Contributed by: Healthians Team
Introduction
The menstrual cycle in women usually starts during their teens i.e. between the age of 11 and 14 years and ends when she reaches the stage of menopause, which is around the age of 51 years.
Although it’s a fixed monthly biological cycle, yet its occurrence can differ from one woman to another depending on her age and health condition.
Usually, the menstrual cycle lasts between three to five days, and apart from vaginal bleeding, a woman can also experience the following signs during menstruation.
- Lower abdominal pain
- Lower back pain
- Bloating and sore breasts
- Food cravings
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Headache
- Tiredness
While avoiding menstrual pain may not be possible, you can always take measures to minimize the pain.
In this article, you’ll learn about the six home remedies that can help in managing period cramps while improving your overall health.
Indoor yoga asanas
Yoga is without a doubt one of the healthiest habits to include in your lifestyle. The yoga asanas not only help in increasing the body’s overall efficiency but also aid in reducing cramps and fatigue during the periods.
Lack of oxygen supply to the uterine muscles is one of the main factors that lead to period cramps.
The breathing patterns involved in yoga asanas help in increasing the oxygen circulation to the uterine muscles and reduce the pain. Here are a few yoga poses that can be very helpful:
- Child’s pose – Balasana
- Bound angle pose – Baddha konasana
- Reclined bound angle – Supta baddha konasana
- Wide-angle seated forward bend – Upavistha konasana
- Reclining twist – Bharadvaja
- Inverted leg pose – Viparita karani
- Head to knee forward bend – Janu sirsasana
Sip warm & healthy tea
Drinking warm herbal teas can prove to be very beneficial when it comes to managing menstruation.
These herbal teas have high amounts of anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic compounds that help reduce cramps.
Thinking which tea will make a healthy beverage? Here are a few options:
- Ginger tea
- Chamomile tea
- Peppermint tea
- Cinnamon tea
- Green tea
- Oolong tea
- Thyme (ajwain ke phool) tea
Stay hydrated
Another factor that contributes to period pain and discomfort is dehydration. The lack of water intake can also give rise to digestive issues such as bloating, gas, and constipation.
Staying hydrated is not only good for keeping your digestive system on track, but it also helps in flushing out toxins through urination.
Experts recommend that an average adult should aim for drinking at least two to three litres of water every day.
Don’t forget regular sunlight exposure
Everyone is aware of the fact that sunlight exposure helps in increasing vitamin D levels.
But the UV rays from the sun also plays an important role in managing period cramps by reducing the production of hormones that can trigger cramps, while helping you to stay calm, positive, and focused.
Keep the painful area warm
Applying a warm cloth or keeping a warm water bottle on the lower abdomen to keep the pain at bay is a home remedy that almost every menstruating woman should definitely try.
Applying warmth helps in reducing the spasms in the uterus, hence, leading to a significant pain reduction.
Keep period cramp triggers at bay
Another important home remedy to manage period pain is to avoid the dietary triggers or to have them in a lesser amount. Here are a few foods that can trigger the pain and cause discomfort:
- Fried and canned foods
- Coffee
- Dairy products
- Fatty foods
- Processed foods
- High salt foods
- Chocolates
Final thoughts
Period cramps can sometimes become unbearable and cause extreme discomfort. To manage the condition, every woman should know about the above-mentioned six home remedies that can help in minimizing the pain.
While these simple home remedies are sure to help alleviate the pain during periods, yet keeping a track of your menstrual health is vital for your overall well being.
By opting for regular menstrual health check-ups, you can stay on top of your health, and take preventive measures to keep any future complications at bay.
