The best home remedies for menstrual cramps

Many people report having abdominal or pelvic pain at the beginning of their menstrual cycle. In some cases, home remedies can help provide relief from menstrual cramps.

During a period, the uterus contracts to squeeze the lining away from the uterine wall and allow it to exit the body through the vagina. These contractions can cause pain or discomfort. Many people refer to them as cramps.

During menstruation, most people experience cramps in the lower abdomen, although the pain can also radiate to the lower back, groin, or upper thighs. Menstrual cramps tend to be worst at the beginning of a period and become less uncomfortable as the days go on.

Many home remedies can help relieve menstrual cramps, including the following:

Placing a hot water bottle or heating pad against the abdomen can relax the muscles and relieve cramps.

Heat helps the uterine muscle and those around it relax, which may ease cramping and discomfort.

A person can also place a heating pad on the lower back to get rid of back pain. Another option is to soak in a warm bath, which can help relax the muscles in the abdomen, back, and legs.

Read about five heating pads to consider here.

Although exercise might be the last thing many people feel like doing when they have cramps, it may provide pain relief.

Strenuous exercise might not be beneficial if a person is in pain, but gentle stretching, going for a walk, or doing yoga may help. Exercise also releases endorphins, which are nature’s natural pain relievers.

A Taiwanese study found that 12 weeks of twice-weekly yoga classes reduced menstrual cramps in study participants.

Learn more about some of the top workout mats here.

An orgasm may help alleviate menstrual cramps. During orgasm, the uterus contracts but then releases. This may help lessen the impact of menstrual contractions.

Like exercise, having an orgasm also releases endorphins and other hormones that relieve pain, helping a person feel good.

Learn more about sex during menstruation here.

Research has shown that acupuncture can relieve menstrual cramps. This treatment may reduce inflammation, in addition to releasing endorphins and helping people relax.

A person is more likely to benefit from an ongoing course of acupuncture than a single session.

Getting a massage or performing self-massage over the abdomen can also relax the pelvic muscles and alleviate cramping. People can gently rub a massage oil, body lotion, or coconut oil into their skin to help this process.

Shop the 10 best stress-relief lotions here.

Massaging the abdomen with essential oils may provide additional benefits for those experiencing menstrual cramps.

According to a 2015 review, the following oils may help a person manage cramp symptoms:

• rosemary
• Roman chamomile
• clary sage
• peppermint

People can try adding a few drops of at least one of these essential oils to a carrier oil for an effective abdominal self-massage.

Learn more about essential oils for muscle cramps and shop for them here.

Making some changes to the diet may reduce menstrual cramping.

Eating a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, vegetables, nuts, lean proteins, and whole grains helps the body stay healthy.

Shop for omega-3 supplements here.

Increasing the intake of fluids will help the body stay hydrated. Dehydration is a common cause of muscle cramps.

Herbal teas are warm and soothing, and in some cases, the herbs themselves can be beneficial as well.

Some manufacturers suggest that specific teas, such as chamomile, dandelion, red raspberry, and fennel teas, provide relief from menstrual cramps. However, there is little evidence to support this.

Shop 10 of the best teas for menopause symptoms here.

Hormonal changes that affect a person’s digestive tract can cause menstrual cramps. Short-term dietary changes can often alleviate these symptoms.

Prioritizing a diet rich in fiber and low in oils and refined sugars can help improve digestion and lessen abdominal discomfort.

Learn more about how periods affect the digestive system.

If natural home remedies do not relieve pain, a person can try using an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

These medications can relieve inflammation, pain, and menstrual cramps. It is essential to follow the dosage directions on the bottle and speak with a doctor if the recommended dose is insufficient to relieve menstrual cramps.

During menstruation, the muscular walls of the womb contract and relax to help the womb shed its internal lining. This results in discomfort that can range from mild to severe in some people.

These pains typically last 48–72 hours and may become milder as a person grows older.

