Menstrual cramps are pains felt in the abdominal and pelvic areas of the body when a woman is going through her monthly period. The pain is quite different from the discomfort that comes with premenstrual syndrome and can cause a lot of suffering to the woman experiencing them. Menstrual cramps and premenstrual syndrome are typically confused even though they are very different.

During menstruation, abdominal cramping is almost constant and the intensity differs from woman to woman. While some women go about their normal duties during this period, there are those who can’t manage to do a single thing because of the intense pain that comes with their periods. Such painful cramping may call for treatment if a woman with severe menstrual cramps is to continue with her normal duties.

The main symptoms of menstrual cramps are a pinching pain which can travel from the lower part of the abdomen to the pelvis. The calf muscles also cramp in some women and this cramping can occur at differing intervals. Other symptoms include bowel movement irregularities, vomiting, nausea and headaches. There are also women who experience excessive sweating as a result of the cramping.

Menstrual cramps are caused by the contractions of the uterus after it builds up its lining in preparation for receiving a fertilized egg. If an egg fails to implant, the tissues and blood lining the uterus, also known as the endometrium, slough off during a woman’s period. Other known causes for the cramping include endometriosis (the abnormal growth of endometrial cells outside or inside the uterus), pelvic inflammation, intrauterine devices (a method of birth control), fibroids and uterine polyps. Women suffering from these conditions may find that they go through a lot of cramping during their monthly periods.

Menstrual cramps can be very painful and uncomfortable. Since menstruation is a natural process that has to take place, the only way to ease the pain caused by these cramps is by getting treatment. There are very simple but effective home remedies for cramps that can ease the pain caused by menstrual cramps. The ingredients for these natural remedies for cramps are easy to find and these remedies have proven to be of great help every month for women who suffer from this painful condition.

1. Home Remedies
2. Other Remedies
3. Diet

Home Remedies for Menstrual Cramps

Parsley as a Home Remedy for Menstrual Cramps

Properties: Parsley contains antibiotic properties which help in getting rid of the painful cramping that comes with menstruation. It also contains minerals, which work by regulating the menstrual period, thereby easing the cramping. This herb is one of the best natural remedies for menstrual cramps.

Using Parsley as a Treatment for Menstrual Cramps:

Take parsley leaves and use a blender to extract the juice from them. The juice can be mixed with cucumber, carrot and beet for effective results. This should then be taken several times during the day throughout a woman’s menstrual period.

Ginger as a Natural Remedy for Menstrual Cramps

Properties: Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties which work well in eliminating cramps. It is widely used for the treatment of many other conditions because of these properties and therefore remains at the top of the list of the most effective natural remedies for relieving cramps.

Using Ginger as a Cure for Menstrual Cramps:

Take a piece of the root and crush it before adding it to boiling water. This piece can be boiled in two cups of water and then the water mixed with sugar to sweeten it. The water is then consumed. This remedy is best taken after meals to provide fast relief from menstrual pain.

Basil as a Home Remedy for Menstrual Cramps

Properties: Basil contains caffeic acid, which is a natural pain killer that provides relief from menstrual cramping. This remedy also soothes the body, thereby helping the body to relax and rid itself of discomfort.

Using Basil as a Treatment for Menstrual Cramps:

Basil can be used in cooking as a spice or it can be used to brew tea. The leaves can be dried and then ground into powder which can then be mixed with hot water to make tea. After cooling, it can be taken every few hours during the day to ease cramps.

Cinnamon as a Natural Remedy for Menstrual Cramps

Properties: Cinnamon has antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties, making it very effective in relieving the various symptoms that come with cramping. It is one of the very best natural remedies for menstrual cramps and is widely used to offer the right kind of relief to those suffering from this pain.

Using Cinnamon as a Cure for Menstrual Cramps:

Cinnamon can be ground into powder and can be used in food or as a tea whenever the need arises. It can be taken with meals throughout the menstrual period to keep pain at bay.

Black Cohosh as a Home Remedy for Menstrual Cramps

Properties: Black cohosh contains a variety of minerals and compounds which have been found to be effective in the treatment of menstrual cramps. It can also be used on a long-term basis as a means of preventing future episodes of menstrual cramps.

Using Black Cohosh as a Treatment for Menstrual Cramps:

The plant should first be well dried and then ground into a powder. The powder can then be taken in hot water in a dose of 40mg till the menstrual period is over. This remedy is very effective in dealing with the pain and patients should feel some relief soon after drinking the mixture.

Blue Cohosh as a Natural Remedy for Menstrual Cramps

Properties: The various compounds found in blue cohosh make it a very effective home remedy for easing menstrual cramps and the pain associated with the cramps. It has been in use for a very long time, together with the black cohosh, to relieve pain and continues to be a good choice for relieving cramps.

Using Blue Cohosh as a Cure for Menstrual Cramps:

The herb can be found in most stores in tincture form. A dose of at least 2 ml a day should be taken to eliminate the pain and some of the symptoms that are a result of menstruation. Pregnant women, however, should avoid using blue cohosh for any reason since it can cause heart problems in unborn children.

