How To Stop Menstrual Cramp/Pain

Cramp remedies… are you ready for this? Hello, ladies. I’m back talking about our “Aunt Flow.” Yes, Again. Lately, I’ve received some comments and emails asking me for menstrual camp remedies and heavy bleeding. It’s kind of a huge discussion, so I hope I can contain the essence here. Hopefully, there is something useful for at least someone.

Without further ado… menstrual cramp remedies in 3, 2, 1…

What are menstrual cramps? Why do they happen?

Menstrual cramps are caused by contractions in the uterus. During each menstrual period, if there is no sperm to fertilize the egg, the uterus contracts to expel its lining. This process is driven by the release of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins.

These uterine contractions cause much of the pain felt during menstrual cramps. The contractions inhibit blood flow to the lining of the uterus. If the uterus contracts too strongly, it can press against nearby blood vessels. This cuts off the supply of oxygen to the muscle tissue of the uterus. Pain results when part of a muscle briefly loses its supply of oxygen. (1, 2)

Conventional menstrual cramp remedies

Pain Medication

Do a quick search for “menstrual cramp remedies.” Go ahead, I’ll wait. I bet you found lots of articles telling you to take ibuprofen at the first sign of menstrual discomfort. I personally try to avoid ibuprofen and most over-the-counter pain relief medications. They should be a last resort to dealing with pain, and preferably not a monthly addition to your diet.

Why? Well, without going into too much detail, ibuprofen can cause bad side effects in your digestive system, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.

Hormonal Birth Control

Another common suggestion for menstrual cramp remedies and heavy bleeding is to take birth control pills. This makes sense on some level since the latest research suggests that cramps and other menstrual issues start with hormonal imbalances. However, birth control pills are synthetic hormones. They override the normal hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian hormonal axis to prevent ovulation. In other words: very unnatural.

Just look at the list of side effects that come with each package of pills. How safe do they seem now? I know from personal experience that birth control pills were bad. I had some scary reactions that got me to swear off of them for good. But even without immediate reactions, long term use of hormonal birth control leaves individuals wide open for potentially major problems including infertility, cancer, stroke, blood clots, etc. (3)

 The belief that birth control pills are safe comes from more than 40 years of continuous brainwashing by the pharmaceutical industry to both physicians and the public. We are victims of misinformation and dangerous practices. – Erika Schwartz, MD

This is why I try and avoid “conventional” approaches to remedy menstrual cramps. They may take away the pain, but at what cost? I understand that those who suffer from intense menstrual cramps are desperate for relief. But please consider the long term effects before sipping down another pill.

Natural menstrual cramp remedies

On the “much safer” spectrum of common menstrual cramp remedies are things that ultimately help bring oxygen to the muscles. This is good since cramp pain is due to intense contractions that temporarily cut off oxygen to the surrounding muscles.

The most common natural remedies include:

• Exercising
• Heating pad (like this… relaxes the muscles which bring oxygen to them)
• Acupuncture
• Abdominal massage
• Warm  baths
• Yoga
• Adequate sleep

These are definitely great things to try for immediate cramp relief if you are in the middle of a painful cycle. They are true “all natural” menstrual cramp remedies. My kind of stuff.

But instead of just finding cramp remedies or relief, wouldn’t you like to STOP your menstrual cramps for good so you don’t need to worry about remedies?

I thought so.

Look for more than a remedy: Stop menstrual cramps for good!

Let’s get to the root of the problem. Most menstrual disorders (cramping, heavy bleeding, etc.) are caused by imbalanced hormones.* Imbalanced hormones are partially caused by nutritional deficiencies. They are also caused by environmental toxins and stress. So while every person is different, taking a serious look at food, digestion, and the environment can provide some real solutions. Let’s briefly look at each of these:

Traditional diet for menstrual cramp relief

When you think about the standard American diet, it’s easy to see why cramps are such a common issue theses days. Menstrual cramps affect more than 50% of women, and among these, up to 15% would describe their menstrual cramps as severe? (4)

During my teens and early twenties I had plenty of months where I was toppled over in pain because of cramps. On these days I was only able to really function if I took some ibuprofen.

Once I began implementing whole, organic, nutrient-dense real foods into my diet, however, I noticed my cramps went away. It’s been at least three years since I’ve had a period with cramps. My periods are also lighter and I have less PMS symptoms.

Let your food be your medicine, and let your medicine be your food.

-Hippocrates

Taking the commitment to eat real food is a gradual, long process for most. It is not easy, but it is very simple. When we get our body back to its natural state through real nutrition it functions a whole lot better. It’s one of the best approaches to life long menstrual cramp relief.

You have a better idea? please let us know