Taking painkillers too often can result in serious damage to your health. Ironically some pain pills can make the brain more sensitive to pain so you’ll need them even more. Even so, many women have severe dysmenorrhea accompanying their monthly ovulation. When the menstrual pain is serious, it can interfere with daily activities, and even if it would be preferable to stay in bed and relax until it goes away, most of the time this is not possible.
There are many natural remedies for menstrual pain (and other types of pain) that can be used safely with no adverse effects. Not all of them will work on a single person, but after trying out a few, surely you will find the right one for you.
Can natural remedies cure menstrual cramps?
Heat
Many women experience reduced menstrual cramps after they apply heat on the abdomen. The simplest solution is to pour hot water in a bottle and apply it on the abdomen. Also, dehydration can intensify the pain so make sure to drink enough water throughout the day.
Calcium and magnesium
If your organism has low levels of these two minerals, menstrual cramps can get more severe. You don’t have to take supplements as you can find them in many foods. Good sources of calcium include leafy greens, beans, soy, seaweed, and dairy products (although these seem to work only for some women, while for others, they may increase the severity of dysmenorrhea).
For natural sources of magnesium make sure you eat foods such as green vegetables and leafy greens, salmon and various types of seeds (pumpkin, sesame, flax, sunflower).
Avoid water retention and caffeine
Water retention can worsen the menstrual pain and while there are many factors that can cause it, nutrition is one of them. Ensure you don’t eat too much salt and refined sugars and perform some light exercises (walking, cycling, jogging…etc.) to prevent excess fluid from building up in your legs.
Another factor that can increase the severity of menstrual cramps is caffeine so try to stay away from foods and drinks that contain it, such as coffee and chocolate.
Herbal remedies
Many herbs and plants have an anti-spasmodic effect, relaxing the pelvic muscles and relieving menstrual cramps. These include ginger (which can be consumed any way you want, from tea to simply adding it into foods), basil, raspberry leaves tea (this tea works, but it has to be consumed on long term, starting at least 10 days before ovulation), chamomile tea, mint tea, motherwort tea (also has a mild sedative effect), cramp bark (best taken as a tincture) and many others.
