Menstrual Cramp Remedies

Menstrual cramps are called dysmenorrhea medically. Most of the women have suffered from these cramps at some point of time, during menstruation. There are numerous women around the world, who find these cramps debilitating, while there are others who suffer from mild discomfort during a period. The menstrual cramps normally is a pain in the lower abdomen, but the pain can also be experienced in the lower back and the thigh region as well. Along with these cramps some women also suffer from loose stools, nausea, sweating, as well as dizziness.

Menstrual cramps are of two types, namely primary and secondary menstrual cramps. Primary menstrual cramps are experienced by girls, who have recently started menstruating. These cramps are often said to be caused by prostaglandins (a hormone like substance), that are produced naturally by the body. The prostaglandins cause the uterus to contract and give rise to the cramps. The secondary cramps are caused as a result of conditions like endometriosis, fibroid tumors, pelvic adhesions, ovarian cysts or due to the use of an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control.

Natural Menstrual Cramp Remedies

There are two types of medication given to women suffering from menstrual cramps. One of them are the over-the-counter available non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the other are birth control pills. But these remedies should be taken after consulting your physician. Let's see how to relieve menstrual cramps.

• Include calcium in your diet. The best is to include yogurt, milk, buttermilk, etc. in your diet. If you are not fond of the dairy products, you can include daily calcium supplement in your diet. Calcium in the diet will help to reduce severe menstrual cramps.
• Regular exercise works wonders to ward off menstrual cramps. Exercise helps to reduce muscle tension and is also a mood elevator. When on periods opt for simple exercises like walking exercise, as it helps to increase blood circulation to the pelvic organs.
• One of the menstrual cramp home remedies is to either take a warm bath or place a heating pad on the stomach or the lower back. The heat helps to reduce muscle spasms and ease the pain caused by cramping. If you stay in cold climes make it a point to keep yourself warm, especially around the pelvic muscles.
• You may not be a regular tea drinker, but drinking herbal tea during periods is one of the well-known menstrual cramp herbal remedies. You can opt for ginger root tea, chamomile tea, raspberry leaf tea, cramp bark tea, etc.
• Along with calcium, one of the period cramp remedies is to increase the consumption of magnesium. Magnesium is known to increase the absorption of calcium in the body and thereby reduce cramps. The best magnesium sources are brans, whole grains, shrimp, tofu, vegetables, nuts, salmon, whole wheat flour, etc.
• Other than calcium and magnesium, your diet should be rich in Vitamin B, as well as zinc, as they help to reduce the pain caused by the cramps, bloating, etc.
• You may want to keep a watch on your caffeine, sugar and salt intake. All of them have their bad effects on the body, like high consumption of salt causes water retention in the body, etc.
• Pineapples can become your best friend, during menstruation. They are rich in an enzyme called bromelain, which helps to relax the muscles and thereby relieve menstrual cramps.
• Massage with aromatherapy oils helps to relax and eventually relieve pain.
• Acupressure and acupuncture techniques can also be used to menstrual pain. But it is important to know the techniques well before they are practiced.
• There are certain yoga poses, which can also be used to relieve the pain.

If these remedies do not help in relieving menstrual cramps, you may want to seek medical help to find out the exact cause of the problem. The physician will be in a better position to treat the condition.