Menstrual pain refers to the abdominal, pelvic and back pain that some women suffer on the first day of the menstrual cycle. In some women this pain may last for more than a day if left untreated. Studies have not yet revealed the exact cause of the pain but it could be due to presence of fibroids and cysts in the ovary.
In some women the cramping can be so painful that they have to use powerful painkillers or even take injections for the same. The severity of the pain can cause major disruptions in your daily schedule hence it should be treated as soon as possible. Before you resort to OTC painkillers you can try some simple but very effective home remedies for treating menstrual pain.
Best Home Remedies For Menstrual Pain
Hot Water Bottle
Hot water treatment on the cramping areas can treat the pain in as little as 10-15 minutes. Many women prefer using this method for treating their menstrual pain because the heat from the water brings down the inflammation of the muscles of the paining areas.
Use a hot water bottle to take care of the pain but if you don’t have one then simply fill any bottle with hot water, wrap a towel around the bottle and give yourself some heat therapy.
Drink Hot Water
Drinking hot water or hot milk will help ease menstrual pain because the heat from the liquids will bring down the inflammation of the muscles of the uterus thereby reducing the cramping. The muscular inflammation of the uterus is often the reason behind painful cramping during periods.
Drink Black Coffee Or Tea
Drinking black coffee or tea has the same effect as drinking hot water but compounds found in coffee and tea will also help uplift your mood.
Many women feel sad and depressed and generally low when they experience menstrual cramps. Drinking black tea or coffee will not only treat the pain but also help you deal better with it.
Hot Bath
Soaking your body in a hot bath for 15-20 minutes is a great way to relieve not only the menstrual pain but also the stress and lethargy that accompanies it.
The heat from the water will relax the cramping muscles of the body including the pelvis. You can even add scented oils to the bath tub to uplift your mood.
Exercising
You may not feel like exercising on the first two days of your periods but it is a great way of getting rid of the uncomfortable symptoms such as abdominal pain, lethargy and water retention. Don’t exercise vigorously but a short 20 minute walk will also help greatly in easing the muscular cramping.
Drink Milk
Milk is a rich source of calcium and it is generally believed that calcium deficiency leads to menstrual pain. Start drinking two glasses of warm milk every day at least a week before your menstrual date.
This will help a lot in reducing the intensity of the cramps. If you cannot drink milk then take 200-450 mg of calcium tablets daily to tide over calcium deficiency.
