Natural Relief for Menstrual Cramps
Effective Non-Medicinal Tricks to Easing the Pain of Dysmenorrhea
Sep 30, 2009
Menstrual cramps are the bane of many of our months. They can feel like a crippling cross to bear for the pleasure of simply being a girl. Historically, women in many cultures were allowed/forced to take a break during their "Red Tent" time. This is not a very feminist-friendly idea. But the truth is, it's exactly what nature intended.
According to Caylie See, licensed acupuncturist and owner of Acupuncture Kitchen in San Francisco (which caters specifically to addressing women's menstrual and fertility issues), and author of the cheeky blog Fertility Kitchen, "During this time, all the body's resources are being required elsewhere. Taking time to rejuvenate aligns us with our natural rhythms and ultimately makes us more productive."
Unfortunately, we don't always have the luxury of taking time off every month to accommodate our menstrual cycles, which tend to have a mind of their own when it comes to timing.
Why Do We Get Menstrual Cramps?
Menstrual cramps are the result of the uterus contracting during menstruation to flush the old tissue out of the body. Hormones called prostoglandins trigger the contractions. The result is that the uterus and surrounding tissues receive less nourishing blood, which worsens the sensation of cramping. It follows that any therapy that brings more blood and circulation back into the reproductive organs will lessen the pain.
You could just take a painkiller, but that won't get to the root of the problem; it will just dull the sensation (and tax your liver, but that's a story for another time). For a more organic, nurturing approach, try the following natural remedies.
Alternative Therapies to Combat Menstrual Cramping:
- Acupuncture is a great tool for regulating your menstrual cycle and sidelining nasty period symptoms. Acupuncture works by restoring the entire body to balance, and specifically regulating our Liver Qi (which correlates loosely to the effects of stress, in Western medicine). According to Caylie See, "Acupuncture recognizes the inherent link between emotions and the body. When we work to regulate someone's menstrual cycle, we work to regulate their life and wellbeing."
- Bodywork can help to relax the tense uterus and gripped back muscles. A specialized Eastern massage therapy technique called Chi Nei Tsang specifically addresses how our emotions affect our internal organs. It can provide literal hands-on relief to your tender belly. According to Camille Goss, Certified CNT practitioner at Acupuncture Kitchen, "If the emotional charge that is the root cause of the issue is digested, then the physical manifestation will disappear."
- Walking helps to loosen up and relax the body. While our instinct may be to curl up in a ball for the duration of our menstrual suffering, the irony is that a little bit of mellow movement will provide far more relief. Walking also provides the bonus of fresh air and valuable head-clearing downtime.
- A restorative or Yin Yoga class will stretch you in just the right places, working out areas of energetic congestion and releasing your period's crampy hold on the organs. Hip openers, twists and belly stretches are particularly healing during this phase of your menstrual cycle.
- Peppermint oil can provide a quick fix of muscle relief. Because of its quick-absorbing effect on soft muscle tissue, a small dose rubbed on the lower abdomen affords an immediate sensation of cooling and loosening of your fertility organs.
- And at the end of the day, a long, hot bath with essential oils or bath salts is one of the most effective ways to calm the body and the mind. Try lavender or chamomile for relaxing, sleep-inducing sedation.
The Phases of our 'Moon'
It's no mistake that our menstrual cycles are tied to the phases of the moon. At one point in time, it's thought that most women menstruated around the time of the full moon. Because our bodies are all different and are impacted by so many environmental and hormonal factors, this is no longer true. But it's important to keep this analogy in mind: as the real moon comes and goes, so does our energy. Drawing on the principles of nature and paying extra attention to your body during the menstrual phase of your cycle can help guide you into a more balanced, less constricted state.
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