Period Panacea: Natural Menstrual Cramp Remedies That Work

If you’re currently reading this doubled over in pain, foetal positioning it up in bed, we’re sorry. We’re sorry you’re experiencing the damn annoying bodily response that is menstrual cramps. We’re also sorry that those pesky period pains are literally cramping your style. (Soz, had to do it.) Poor Lena Dunham, the beloved GIRLS creator, suffers from them so bad she had to cancel her Lenny Letter tour because her endometriosis was giving her debilitatingly maj menstrual cramps.

How to deal with these F’ers of a physiological response? Save going on the pill or drugging yourself senseless with paracetamol/ibuprofen/acetaminophen or whatever anti-inflammatory/pain relieving medication you can get your hands on, there’s a couple of other, non-prescription remedies you can try. Here’s what we’ve found naturally works best:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF

The hombres over at Johns Hopkins – that small, kinda reputable health organisation renowned for its monumental scientific discoveries – say that for muscular pain not brought on by an injury, heat (instead of ice) is the best way to manage it. The heat loosens muscles and their tendons, encouraging more blood flow to the area (in this case, your uterus and minimising tightness. If it’s good enough for Johns Hopkins, it’s good enough for us.

Herbal, Early Grey, English Breakfast…whatever brew you prefer, the warming effect should help to temporarily soothe your inner knots and stitch-y pangs. Plus it just tastes great.

Wit cho’self, with others, whatever amount of company’s going to make you feel better and distract you, that’s the right option. Pop on your favourite TV series or discover a new one, and sink into the Netflix vortex. On this occasion, yes, you’re allowed to do this completely guilt-free.

Hear us out: It may seem counterintuitive, but walking raises your core temp ever so slightly (thus you effectively create a heat pack from the inside), plus your mind is distracted from the pain, as it’s busy focusing on, y’know, like getting your legs and arms and organs to work while you’re moving. We’re not suggesting going on a massive hike, but a 30minute stroll is enough to alleviate some of the discomfort.

Again, heat. Heat is your friend. It’ll loosen the muscle tissue and make you feel shiny and new again. Pop in a Sorting Hat bath bomb and ease into Relaxation Town, population: you.

Lavender, tea tree, and eucalyptus are wonderful oils to massage on your uterine area. Gently blend them into your skin in a circular motion. The slight pressure will help with the uncomfortable twinge-ing feeling.

FOR LONGER TERM RELIEF

Dr Aldo Palmieri, an OB/GYN at UCLA Health and professor at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles, told Everyday Health that decreasing the fat in your diet and increasing your veggie intake can help with period cramps in the long term. Minimising the amount of fat your body has to process also decreases the overall level of inflammation in the body, indirectly reducing the degree of cramping you experience when your period comes around.

The Global Journal of Health Science found in 2014 that a daily dose of 100mg of Vitamin B1 and 500mg of fish oil significantly reduced the extent of menstrual cramps in teens than compared with a placebo dose. Teens who took the Vitamin B1 and fish oil supplements also reported longer-lasting period-induced cramps. Something to consider…

TAMPON ALTERNATIVES

If you haven’t yet come across THINX period underwear, then this one is for you. THINX is a truly revolutionary brand of underwear that can be used as a replacement or back-up to your normal period products. The undies hold up to two tampons’ worth and are surprisingly cute (and comfy!).

For those of us looking to be a little more eco-friendly in all aspects of our lives, meet DAME: the world’s first reusable tampon applicator.

DAME uses medical grade, antimicrobial technology to build earth-friendly tampon applicators. They found that 100 billion menstrual products are thrown away globally each year and eight million pieces of plastic enter our oceans every day. DAME’s mission? Bleed red, think green.