Natural Remedies for Menstrual Cramps
I am going to be 100% honest and just say that being a woman stinks sometimes. Overall, I love womanhood, but not when Aunt Flow comes into town. She spends my money, makes a mess, causes me pain, and also makes me cry. Sometimes I wish I could just push her out of my bathroom window. Raise your hand if you struggle with bad cramps like I do. Raise your hand again if you don’t like swallowing golf ball sized painkillers. Well you’re in luck because this article provides some natural remedies for menstrual cramps. Trust me on this, I have tried most if not all of these solutions.
Natural Remedies for Menstrual Cramps
The Hot Sock
The hot sock is basically the layman’s – or should I say laywoman’s term – for a heating pad. This DIY heating pad is simple to make. Firstly, you find an old tube sock. Next, go to the kitchen and get some rice. Then fill the sock up about ¾ of the way with rice and tie the end with a rubber band. Lastly, throw it in the microwave for 45-50 seconds. You can adjust the time depending on how hot you want it to be, and it will stay warm for around 45 minutes.
Exercise
Doing light exercise is another great natural remedy for menstrual cramps. For instance, going on a light walk, practicing yoga or even Pilates can be extremely beneficial. The Journal of Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology found that yoga poses helped relieve the intensity and duration of menstrual cramps in a 2011 study of 18–22-year-old women.
Essential Oils
According to a healthline article the best essential oils for cramps are as follows:
- Lavender
- Cinnamon
- An oil blend of cinnamon, clove, rose, and lavender mixed with almond oil
To use these you simply mix them with a carrier oil and massage them into your lower abdomen. For example, coconut, avocado, almond, or olive oil are all options you can use.
Ginger
The last natural remedy I will talk about today is ginger. Ginger is a spice that has significant anti-inflammatory effects. The NCBI discussed a study that concluded that if “ginger may be an effective and safe therapy for relieving pain in women….if administered at the onset or during the 3 days prior to menstruation” (Rahnama et al.). You can add ginger to hot or cold tea, your food, or you can eat it plain – although I wouldn’t recommend this.
If you’re interested in more health and lifestyle tips check out our blogs that our posted every week on our website!
