In between the irritability, migraines, bloating and sore breasts, most women have to deal with painful abdominal cramps when it’s that time of the month. Needless to say, this can make your life very uncomfortable and difficult for a few days.
The good news is you don’t have to endure this symptom or pop pills to relieve it. There are plenty of viable remedies that you can apply to relive period pain effectively. We’ve made a list of the 6 most popular ones for you to try out at home.
- Get some rest
It’s important to get plenty of rest when you’re on your period. If you spend too much time on your feet or sitting at your desk you might find that this makes the pain progressively worse. On the other hand, taking naps and getting to bed early can make a remarkable difference in reducing the amount of pain you feel during this special time of the month.
This doesn’t mean you should totally confine yourself to bed, but getting a few more hours of sleep than usual has been shown to relive period pain.
- Eat right
Sometimes the best solutions are right under your nose, or rather in your fridge. Bananas are rich in potassium and vitamin B6 which helps to get rid of that bloated feeling while eliminating muscle cramps, so you should definitely add them to your diet while you’re on your period.
It might also be a good idea to eat more nuts and seeds, leafy greens and eggs to nourish your body from within. These foods are rich in beneficial nutrients like vitamin B-12, omega-3, magnesium and iron to help relive inflammation and painful cramps.
- Drink ginger tea
While you might be tempted to drink more coffee and fizzy drinks, these beverages have been shown to worsen period pain instead of reliving it. For best results, let ginger tea be your go-to drink at this time. Ginger is known to relive upset stomach and nausea, both of which are symptoms that can contribute to period pain.
- Use heat therapy
Heat therapy can be a great way to relive period pain. In fact, research shows that applying heat to the abdomen can be just as effective as taking Ibuprofen except without the side-effects.
If you don’t have a heating pad at your disposal you can make your own using stuff that you already have at home. Just take one of your cotton socks, half-fill it with rice and tie a knot at the open end. Then, place the sock in the microwave for two minutes and you’ve got a home-made heating pad!
It’s important to only use a sock made from 100% cotton for this remedy to work, and make sure it’s not extremely hot before you place it on your belly. The last thing you need is a first degree burn on top of the period pain.
Taking a hot bath or shower can also help to relive period pain. Just add some sea salts to the equation and you have a two-punch combination that’ll help you stop cramps in their tracks.
- Get some CBD
Ongoing research shows that the CBD compound in cannabis is great for pain relief and it has proven anti-inflammatory properties. Now, there are many ways to take CBD but one particular method is growing in popularity among women and that’s the use of cannabis infused tampons.
This is a super easy and convenient way to get the benefits of CBD without consuming edibles, CBD oil or smoking weed.
- Acupuncture
Acupuncture works by drawing out toxins and negative energy from the body in order to relive pain. That’s why a growing number of physicians offer it as a treatment modality to relive pain. For most women in big cities, it shouldn’t be hard to find an acupuncturist who focuses on women’s health.
Your physician will likely recommend a personalized treatment plan that includes several, 30-minute acupuncture treatment sessions.
What makes acupuncture so effective? The needles promote the release of pain reliving enkephalins and endorphins, while restoring the balance of energy in your body to improve overall health.
Conclusion
There are many things that are annoying about being on your period, but none is more painful than abdominal cramps. Hopefully, you’ll try the life hacks we’ve shared in this article so you can enjoy an easy and pain-free period.