Periods come with so much unnecessary…pain. A biological crutch that renders many of us slightly helpless once a month, period pain is something we all keep trying to find remedies for. In fact, the internet is full of factoids on how to alleviate period pain – from drinking cranberry juice (a farcical “remedy”), to eating eggs (something which helps improve moods, but not cramps). So, to clarify your doubts on which remedies actually work, here’s a list of things to try, to make yourself feel better when you’re suffering from menstrual cramps.
Try a warm bath or a hot water bag.
Warm compresses cannot entirely cure period pains, but they can help muscles relax and soothe your system temporarily. So, taking a warm bath or placing a heating pad where you are experiencing menstrual cramps, may help ease the pain.
Relax with some herbal teas.
While some say chamomile tea helps treat muscle spasms, headaches and sedate the system, others recommend peppermint tea for cooling down the stomach and reducing menstrual cramps. Such herbal teas are great for simply sitting back and sipping as you relax. These are worth a shot even if you just treat them as traditional, home remedies, as opposed to surefire treatments for cramps.
Put extreme diets on hold.
Your body needs good nutrition during your period, to maintain balance and proper health. So, don’t force yourself to stick to a juice diet or some other extreme diet routine, during your period. If you feel like having some chocolates, go ahead. If you want to have a full meal of dal, rice and chicken, go ahead. Don’t compromise on your food intake. Your body needs all the good proteins, vitamins and good fats it can get, to recover and stay strong after menstruation, and for you to have a painless period.
You’re allowed to postpone heavy exercises and do some light stretching, instead.
There are no hard and fast rules about exercising during your period. Your body needs time to rest and recover when it loses blood and tissues during menstruation. So, don’t feel guilty about resting if you don’t feel upto it. But, remember that exercising a little bit with a few stretches, helps improve your mood and period pain, because it releases endorphins. So, pick your workout routine with an open mind, and without feeling guilty.
Bananas will give you the nutrition needed to fight cramps.
Not having enough potassium in your diet can cause muscle cramps because potassium is responsible for muscle contraction. Fortunately, bananas which are inexpensive and easily available, are full of potassium, so they can help combat period pain. In addition, they also contain Vitamin-B6. These two nutrients can also prevent you from retaining water and feeling bloated.
Note: If you are experiencing severe period pain, it is imperative to consult a gynaecologist for further medical advice. Pain during your period should not always be ignored, and is not always normal. It could be a symptom of endometriosis, PCOD or other fibroids. The remedies mentioned above are home remedies, not an alternative to medication, and cannot treat such conditions.
Source: Health.com, WebMD, Wikipedia