Learn more about menstrual cramps here.

A person may wish to speak with a doctor if home remedies do not help reduce cramps or if they are experiencing very severe cramping.

A doctor can suggest other home remedies to try or prescribe medications, such as birth control pills or some types of pain reliever, to manage the symptoms.

Other symptoms that may warrant contacting a doctor include:

• very heavy bleeding
• cramps that get worse over time or with age
• severe pain or discomfort
• cramps that interfere with daily life

These symptoms may indicate an underlying condition, for which a doctor will be able to suggest an effective treatment.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about home remedies for menstrual cramps.

What is the best tea for menstrual cramps?

There is insufficient evidence to conclude that any specific herbal tea can treat menstrual cramps. However, limited research suggests that consuming ginger and green tea may help treat symptoms.

Can juices help with period cramps?

Eating more fruits and vegetables may help reduce a person’s menstrual cramps. However, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether drinking specific juices will help.

What can make period cramps worse?

Several factors and underlying conditions may increase a person’s risk of experiencing severe menstrual cramps, including:

• a family history of severe cramps
• being under 20 years of age
• having obesity
• endometriosis
• fibroids
• pelvic inflammatory disease
• adenomyosis
• low intake of omega-3
• smoking
• stress

Menstrual cramps are a common symptom before and during a period. In most cases, cramps are normal, but some situations may indicate something more serious.

If these home remedies are not successful in relieving menstrual cramps, it is important to speak with a doctor.

How to Get Rid of Cramps: 14 Things to Try

You may be able to relieve period cramps with over-the-counter pain relievers and home remedies, including exercising or using a heating pad.

Cramps affect many people before and during their period. While some people only experience mild cramps, others aren’t quite as lucky. In some cases, the pain from period cramps can be extreme and make a serious dent in your daily life.

If period pain is cramping your style every month, there are steps you can take to gain back control. Here are 14 proven home remedies that may ease your discomfort, and help you get back on track with your busy life.

Period cramps are caused by contractions in your uterus. These contractions are triggered by changes in your body’s hormone levels, particularly prostaglandins. When you menstruate, your uterus contracts and sheds its lining, which is released as blood through your vagina.

Some people are more likely to experience period pain, particularly those who:

• are younger than 30 years of age
• bleed heavily during their periods
• have irregular bleeding
• have a family history of period pain
• smoke
• started puberty early (age 11 or earlier)

Using a heated patch or wrap on your abdomen can help relax the muscles of your uterus. It’s these muscles that cause period cramps. Heat can also boost circulation in your abdomen, which can reduce pain.

Research shows that heating pads can help relieve period cramps and may even be more effective than taking acetaminophen (Tylenol).

You can buy abdominal heat patches online or at any drugstore. They’re super easy to use — just peel and stick them on your abdomen.

Electric heating pads and hot water bottles aren’t as convenient to use as patches, but they’re good choices if you’re spending some time at home and don’t need to move around much.

Research suggests that some essential oils can help ease period cramps when massaged onto the abdomen, especially when used in a blend of oils.

Oils that seem to be most effective at reducing period cramps include:

• lavender
• sage
• rose
• marjoram
• cinnamon
• clove

Before using essential oils, you’ll want to mix them with a carrier oil, like coconut oil or jojoba oil. Carrier oils work by safely “carrying” the essential oil into your skin and helping to spread the oil over a large area. You’ll also want to do a patch test before applying essential oils to your skin, just to check for an allergy.

Once your oil mixture is ready to use, rub a few drops between your hands and then give your tummy a gentle massage using a circular motion.

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can help with period cramps and other period-related pain, like headaches.

While pretty much any type is bound to offer some relief, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are best, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This is because NSAIDs don’t just relieve pain and inflammation, but they also reduce the number of prostaglandins made by your body and lessen their effects.

