Menstrual pain is pain that happens in the abdomen or pelvis throughout menstruation. This distress is not healthy, but it is widespread. Over half of all women suffer from distress during their period, and surveys show that a vast 90% of growing girls are affected. The pain can vary from mild to severe and can likely interfere with the ability to perform regular activities.
During the first half of a woman’s cycle, the uterine lining is raised
When the period starts, this new lining and blood are shed from the uterus. To aid this process, it is natural for the uterus to contract. However, if the omissions are too muscular, this process becomes painful. This abnormal pain and discomfort during bleeding are known in medical terms as dysmenorrhea.
It is an excellent idea to see a gynecologist rule out potentially severe underlying causes, especially if your situation persists or worsens. In most cases of menstrual pain; however, dietary patterns and holistic herbal treatments are very effective in relieving pain and restoring a healthy quality of life. Click here to learn more about growing your own herbs at home.
The chemical balance of the body plays a vital role in how we think and feel.
An irregularity in the biochemistry, therefore, can cause or worsen menstrual discomfort. The most common biochemical triggers of menstrual pain are excessive swelling in the body (usually because of a poor diet) and nutritional losses of vitamins or minerals. Too much inflammation can directly result in pain. Because there is a constant increase in inflammation while menstruating, this can push you over the pain threshold.
The body’s cellular and joint health also plays a vital role in pain and cramping.
Structural dilemmas like misalignments of the pelvic bones or low back (the lumbar vertebrae) can place excessive stress on nerves and cause pain or dysfunction in the nervous system. This type of query is routinely identified and marked by chiropractic physicians. In many cases, helping spinal and joint alignment provides adequate relief when diet and supplements simply have not worked.
Acupuncture is another excellent holistic tool to treat menstrual pain. Using needles or acupressure to restore the body’s balanced energy can relax the reactive uterine tissues and smooth the flow of blood during the period.
Natural ways and remedies for all kinds of menstrual pain and discomfort include:
- Exercise. Mild exercise (jogging, walking, etc.) in the days leading up to and including Day 1 of your period can significantly relieve discomfort. Although exercise may not sound tempting when you’re in pain, the rewards are well worth the effort.
- Eat a healthy diet. First, cut out sugars, grains, and carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes). All these foods are very provocative and therefore contribute to pain and distress in the body. Next, make sure you get plenty of animal protein (fish, beef, eggs, etc.) with your vegetables to help your body replace all the blood (protein!) it loses during this time.
- Restrict caffeine and chocolate intake. These foods are leading in methylxanthines, which the liver must prepare and detoxify. An extra burden on an organ that is then busy processing hormones (and performing its many other vital functions) can worsen symptoms.
Try a high-quality supplement
A good general one for all sorts of menstrual pain is fish oil. Omega 3 fats have a vital anti-inflammatory effect on the body, especially when coupled with a proper diet. In addition to consuming wild-caught fish from the ocean (not farm-raised!), try improving with a good quality supplements.
- For cramping, try a calcium lactate supplement: 750 mg daily during distress and then 200 mg per day for the rest of the cycle. Magnesium can also be useful for muscle spasms. A Vitamin E supplement obtained from food (not synthetic) may also be helpful.
- For back pain linked to periods, try taking a Zinc supplement or eat foods naturally high in Zinc (oysters, fish, beef, dark chicken meat…).
- For visceral pain (not cramping) during periods, try a Vitamin B6 supplement or eat more foods usually high in vitamin B6 (salmon, liver, cod, beef, wheat germ, sunflower seeds). Vitamin B6 is also helpful for water retention that seldom follows a woman’s period.
Try a homeopathic remedy
Hyland’s Menstrual Cramps is particularly useful for the kind of menstrual discomfort which is made better by heat and pressure and increased by motion.
Final Words
Consult a specialist for a chiropractic and acupuncture evaluation to determine if you will benefit from one or both of these treatments.
While taking over the counter medications such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can briefly relieve pain and discomfort, it does nothing to support those as mentioned above, biochemical or structural cause of pain.
There are also side effects and risks of more severe difficulties like ulcers (bleeding in the stomach or gut) with extended use of such remedies. It is best to address all the underlying triggers of menstrual pain for long-lasting comfort and health.