Chicks only:  Ten ways to ease menstrual cramps you haven't tried  Monday, October 8th, 2007

It can affect your mood at home and at work, make it difficult to concentrate, and hurt like hell.  Well here's something for you to bookmark and use to combat Aunt Flo.  Again, we're here for you, babe!  We've compiled ten cool ways to ease the pain of menstrual cramps, naturally.  You probably haven't tried them, but you may find your new monthly best friend:

1.  Cinnamon tea.  Drink up!  Cinnamon increases circulation to the uterus and digestive tract, and has anesthetic and anodyne (painkilling) compounds.  It can speed up the menstruation process and ease your cramps at the same time!  Go ahead, sprinkle it on everything, girl.

2.  Relax.  When you're tense, you're muscles contract, and this will just make your clenched-up tummy worse.  Sneak in some soothing music, lie down with your knees elevated, breathe deeply, and think happy thoughts.

3.  Ginger.   This herb has half a dozen pain-relieving compounds and six more compounds that reduce cramping.  Ginger tea, salad dressing, or even minced on top of a tasty dish can actually become a trustworthy remedy for you.  If you like ginger!

4.  Avoid a lot of caffeine and sodium.  Swap out the Pepsi for juice or tea for a few days - you're likely to feel a major difference.  Both caffeine and sodium (high amounts of both are found in carbonated colas and energy drinks) significantly add to bloating and fatigue.  The Vitamin C in juice will boost your immune system and help you feel better during your period, and caffeine tea (especially ginger or cinnamon, as mentioned above!) will help soothe you.

5.  Boogie down.  Light to moderate exercising like walking, stretching, or shaking those hips will stimulate circulation in the pelvic organs, which reduces cramping.

6.  I'll take a massage, please.  If you've got money to burn, you've got a 42% chance of having your cramps eased by getting a 15 minute massage with aromatherapy oils (lavendar, clary sage, rose, and/or almond oil) seven days before your period and once more on the first day of it.

7.  Slap some parsley on your salad.  Parsley has apiol, which is so effective at stimulating the menstrual process that it used to be used as a method of inducing abortion in the Middle Ages.  Parsley can both relieve menstrual cramps and increase monthly regularity.

8.  Banana flower.  Eating cooked banana flower (not flour, silly) has been shown in many women to increase the amount of progesterone and reduce menstrual bleeding.  Not sure what to do with a banana flower?  Here are a few fun recipes to try:  Banana Flower Salad; Banana Blossom Guinatan; Banana Flower and Rice Wine Poached Scallop; Banana Flower Chicken Salad.

9.  Candles.  Many studies have shown the benefits of reduced pain and depression levels through the simple method of scent affecting our moods.  So choose your candle wisely:  some of the top aromatherapy scents known for calming and relieving stress are lavendar, jasmine, chamomile, rose, sandalwood and vanilla.

10.  Water.  Taking a warm bath effectively battles menstrual symptoms in a couple of ways:  it can cause your period to taper off temporarily to give you a break from cramping; the heat will dilate your blood vessels, enhancing circulation; the comfort of taking a bath and the water temperature can help relax your muscles.

Don't forget - I'm a Talker, not a doctor, so if you have serious problems during your time of the month, seek the help of a professional physician!

   

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