Different Ways To Help Relieve Period Cramp Pain

When it comes to reducing menstruation related aches and pains, it can seem that there is nothing that can take the edge off short of some hardcore designer drug with an unpronounceable name, that may cause addiction!  But you’re in luck! There are several natural, safe, and easy remedies that can help you tackle even the toughest period cramp pain. We may want to reach for a bottle of pills by instinct, but there are so many ways to get relief that involve everyday things found in nature instead. Let’s explore a few!

Try Ingesting Ginger , Mint or  Chamomile Herbs (As Tea)

Getting to the (ginger) root of the problem of period pain has never been easier. Try making a tea mixture with a single bag of ginger tea, a single bag of pure chamomile tea  and a single bag of peppermint tea and letting them steep for at least 5 to 7 minutes in water that is hot but not boiling.  For added strength you can slice fresh ginger in the tea if you like a spicier version. After it has been steeped, then you can remove the tea bags and discard them or put them in your compost pile. Sip the tea while warm to also help deliver some much needed heat/warmth to your belly area which actually can help reduce period pain as well. A one-two punch!

If you find this doesn’t even touch your menstrual pain, then you need to make an appointment to see us for a personalized herbal prescription for your menstrual pain. Our medicine has been proven to be more effective than morphine for pain management. Another benefit of our medicine is it actually heals and changes the problems in your body, not just masking the pain. So the pain benefits go beyond our treatments, changing your physiology and getting rid of the problems causing the pain. That is why women can come to us for a few months and never have menstrual pain again in their lives. Some women do need a few rounds of acupuncture and individualized herbal medicine throughout their lifetime. This is not a failure of the medicine. Over time, stress, hormones, and dietary imbalances, can cause certain types of pain to return after years of having control. 

Exercise (Rigorous)

You may not feel like it, but taking 15 to 30 minutes out of your day to go for a quick jog or complete a challenging Yoga routine can go a long way toward reducing your period related aches and pains. The “feel good” endorphins will contribute to building a better mood for the day while the exercise itself will help your body move more blood and oxygen through your abdomen and musculature in general which can help to reduce cramping duration and severity. It may be the last thing on your mind, but getting a good bout of exercise in will help! Try it once, if it doesn’t help, it isn’t right for your constitution and may be harmful. Instead, call us for a consultation. We never want you over-exercising while menstruating so once your pain subsides, then it is time to rest, rest, rest. The week after your period you can then resume normal activities and exercise. 

Heating Pad Or Rice Sock

The uterus is a large muscle and muscles respond really well to heat therapy, especially when they are cramping up. Queue up your favorite TV show or movie or book and curl up on your couch or bed with a heating pad or heated rice sock placed on your abdomen or lower back and let the heat work its magic for an hour or two. You can cap off the session with a long, warm shower or bath as well which will help in its own way as well. Another quick tip: soak ONLY your feet in the hottest water you can stand, without burning yourself, for 10 minutes. The heat draws the blood down to your feet and helps reduce menstrual pain for some women by half. 

Acupuncture Therapy

Several studies have shown that acupuncture therapy is an excellent way to help relieve the symptoms of menstrual cramps.  This study,  which compiled the results of over 40 other studies,  found that the group of women who underwent acupuncture treatments for their menstrual cramps saw great results! But, don’t take our word for it! Try for yourself. Give us a call to book your first appointment and see what you think. We treat severe menstrual pain from endometriosis, to dysmenorrhea, to unexplained uterine cramping. Our patients often come in complaining of a lifetime of period pain at a level of 10. After only a few weeks of treatment they often find their period sneaks up on them and they have no cramping at all. This was the reason Kristen first sought out acupuncture and herbal medicine for her excruciating menstrual pain. She had seven different doctors tell her to get a hysterectomy because drug therapy and hormone therapy failed her miserably. 

For The Road

We hope you enjoyed learning about different ways to relieve period pain. If you would like to know more about this or any of our excellent services, we are happy to help. Just contact us and we can go over your options and help you find the best path for your health and fertility goals. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation for acupuncture, herbal medicine, functional medicine, supplements or lifestyle modifications, please reach out to us HERE. We offer telemedicine for those who are not within driving distance from our office.