Basil Oil Bath For Period Cramps
Combining basil with an oil like lavender which has strong relaxation properties is another way to soothe tense muscles that are causing menstrual pain.
According to the Tisserand Institute , you can safely use essential oils in a bath by following one of these methods:
- Mix 5 20 drops total of both basil and lavender in 1 tablespoon of a light liquid oil . Add the mixture to the bath water.
- Combine 5 20 drops total of both basil and lavender with 1 tablespoon liquid castile soap. Add the mixture to your bath water.
Fish Oil And Vitamin B1
Researchers studied the effects of vitamin B1 and fish oil on dysmenorrhea symptoms in high school students. The young women were separated into 4 different groups. One group took 100 milligrams of vitamin B1 per day. Another took 500 milligrams of fish oil per day. One group took a combination of both vitamin B1 and fish oil daily. The last group took a placebo. The women took the treatment at the beginning of their menstrual cycles and continued for 2 months. Compared to those in the placebo group, those who took vitamin B1, fish oil, or both reported significantly less pain. The women who took fish oil or B1 also reported their pain didn’t last as long compared to those in the placebo group.
Causes Of Period Pain
Period pain happens when the muscular wall of the womb tightens . Mild contractions continually occur in your womb, but they’re usually so mild that most women cannot feel them.
During your period, the wall of the womb starts to contract more vigorously to help the womb lining shed as part of your period.
When the wall of the womb contracts, it compresses the blood vessels lining your womb. This temporarily cuts off the blood supply and oxygen supply to your womb. Without oxygen, the tissues in your womb release chemicals that trigger pain.
While your body is releasing these pain-triggering chemicals, it’s also producing other chemicals called prostaglandins. These encourage the womb muscles to contract more, further increasing the level of pain.
It’s not known why some women have more period pain than others. It may be that some women have a build-up of prostaglandins, which means they experience stronger contractions.
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Foods That Help Alleviate Menstrual Cramps
A sushi platter consisting of salmon and tuna servings
Image: HANNIE PETRA
Its not uncommon to experience discomfort around your abdomen, lower back, and thighs when youre menstruating.
Its important to note that some foods can lessen these symptoms, while other foods can trigger them making them worse.
Its hard to predict exactly how youll feel during your periods.
While some people barely have any symptoms, others struggle to get out of bed thanks to cramping.
Some months might be bearable while others might have you rushing to the hospital for pain-relieving injections.
Its not uncommon to experience discomfort around your abdomen, lower back, and thighs when youre menstruating.
Many females experience these and other uncomfortable symptoms during their menstruation.
These symptoms include:
- mood swings
- diarrhoea
Its important to note that some foods can lessen these symptoms, while other foods can trigger them making them worse.
Keep in mind, if you experience any of the symptoms listed above, adding certain foods to your diet and removing others can help ease your discomfort and help you feel better without having to rely on medicine.
For example, the food items below are known to accelerate menstrual cramps and make the period a little bit more uncomfortable than usual.
I understand that cravings are bound to come but do keep in mind that the chocolates and cakes are not your friends during this period.
1. Salmon
2. Milk
3. Oats.
4. Eggs.
Note:
When Should You Contact Your Healthcare Provider About Menstrual Cramps
Bad cramps keep some women from working and going to school. You dont have to suffer and you dont have to put your life on hold. Contact your healthcare provider if you have painful periods.
It may be helpful to keep track of your periods and the days on which pain is the worst so you can make a complete report. If you notice other symptoms, like headaches or heavy flows, you should keep track of those, too.
Your provider will probably ask you when you started getting your period, how long they last, if you are sexually active, if other women in your family have problems with their periods and what kinds of treatments you might have tried already.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Menstruation is normal. You might get cramps, but you dont have to suffer silently with them. There are ways to make painful periods less painful. Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider about painful periods.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/20/2020.
References
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Ways Gynecologists Deal With Period Cramps
Raise your hand if you’ve felt personally victimized by period cramps. Exactly. And if you experience them each month, you know that they tend to strike at the worst time and bring hell to your uterus for what seems like forever. But here’s the thing: There’s no Girl Scout badge for powering through cramps. If there’s a way to make them suck less , why not try it?
First, let’s go over what’s actually happening when you have cramps. Menstrual cramps happen when the muscles of your uterus contract, which typically happens just before or during your period, Pari Ghodsi, M.D., a board-certified ob/gyn, tells SELF. Those contractions are sparked by chemicals called prostaglandins, which are produced in the lining of the uterus, she says.
When endometrial cells are broken down during your menstrual cycle, the prostaglandins are releasedand they’re indirectly related to estrogen, Jessica Shepherd, M.D., an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecology at The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, tells SELF. On the flip side, prostaglandin are decreased when you’re on hormonal birth control because you’re not building up that endometrial tissue.
Since gynecologists know a lot about the ways of the uterus, they seemed like the perfect people to ask when it comes to dealing with cramps. Here are some tactics they recommend:
Related:
When Do People Usually Get Cramps
It is no secret that pain symptoms can appear at specific times in a womans cycle.
- Perimenstrual cramps. Pain starts before your period and lasts during menstruation. It can be felt in the lower back and thighs.
- Mid-cycle/ovulation pain. This pain can also occur in the middle of your cycle. Ovulation pain is usually felt in the lower abdomen. It may last from a few hours to even a couple of days.
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Remember: You Can Still Get Pregnant
You cant get an STI or pregnant if youre masturbating.
But if you and your partner have penis-in-vagina sex, pregnancy is a risk.
While its less likely that youll get pregnant on your period, you still can, says Ross.
Play it safe and use a reliable birth control method even when youre bleeding unless you want to get pregnant, of course.