Lavender as a Home Remedy for Menstrual Cramps

Properties: Lavender contains essential minerals and compounds which work by eliminating mood swings and other symptoms that come with menstruation. This remedy is best used in its oil form to combat the symptoms, leaving the patient feeling fresh and alert. It is also a good means of helping the body relax and is one of the best home remedies for this type of cramping.

Using Lavender as a Treatment for Menstrual Cramps:

A few drops of lavender oil should be added to the bath water every day to help relax body muscles and get rid of pain. Burning incense sticks made of lavender is also a good way of helping the body and mind to relax, easing the pain of menstruation.

Sesame Seeds as a Natural Remedy for Menstrual Cramps

Properties: Sesame seeds have essential minerals which help in dealing with abdominal pain resulting from menstruation. This remedy is effective in dealing with all kinds of discomfort attacking the abdominal area, giving fast relief from cramping in this area of the body. It is one of the most useful natural remedies for the treatment of menstrual cramps.

Using Sesame Seeds as a Cure for Menstrual Cramps:

The seeds are best taken in powder form. After grinding, they should be preserved in an airtight bottle and then used at least twice a day in water or with meals to help in treating cramping.

Other Home Remedies for Menstrual Cramps

Take a hot water bottle and place it on the stomach area as an effective means of treating cramps. In place of a hot water bottle, a towel can be used. The towel should be dipped in hot water and then placed on the areas of cramping after the excess water is wrung out. It can also stay wrapped around the body as a way of helping the muscles relax.

Besides dipping the towel in water, a microwave can be used to heat up the towel for a few minutes before placing it on the abdomen. But be careful not to scorch the skin with a towel that is too hot.

Another way of relieving cramping is by having an orgasm through sexual intercourse. Sexual activity that is characterized by the movement of muscles is a great way of enhancing blood flow, thus getting rid of the cramps.

Relax the abdomen by taking yoga sessions. This remedy is the simplest and one of the most effective in the list of home remedies for menstrual cramps. Add peppermint to tea and then drink the tea at least twice daily for fast relief from pain. Wintergreen also has the same properties as peppermint and has proven to be very effective in dealing with pain as well.

Drink lots of hot beverages throughout the day as a way of enhancing muscle relaxation and blood flow. Hot herbal teas and lemonades can be used for this purpose as they are very effective in offering much-needed relief.

Add sea salt and baking soda to your warm bath water and then submerge the whole body for several minutes as a way of helping the muscles relax to eventually get rid of the painful cramping associated with menstruation. A heating pad is also ideal in dealing with the pain and is a simple way of getting rid of the discomfort.

Dry and grind cramp bark herb and then drink it mixed with hot water to deal with any sweating, nausea or vomiting related to menstruation. This herb has been in use for a long time and is highly recommended for relieving these symptoms.

Take dried unicorn root herbs and grind them. Take the powder on a daily basis mixed with water. It can also be found in tincture form and can be taken three times a day to provide the desired relief from the cramping.

Squeeze some juice from the aloe vera plant and then add black pepper. This should be taken three times a day as treatment for menstrual cramps. The gel can also be rubbed into the areas experiencing pain to give fast relief.

Eat as many gooseberries as possible during menstruation to relieve symptoms. The berries can also be used as part of a diet to prevent cramps by eating them regularly. Juice can also be extracted from the berries and then consumed several times a day to get rid of the symptoms.

Add half a teaspoon of cinnamon to a glassful of milk and drink. This mixture should be taken at least twice a day. Another way of treating menstrual cramps is by eating yogurt to give the body the much-needed calcium to deal with the changes that come with menstruation.

Make pulp from guava fruit, mix well in a glass of milk and drink. A little honey can be added to improve the taste. This is an effective diet for dealing with stomach aches.

Mix Indian gooseberry with sugar and honey and mash well with a ripe banana. This should be eaten on a daily basis until the menstrual period is over. Bananas can also be eaten on a regular basis as part of a diet for prevention of menstrual cramps as they contain the essential minerals which promote and regulate menstrual periods.

Add asafetida to a glass of warm water before drinking it as a good way of treating cramps. This natural remedy is very effective and safe, topping the list of best home remedies for cramps.

Diet for Menstrual Cramps and other Precautions

Increase your intake of foods rich in vitamins and essential minerals to help in the regulation of proper menstrual flow. Supplements can also be used to supply the body with the essential minerals and nutrients.

Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water on a daily basis to keep the body well-hydrated to avoid worsening the cramps.

Eat calcium-rich foods as diet for cramps as calcium has been proven to be a good mineral for relieving menstrual pain. Foods rich in magnesium should also be consumed whenever possible to fight pain and regulate the menstrual periods, easing the discomfort that comes with the periods.

Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages as they only aggravate the problem. Fresh fruit juices or herbal teas should be taken in the place of alcohol and caffeinated products and beverages.

Exercising during the day can help in relieving this pain. This is the most natural and the simplest way of dealing with menstrual cramps and has proven to be very effective. Those who do not know the right exercises to relieve cramps should make a point of learning a few effective callisthenic techniques to help with the pain.

Always ensure that the body is kept warm to keep cramping at bay. In case there is no improvement and the symptoms are too severe, one should then seek the intervention of a doctor or medical practitioner.

Diet plays a major role in how healthy the body remains and how well it deals with problems, so diet should never be taken for granted. Lifestyle and dietary changes can impact our lives either in a positive or negative way.