Natural Remedies for Period Pains

Medications are no longer the only answer to one of the most frequently asked questions by women: "what helps period pains?" Today’s allopathic drugs, with their known reputation of wreaking havoc in the body in the form of side effects, are increasingly being side-lined in favor of natural and consumer-friendly remedies that pose little or no danger to health. This extends to eliminating period pains as well.

Before trying to figure out what helps period pains, it is first important to understand what causes them.

Painful periods (or dysmenorrhea) are a common phenomenon in the initial phases of menstruation. The body generally adjusts to the changes by the time a girl reaches adulthood. Blood clots, cramps and bloating are the most frequent causes of discomfort and painful menstruation. Stress leads to heavy periods, which again may contribute to the pain. There may sometimes, however, be underlying disorders that cannot be eliminated without professional guidance and medications, such as ovarian cysts, endometriosis, fibroids, etc.

Primary dysmenorrhea (i.e., painful periods that are not symptomatic of physical or health disorders) can, to a great extent, be eliminated naturally:

EXERCISE: It has been a common trend in women to avoid physical exercise when they are menstruating. Contrary to popular belief, however, an exercise regime keeps the muscles relaxed and stretched, thereby reducing instances of (uterine) muscle cramps.

• Light walking, stretching exercises, and certain yoga postures help alleviate pain.
• Breathing exercises also work wonders.

DIET: A diet inclusive of fruits, vegetables and whole grains can be the answer to ‘what helps period pains?’ Fruits and veggies are a great natural source of essential minerals (zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium) and vitamins (vitamin B, B6, C, E), all of which can curb menstrual pain.

• Dates, grapefruit, pomegranate, blackcurrants, avocado, blackberries, papaya and banana are some of the fruits you can have during your period. Your diet should also include vegetables like pumpkin, French beans, parsnip and Brussels sprouts.
• Whole grains and nuts like oats, hard red wheat, almonds, cashews and peanuts contain some essential minerals that ease period pains.
• Refined flour, dairy products, caffeine, tinned foods, sugar-rich items, oily and greasy foods, and meat, on the other hand, are not what helps period pains.

HERBS: Spices and herbs should not be overlooked in the list of what helps period pains. For centuries, herbs like black cohosh, blue cohosh, black haw, angelica, catnip tea, clary sage oil, corydalis, jasmine oil, ginger root, motherwort, yarrow, wild yam, white willow bark and chamomile oil, and spices like turmeric, thyme and oregano have been used as natural remedies to relieve stress, nausea, cramps, and pain related to periods.

AROMATHERAPY: A warm bath with scented oils like lavender, jasmine, chamomile, geranium and clary sage oil is a great way to bid goodbye to period pains.

There are a few other points that need to be kept in mind when period pains set in:

• Chilled water, carbonated beverages, alcohol and smoking should be avoided.
• A hot water bag placed on the belly can relax the muscles and ease menstrual blood flow.
• A warm glass of water with a few drops of lemon can work as a fantastic natural painkiller.

The key for women is to remember that stress and anxiety can trigger menstrual problems. More often than not, a warm scented bath, a cup of herbal tea, and engaging in doing what one loves is what helps period pains go away.