Menstrual Cramps

Dysmenorrhea, the medical term for menstrual cramping, can range from mild to severe discomfort.  Younger girls, as a rule, seem to experience menstrual cramping more severely than do older women.  Once a woman has reached her mid-twenties and/or given birth, the painful symptoms usually decrease.  Cramps can be caused by secondary causes (called secondary dysmenorrhea) due to endometriosis, fibroid tumors, pelvic adhesions, or ovarian cysts.  For that reason, anyone experiencing serious or sudden extreme pain should consult a physician.

Menstrual Cramping is caused by prostaglandin, naturally occurring substances in women, which cause the uterus to contract to expel the nutrient rich lining of the uterus when a woman is giving birth or expelling the material so it can begin another cycle to ready itself for a reproductive potential.        

Home Remedies For Menstrual Cramps:

Birth Control Pills:

When the body does not ovulate, menstrual cycles tend to be less painful.  In the past, many physicians have prescribed oral contraceptives (birth control pills) to lessen the severity of cramping, and to shorten the duration of the cycle.  There are many potential side effects to birth control pills, and they are do not provide protection against STDs, so careful consideration and research should take place before considering taking oral contraceptives.

Diet And Supplements:

There are several natural remedies to get relief from monthly cramps in natural ways.  One way is a common sense approach to diet and exercise.  Eating a diet rich in zinc and calcium, or taking calcium and zinc supplements have been effective in lessening the occurrence of painful cramps, bloating, and related PMS (premenstrual syndrome) symptoms.             

Herbs:

The use of herbal remedies for cramping include viburnum prunigolium, scutellaria sap, and cimicifuga, all have natural antispasmodic properties, which can help to relieve your cramp.  Other useful herbs include squaw vine, cramp bark, unicorn root, bromelain, blue cohosh, and primrose oil.  These can all be found in health food stores or ordered online.  Most can be brewed into a tea.

Personal Space:

Taking warm baths, and using a warm heating pad on your abdomen or lower back can provide soothing, temporary relief.  Take private time for yourself, getting extra rest, and avoiding stress can help to ease some of the painful symptoms of your monthly cycle.