12 Tips for Menstrual Cramp Relief

There are many women who suffer from menstrual pain, mostly unnecessary, since there are many tips that can help relieve this monthly martyrdom.

What are menstrual cramps (or dysmenorrhoea)?

Menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea as they are medically known, are a problem of chemical origin. Monthly, the part that lines the uterus absorb certain chemicals, the prostaglandins. These chemicals help the muscle contractions of the uterus, allowing tissues and fluids to be expelled during menstruation. When these chemicals are in excess, cause cramps that affect some women, some more than others.

Here are some suggestions for women who suffer from so unwanted menstrual cramps:

Be careful with food:

The human body is a factory where chemicals govern your entire operation. Any imbalance, excess or shortage of chemicals, produce negative effects. There are certain eating habits that can cause less suffering. Try to avoid salt and sweets and opt to eat more vegetables, fruits, fish and white meats like chicken for example. Make a larger number of light meals rather than fewer heavier meals.

Strengthen your body with calcium, magnesium and potassium:

Minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, play a key role in relieving menstrual pain. Studies show that women who take calcium supplements have less menstrual pain than those who do not take it. Magnesium has significance in that it helps the body absorb calcium more readily. It is suggested therefore that there is an increase in the reinforcement of these minerals during the menstrual period.

Eat vitamins:

A vitamin supplement taken twice daily after meals, is another weapon in the fight against such unwanted menstrual pain.

Cut through the alcohol:

If you often retain water during the period, drinking alcoholic beverages will only worsen the situation. Avoid drinking beverages with alcohol and if you do opt for beverages with low alcohol content.

Do not take diuretics:

Contrary to what many women think, taking diuretics do not soothe the pain during the period, quite the opposite, as they make important minerals are eliminated from the body. It is much more important to reduce salt and alcohol, substances that cause the water body to be retained.

Take a mineral bath:

Fill the tub with hot water and add to it two or three hands of sea salt with baking powder. Relax in this bath for about twenty minutes while you relax and unwind your muscles, relieving the pain of the period.

Keep warm:

The muscles become more relaxed in the presence of heat. Keep the hot zone of the abdomen, placing for example, a pot of hot water in that area for several minutes at a time. Drink herbal tea or hot lemonade helps.

Walk at a fast pace:

Do moderate exercise such as walking at a rapid pace, will help overcome the pain during menstruation. Do this especially before the menstrual period.

Do Yoga:

Yoga exercises are very beneficial for many aspects of health and may also relieve the pain of the period as well. Take for example this exercise: Put yourself on your knees and sit on your heels. Move the forehead to the ground and lay down your arms also, parallel to the body. Close your eyes and stay in that position while you remain comfortable.

Make love:

Having sex with orgasm relieves the pain. The movements of the muscles keep the blood away from the parts in pain, relieving pain.

Take aspirin:

Aspirin is an effective remedy to relieve the pain. Tablets with acetaminophen or ibuprofen are also very effective in combating menstrual pain. Take them with milk and avoid doing so on an empty stomach.

Foot Massage:

An alternative way to combat menstrual pain, are foot massages. Look for depressions that are above the heel and exert pressure with the fingertips for several minutes on each foot.