After period play is finished, be sure to clean yourself, your partner , and any toys, clothes, or bedding that were worn and used.
Drinks That Help With Period Cramps According To A Nutritionist
Painful periods can be quite a nightmare. And along with the bloating, mood fluctuations, and nausea, those days during your period can seem forever. You may also experience crazy and insatiable food cravings for sugary and salty foods.
Most painkillers provide relief for periods but have you ever thought of using natural remedies instead? There are several foods and drinks that are said to help with period pain and help keep your energy levels up. We explore drinks that might help with period cramps and those you should avoid.
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An Effective Pain Relief
Sex during menstruation used to be considered taboo. However, now in 2018, it is common practice. A study conducted by The University of Illinois found that 90% of women had no objection to having sex on their period. So, take note- having sex not only relieves horiness, but can also alleviate debilitating menstrual cramps.
Menstrual Cramps Definition And Facts
- Menstrual cramps are periodic abdominal and pelvic pains experienced by women.
- More than half of all menstruating women have cramps.
- The cramps are severe in at least one in four of these women.
- Medically, menstrual cramps are called dysmenorrhea.
- Primary dysmenorrhea is common menstrual cramps without an identifiable cause.
- Secondary dysmenorrhea results from an underlying abnormality that usually involves the woman’s reproductive system.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat cramps.
- Physical exercise can help alleviate menstrual cramps.
- Menstrual cramps tend to improve with age.
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What Helps With Cramps
Here are a some things that can help ease cramps:
-
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:
-
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease an infection in your reproductive organs.
-
Endometriosis a condition where the lining of your uterus grows outside of your uterus.
-
Adenomyosis when the tissue that lines your uterus grows into the muscle wall of your uterus.
-
Uterine fibroids non-cancerous tumors that grow inside your uterus, in the walls of your uterus, or on the outside of your uterus.
How Can You Prevent Them In The Future
NISHIOHMIYA” alt=”Ways to help period cramps > NISHIOHMIYA”> When youre not doubled over in pain from cramps in the middle of the night, there are some preventative measures that you can take to keep intense cramps at bay. Dr. Dweck recommends that you track your period with an app, so you can make sure to hydrate, have your heating pad ready, or take preemptive medicines.
It may feel counterintuitive, but light exercise like walking or yoga can be beneficial, Dr. Roskin says. A cursory trial published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that yoga helped reduce the pain of cramps as well as psychological stress, she explains.
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When Should I Call The Doctor
If your PMS is severe, your doctor can help with treatments, including medicine. Call the doctor if you:
- don’t feel better after trying home treatments
- feel very sad or hopeless
- ever think about hurting or killing yourself
- can’t do your usual activities because of your PMS symptoms
- have PMS symptoms that don’t go away after the first few days of your period
Enjoy A Cup Of Ginger Or Cinnamon Tea
Going natural to get rid of that pain is very awesome. Drinking a cup of cinnamon or ginger tea or both can help you to fight against really bad cramps during period. The ginger tea has been found to serve as an anti-inflammatory substance which reduces pain.
The cinnamon tea also has anti-spasmodic properties which can help to reduce the risk of pain during menstruation. Enjoying a cup of these tea is of great benefit working tremendously in different ways.
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The Power Of Pycnogenol
Pycnogenol is a plant extract derived from the maritime pine tree found in the southwestern region of France. The extract contains several potent antioxidant compounds. In one study of women between the ages of 18 and 48 years old, those who experienced dysmenorrhea who took a supplement containing 60 milligrams of pycnogenol during their periods had significantly less pain and needed less pain medication compared to when they didn’t take the supplement. They also needed pain medication for fewer days when they took the pycnogenol supplement. Surprisingly, women still needed less pain medication during their periods even after they stopped taking the pycnogenol. However, women who had low levels of menstrual pain weren’t helped by the supplement. Ask your doctor if pycnogenol may help relieve severe pain associated with your period.
Why Do Period Cramps Happen
During your menstrual cycle, your uterine lining, or endometrium, thickens in preparation for pregnancy and if there is no pregnancy, your uterus starts to contract to shed that lining and prepare for the next cycle. This is the main reason why period cramps hurt.
Throughout this process, the cells in your uterine lining release substances called prostaglandins. This increases the contraction of your uterus and decreases blood flow, this is why we get period cramps.
Women who suffer from painful menstrual cramps release more prostaglandins than women who dont, and other dysmenorrhea causes can also be associated with higher prostaglandin levels. Prostaglandin levels are one of the main reasons why women get cramps.
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Some Herbal Tea Varieties Can Calm Cramping
Certain teas may help relieve menstrual cramps, says Sonya Angelone, a registered dietitian nutritionist in the San Francisco Bay area.
Research on herbal teas for menstrual pain relief is scarce, but teas have been used by menstruating women in numerous cultures for centuries.
Chamomile and peppermint teas are often recommended for menstrual pain because they are calming to the body. Other teas associated with dysmenorrhea are those made from cramp bark, ginger, or fennel.
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What Are Menstrual Cramps What Is Premenstrual Syndrome
Menstrual cramps are pains in the abdomen and pelvic areas that can be experienced by a woman because of menstrual period. Menstrual cramps are not the same as the discomfort felt during premenstrual syndrome , although the symptoms of both disorders can sometimes be experienced as a continuous process. Many women suffer from both PMS and menstrual cramps.
Menstrual cramps can range from mild to quite severe. Mild menstrual cramps may be barely noticeable and of short duration. They are sometimes felt as just a sense of heaviness in the abdomen. Severe menstrual cramps can be so painful that they interfere with a woman’s normal activities for several days.
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