The Truth About Menstrual Cramp Relief

Menstrual cramps are a part of life for many women, but that doesn’t mean you should have to pop pharmaceuticals or disrupt your routine completely. If you’re someone who deals with intense pain every month and you want a successful, all-natural way to tame the discomfort, we have a few solutions for you.

You likely already know that cramps are caused by contractions of the uterus, which help release its lining. This causes major discomfort in that area of the body, especially a day after your period. While you can track your menstrual cycle and plan around it, it's impossible to perfectly predict when they happen. 

Here’s the truth about menstrual cramps and how to get the relief you deserve:

Why are my menstrual cramps so painful some months?

One of the biggest amplifiers of menstrual cramp pain is stress. When we’re stressed, all the pain we feel becomes a lot worse. This is because the human body’s stress system is closely related to the nervous system. That means that in times of stress, your body will perceive pain to be much worse than usual.

Another factor that can affect how painful your menstrual cramps can be is your uterus’ overall health. Any health complications that affect your uterus, like an infection, will also adversely affect your menstrual cramps. 

How can I get relief from menstrual cramps?

Here are a few proven ways to give yourself some well-deserved cramp relief:

Take a hot bath

A hot bath is one of the best ways to help lessen cramping. Since a woman’s menstrual cycle can also lead to bloating, soaking yourself in water can help with this effect as well. Not only that, but a hot bath will help relieve some stress.

Heating pad

A heating pad or hot water bottle helps tremendously during your period. At times, it can even provide almost immediate cramp relief. The heat that it provides will help give you better blood circulation.

Change your diet

By increasing the number of minerals in your diet, you’ll be decreasing the pain and mood swings that come with your period. Foods rich in magnesium, which can be found in avocados and dark chocolate, can help reduce pain and cramping while also preventing bloating.

Meanwhile, you should also avoid food that increases menstrual pain, such as sugar or caffeine. These foods will make your body retain more water, disrupting your blood flow, and making your pain much worse.

Sleep earlier and for longer

Among other things, your period can cause you to feel a lot more fatigued than normal, so give your body the rest it needs. A rested body can help you prevent fatigue, cramping, and mood swings. Sleeping early and getting a good night’s rest will also make you feel less stressed.

Stretching and light exercise

While you may not be expecting this, minor stretching and some light yoga will help with menstrual cramps. They will also help you feel much less bloated and heavy during that time of the month.

Find a distraction

Another good way to deal with menstrual cramps is to find something to distract you from the pain. A good book, movie, or TV show will help keep you entertained while the pain runs its course and eventually stops.

Acupressure

For centuries, acupressure has been used in China as an alternative form of treatment for all kinds of ailments. As such, acupressure can provide fantastic results if you’re trying to reduce the pain from menstrual cramps. 

If you’re interested in finding out some other ways people in ancient China used to treat menstrual cramps, check out this article.

Avoid exposure to smoking

Among other health issues, smoking has been linked to more painful menstrual cramps among other health issues. Thus, it’s better for your health to avoid smoking during that time of the month–or completely, for that matter.

Rest!

Perhaps the most universal step to treating menstrual cramps is rest. When your menstrual cramps cause too much pain, getting rest will help reset your body to its natural form. While there are many forms of rest, it's best to avoid strenuous activity or stressful situations during that time of the month.

The natural cramp relief method

Sometimes, the best option to deal with menstrual cramps is the natural one. For this reason, you should try using Balance Blends’ own Cramp Whisperer! It’s a supplement that uses all-natural herbal extracts to help give you the sweet relief you’ve been looking for.

If you’re interested in finding other natural ways to minimize menstrual cramp pain, check out this article on remedies for menstrual cramps.

Those are just some of the things you can do to help reduce pain from your period. Following these pointers will help make that time of the month a little more bearable.