OTC NSAIDs include:

• ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• naproxen (Aleve)
• aspirin (Bufferin)

To get the most bang for your buck, ibuprofen is the best of these OTC NSAID options, according to a 2020 meta-analysis.

The study compared the effectiveness and safety of OTC pain relievers for period pain. The most effective was actually diclofenac, but it was worst for safety, making ibuprofen the best option for dysmenorrhea.

These medications work best if they’re taken at the first sign of cramps or pain. Be sure to take only as directed and talk with your doctor first if you have a history of heart, liver, or kidney problems, or if you have asthma, ulcers, or bleeding disorders.

According to a 2018 study, low-to-medium intensity aerobic exercise may help reduce pain caused by period cramps.

In this study, scientists found that women who did 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 3 days a week for 8 weeks showed significant reductions in period cramps.

To fit an aerobic workout into your schedule, consider biking to work, going for a brisk walk at lunchtime, dancing to your favorite tunes, or playing a sport you enjoy.

Soaking in a hot bath is another way to surround your abdominal, pelvic, and back muscles with the warmth they need to relax.

You can enhance the pain-relieving power of a good soak by adding a few drops of essential oils — like lavender, sage, or rose — mixed with a carrier oil to your bathwater. Adding Epsom salt may also help relieve muscle pain.

Try to relax in a hot bath for at least 15 minutes to get the most benefit from it.

One study suggests that, like aerobic exercise, yoga may also be helpful for reducing period cramps.

In this study, experts found that women who participated in a 60-minute yoga class once a week for 12 weeks showed significant reductions in their period pain.

If you’d like to try yoga, look for a class with both a physical component and a relaxation component. Research suggests this combination is most effective at reducing pain from period cramps.

Several studies suggest that different types of dietary supplements may help reduce period cramps, though it’s not known exactly how they work.

A 2017 review of magnesium use in gynecology found the mineral to be considerably more effective at relieving cramps than placebos in controlled studies.

A 2020 review of nine studies on the effectiveness of cinnamon, fennel, and ginger found that all were associated with reduced period pain. Cinnamon also appeared to shorten the duration of pain.

Other supplements that have been linked to reduced period cramps include:

• calcium
• vitamins B6, B1, E, and D
• vitamin B12 and fish oil

As with OTC meds, use as directed, and talk with your doctor if you’re taking any other medications, as they may interact with supplements.

Some foods are better than others when it comes to improving — or worsening — period pain.

For instance, eating foods that reduce inflammation may help. These include:

• berries
• fatty fish
• avocado
• extra virgin olive oil

It’s also a good idea to limit foods that can cause water retention, bloating, and discomfort, like:

• salty foods
• caffeine
• alcohol
• fatty foods

According to a 2020 study, following the Mediterranean diet and reducing alcohol intake was associated with shorter, lighter periods and reduced menstrual pain.

If you’re dehydrated, abdominal cramps might feel more painful.

Aim to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. You’ll need more if it’s hot, if you’ve been exercising, or if you simply feel thirsty.

Acupressure is a noninvasive approach that can provide relief from various types of pain. It involves using your fingers to apply firm pressure to specific body parts to help ease various symptoms.

Various studies have shown that acupressure may reduce the severity and duration of period pain.

According to some older research, rubbing circles on your calf at a point above your ankle can relieve period pain.

To give it a try, follow these steps:

1. Measure four fingertips up from your inner ankle bone.
2. Firmly rub this area for several minutes.
3. Repeat daily as needed before and during your period.

If home remedies aren’t cutting it, consider talking with a healthcare professional about birth control for period pain.

Birth control pills are often prescribed to treat painful periods. Other hormonal birth control methods may also help period pain, including:

• intrauterine devices (IUDs)
• Depo-Provera shot
• vaginal ring
• the patch
• implant

Bonus: Birth control may also help with other period issues, like PMS and mood stability.

Using a TENS machine may help relieve period pain. TENS — short for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation —uses low-voltage electrical currents to treat pain.

