5 Natural Ways to Reduce Menstrual Cramps

Good morning, friends. Today we’re talking about periods. If you’re a female, you most likely get it every month. No one is a fan of cramps, but it comes with the territory. Today I’m outlining my favorite 5 natural ways to reduce menstrual cramps. I hate taking medicine. Sure, sometimes when pain is really bad, I’ll take an Advil, but for the most part I try to use natural remedies.

1.  Tea – Make sure it’s decaf, though.  Anything with caffeine can actually heighten the pain of cramps.  A good tea for cramps is chamomile. Chamomile is an herb that comes from a flowering plant from the daisy family. The fresh and dried flowers have been used to create tea for centuries! Bisabolol is the active ingredient which has anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. In case you’re wondering, chamomile tea can also help with non-menstrual ailments like insomnia, anxiety, muscle twitches, burns, eczema and psoriasis.

2.  Exercise – When you’re on the period, the last thing you fell like doing is probably exercising. However, regular exercise, including exercise right before and during your cycle can lessen the severity of your cramps. Since I personally LOVE yoga, here are some yoga poses you can do when it’s that time of the month.

• Half bound wide squat  – great for opening up the hips
• Pigeon pose – opens your hips one side at a time; also stretches out lower belly
• Child’s pose – relaxes lower back pain
• Camel pose – stretches out abs and front of the hips

3.  Hot Bath/Heating Pad – A hot bath/heating pad is great for lessening heavy menstrual flow. The warm water or pad will alleviate lower abdomen pain by relaxing your muscles. Be careful when sitting in a hot bath though for a long period of time. Make sure to take a shower beforehand, to allow the water to be as clean as possible. I personally like using a non-electric heating pad. I have one that I put in the microwave for a few minutes and place on my lower abdomen when it’s that time of the month. I prefer this over the electrical pads, because I can move around with it. No cords!

4. Drink Pineapple Juice – Who knew?! Pineapples actually contain an enzyme called bromelain. This enzyme is a natural anti-inflammatory agent used to help treat many conditions, including cramps. If you’re not a huge fan on the taste of pineapple, try carrot juice as this also alleviates the pain.

5. Eat Your Greens – Spinach, kale, and parsley are all great at reducing the pain of cramps. Spinach has a slew of anti-cramping nutrients such as magnesium, b6 and vitamin E. Kale is surprisingly one of the best plant-based sources of calcium. A number of scientific studies suggest that calcium reduces the pain of cramps. If you’re a vegan, kale is a great way to get the calcium you need. Parsley also helps with this time of the month. It is loaded with apiol, a compound shown to be highly effective at stimulating the menstrual process and relieving cramps.

Talk to Me

• What are some of your favorite ways to naturally reduce menstrual cramps?
• What’s your favorite tea for that time of the month?
• Do you tend to eat more of a specific food during this time?