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)
Here are some 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. Um… that’s a lot of systems! (And pretty essential ones at that.) Learn more here.
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 comes 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 affects 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 too. click here Look For Just More than a Remedy Below.
thanks for reading through boo...i owe you one
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