Portable TENS units can be purchased for use at home and they’re easy to use. All you do is attach the sticky electrode patches to your skin over your lower abdomen or back where you feel the pain and choose the intensity setting that feels best.

Studies have shown that TENS users experienced a reduction in period pain, improved quality of life, and took less pain medication for their period pain.

Some people find using CBD for menstrual cramps to be helpful. There’s no research into the effects of CBD specifically for period pain, but anecdotal reports suggest it can help with inflammation and chronic pain.

In a 2019 survey of women with endometriosis, the participants self-reported CBD oil and cannabis as the most effective remedy for pain relief compared with physical self-management methods, like yoga and stretching.

Anecdotal reports say that the fetal position is the best sleeping position for menstrual cramps. This could be because the position doesn’t place weight on your abdomen or lower back which is where period pain is typically felt.

There isn’t any research into how your sleeping position can affect period pain, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth giving a try.

Although period cramps are very common, severe pain isn’t normal. You’ll want to make an appointment to see a doctor if you:

• have period cramps so painful that you can’t go about your daily activities
• started having severe menstrual cramps at or after age 25

Extreme pain before or during your period can be a sign of a more serious health condition that needs treatment, such as:

• endometriosis
• pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• uterine fibroids
• adenomyosis
• cervical stenosis

Period cramps are very common, but there are times when they can interfere with your day-to-day life. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to ease the pain and discomfort caused by these pesky cramps.

If, however, the pain doesn’t go away after a couple of days or is so extreme that you have difficulty functioning, be sure to follow up with your doctor.

Effective treatment of leg cramps Phlebological Center “Antireflux”

The fight against night cramps should be carried out in a complex manner. When the patient is faced with the problem of what to do and how to cure leg cramps, one cannot rely on folk methods, massage and self-medication. In particular, involuntary muscle contractions often occur in the presence of varicose veins, which require full treatment, and the doctor decides how to deal with leg cramps in this case.
Only after the diagnosis, including ultrasound angioscanning and special blood tests, the doctor will be able to answer the question of what to do and how to cure leg cramps.

Treating persistent leg cramps at home

If due to some circumstances immediate access to a qualified specialist is not possible, the cramps will have to be treated at home. To do this, you can use the following methods:

• Self massage
• Herbal infusions
• Vitamin and mineral complexes
• Physical exercise

Cold compresses work well as an emergency treatment for cramps. They can be applied to a cramped muscle, it is also recommended to stand with the whole foot on a cold, damp towel – this will help relieve the cramp in a few seconds. After the pain has subsided, you need to make your leg more comfortable on the pillow, in no case completely unbending it at the knee. After lying like this for 10-15 minutes and making sure that a repeated cramp is no longer in danger, you can start a self-massage session. If the legs cramp again, the treatment should be medication and aimed at eliminating the underlying disease.
But even in modern conditions, conservative methods of treatment do not lose their popularity. In particular, massage will not only relax the muscle, but also improve blood circulation. Such a treatment for persistent leg cramps will help to some extent compensate for the lack of minerals in the tissues, but, of course, it will be more effective if the patient takes a balanced complex of vitamins and trace elements.

Prevention of seizures

If your legs are cramping, treatment should go hand in hand with prevention. In addition to drugs that raise the level of calcium, magnesium and potassium in the blood, it is worth taking a course of herbal medicine. In particular, you can use lime blossom infusions, which reduce blood viscosity, helping to normalize blood circulation in veins affected by varicose veins. In addition, linden relieves inflammation and has a weak calming effect.
It is also necessary to practice the performance of physical exercises aimed at increasing muscle tone and elasticity of the muscles of the legs. You should not rely solely on drug treatment, and how to deal with leg cramps – this issue will become clear to the patient as he trains. Due to physical activity, blood circulation improves, metabolism normalizes, muscle hypertonicity decreases, due to which relief occurs, and the likelihood of seizures decreases.
It must be remembered that the risk of varicose veins increases with age, so after 50 years it is necessary not to wait for the first frightening symptoms to appear, but to actively engage in prevention. In addition, do not neglect the periodic comprehensive examination, which involves determining the pressure and taking functional samples to assess the level of performance of the venous system.

