a posture feels uncomfortable, Agénor recommends a smaller range of motion to help you feel more stable. Youll still get the benefits.
sleep disturbances during your period .
Thats because your hormone levels drop, causing your body temperature to rise. This can throw off your circadian rhythm.
On top of that, cramps may provide an extra layer of discomfort.
Heres what Agénor recommends for your go-to sleep position: