5 ways to relieve menstrual cycle cramps

During menstrual cycle, most women experience unbearable pains resulting from cramps, especially the first days of the period. This might include feeling nauseous, experiencing headaches, back pain aside from getting those annoying cramps in the uterus.

Fortunately, some home remedies can help you relieve or reduce these painful cramps during your period and provide immediate relief. Here are some ways to learn on how to reduce the pain. Don't hesitate to try all the below during your next period.

Pain Relievers

It is recommended to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve from menstrual pain, especially ibuprofen, Advil, and Naproxene, Aleve. These medications help lower your body’s production of prostaglandin, a substance that the body secretes during menstrual cycle that constrict the blood vessels in the uterus and make the muscle layer contract, causing painful cramps.

Use heat

Heat can relieve your period pain, especially if you put anything hot, whether a heat pad, heat wrap, hot towel or hot water bottle, on your stomach, or even by taking a warm bath. A 2012 study on 147 women between the ages of 18 and 30, showed that when applied a heat wrap or pad (at 40 degrees Celsius) to the abdominal area, it worked as effective as ibuprofen in terms of pain relief. You can shop these heat pads online, we’ll give you some suggestions:

Menstrual Heating Pads, Care Me

MIGHTY BLISS ™ Large Electric Heating Pad

Massage with essential oils

Use any natural oil you have at home and massage your abdomen for 20 minutes with it, as research has proven that massaging helps in relieving menstrual pain immediately. This includes applying pressure to specific points while massaging the abdomen, waist and back. Here is a video that explains how to massage the stomach area by using acupressure points to relieve pain.

Avoid these foods

You will definitely feel bloated during your period, thus, it makes sense to avoid any foods that cause bloating or water retention. These foods can be: fatty foods, soft drinks, caffeine, and sodium-rich foods. Instead, try ginger, or mint tea, but if you need a sugar intake, you can have a snack of fruits.

Exercise

It may sound like a bad idea to work out when you are experiencing abdominal cramps, especially on the first day, but in fact, exercising makes your body produce endorphins, which is a substance that relieve pain just like any pain killer you take off the counter. For instance, you can try relaxing exercises such as yoga that also releases endorphins and help alleviate pain and reduce PMS symptoms.