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How to get rid of leg cramps

September 2022

A cramp is a sudden, unconscious contraction of the muscles, with sharp pain. It can last from a couple of seconds to 10-15 minutes.
Seizures can occur in everyone, involuntarily – regardless of the state of the muscles, in tension or at rest. But most often, spasms occur during heavy physical exertion or during sleep, and the muscles of the arms and legs often suffer.

What to do if a muscle cramps?

1. Stretch. Stand at attention, raise your leg to 90 degrees, bending at the knee and then press the leg to the buttock. Hold the leg with your hand for twenty to thirty seconds. If there is a cramp in the calf muscle, put your leg forward, slightly bending at the knee and transfer your body weight to it. Stay like this for 10-15 seconds.
2. Prick. You need to lightly prick the muscle in which the spasm has occurred with a needle or pin. Before the injection, do not forget to disinfect what you will prick.
3. Massage. If possible, you can massage the place where the cramp occurred. Thus, muscle tension is relieved and pain disappears. Massage should be done without excessive force.
4. Thermal treatments. A hot heating pad or heated salt also helps to relieve spasm in the muscle (you can heat it in a frying pan and pour it on a towel). Heat improves blood flow and promotes muscle relaxation, thereby relieving spasms.
5. Clenching fingers. A very effective method for cramps in the fingers and feet. It is necessary to squeeze the toes and clasping the foot with your hands, also squeeze it. Or vice versa, holding the fingers, unbend them “on oneself”, straining the foot as much as possible. Although this method is painful, the cramp passes very quickly.

Leg cramps, causes various diseases, where convulsions act as symptoms of this disease.0004

Causes:

• prolonged physical activity, which results in overwork of the body;
• obesity;
• acute lack of vitamins or minerals, especially Ca, Mg;
• toxicosis;
• low water consumption;
• limb injuries;
• metabolic defects;
• hypothermia;
• disturbance in the work of the central nervous system;
• human genetic characteristics;
• pregnancy;
• varicose veins;
• flat feet.

Preparations for seizures

Since seizures can be symptoms of serious diseases, you should definitely consult a doctor for a comprehensive examination of your body.

For the treatment of seizures, doctors recommend: changing lifestyle, eating habits, paying increased attention to the drinking regime, as well as increasing the level of K, Ca, and Mg in the body.
The most effective and popular drugs in this:

Magnesium B6

Active ingredient : magnesium carbonate, vitamin B6
Country – producer : Ukraine
: 1 tablet three times daily with meals and water.

An additional source of magnesium and vitamin B6, which contribute to the normalization of sleep processes, the functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Asparkam

Active ingredient : Magnesium aspartate, potassium aspartate
Producer country : Ukraine
Application : For adults, the drug is prescribed 1-2 tablets 3 times a day after meals. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor.

Asparkam is a source of potassium and magnesium ions, regulates metabolic processes. It is used in complex therapy to eliminate the deficiency of potassium and magnesium.

Panangin

Active ingredient : magnesium aspartate, potassium aspartate
Country of origin : Hungary
Application : daily dosage for adults is 1-2 tablets 3 times a day, can be increased to 3 tablets 3 times a day. The course of treatment is determined by the doctor.

Panangin has a wide spectrum of action, due to which it is used in therapy for patients with cardiac pathology, diabetes mellitus, various manifestations of endothelial dysfunction and acute potassium and magnesium deficiency in the body.

Magnerot

Active ingredient : magnesium orotate
Country of origin : Germany
2 tablets 3 times a day for 7 days, then – 1 tablet 2-3 times a day.