Having your periods can be one of the most physically and emotionally exhausting times of the month. With all the pain, discomfort and cramping, all you really want to do is lie down, relax and let the pain just vanish.
While there are a number of painkillers you can have to help get rid of the pain, it might not always be the best thing to do for your body. If you do not want to rely on painkillers to help get rid of the pain, here are some natural remedies that can work wonders.
Menstrual cramps are caused due to the shedding of the inner lining of the uterine wall. This shedding is assisted by a host of hormones, the master being ‘prostaglandins’. Where there is pain there are prostaglandins! This hormone is also prominent during delivery. It is responsible for pushing the lining of the uterus out. Apart from all the hormonal action, the poor uterus is devoid of blood, therefore the muscle spasms. In severe cases this condition is called Dysmenorrhea.
Now that we know why we suffer from menstrual cramps, here are some tips to help relieve the discomfort:
Fomentation or Hot Sitz Bath: Massaging the painful area with hot water bottle or heating pad increases the blood flow and circulation to the uterus, which helps reduce the effect of chemicals that cause menstrual cramps. A hot sitz bath can also be used to get relief from menstrual pain.
The abdomen can also be warmed by drinking hot liquids, such as clear soups, broths or herbal teas.
Cumine Seeds (Jeera) Tea:
Boil cumine seeds in water and drink it. You may also add milk and some sugar to this preparation and drink it while hot.
Beaten Rice:
Soak some beaten rice in curds, wait for five minutes and then have it.
Asafoetida:
Add small quantity of asafoetida to hot water and drink it.
Ginger Tea:
Cut some ginger into pieces or crush them and boil them in water. Sieve the tea and sip it.
