PMS or premenstrual syndrome, refers to the emotional and physical symptoms that happen during the 7 to 14 days before a woman begins her menstrual cycle.

In many cases, these symptoms can last through the duration of the cycle. These symptoms can include headaches, mood changes, irritability, cramps, bloating, deep feelings of sadness, cravings of carbs, indigestion, tender breasts as well as pain and sleep disturbances.

PMS affects every woman slightly differently. Most, but not all women, have had such symptoms to one degree or another.

However, not all women get all of the symptoms and sometimes the symptoms are more severe than other times.

Typically, about 75 percent of all women will get some form of PMS each and every month.

Approximately 5 percent of these women will have such severe symptoms that they may miss work or school because of them.

Doctors aren’t exactly sure why some women get PMS worse than other women do. Most doctors believe that it’s hormonally related and that once they get the hormones leveled out things will balance out.

A smaller percentage of women suffer from premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD.

Their symptoms are the worst of all and are frequently treated with anti-depressants and even in some cases birth control pills.

Thankfully, there are some natural remedies that can be used to help treat symptoms.

Most women have a few tricks up their sleeves for treating such symptoms. These natural remedies may work very well for some women and help to keep the hormones balanced.

Herbal Supplements

There are 11 known herbal supplements that can help ease the challenges of PMS. Many women choose one or two of these to use consistently. Still others choose to use several for relief from their symptoms.

Chasteberry

This is a shrub that is grown in Europe and in Central Asia. It can help to ease symptoms by reducing breast pain and tenderness.

Treating constipation and edema as well as reducing irritability and depression. It also helps to ease headaches and temper anger.

Dong quai

The botanical name for this is angelica sinensis. For thousands of years it’s been used as an herbal remedy in China, Korea and Japan.

Today, it’s one of the more popular Chinese medicinal treatments. It’s also referred to as the ‘female ginseng’.

It helps to relieve pain and it is used to help women recover from childbirth. It improves fatigue and low vitality as well. It is even more effective when it is combined with black cohosh.

Black cohosh

Excellent for use in treating menopausal symptoms it is also a very valuable herbal supplement for treating PMS. It helps to ease irritability and sleep issues.

Maca root

For centuries, maca has been used in Peru to encourage fertility. Women have used it to help balance hormones and deal with any menstrual issues and irregularities.

It’s also been found to strengthen bones and improve mood. It’s good for stomach cancer, leukemia, tuberculosis, ED, HIV and AIDS, to improve sexual desire and in boosting the immune system.

Lemon balm

Lemon balm is very soothing and calming. It helps with irritability and insomnia. It also works well on anxiety.

Wild yam

Typically used for treating intestinal issues, wild yam also helps ease labor pains and menstrual issues.

There is much debate regarding whether or not it helps with sex hormones however it’s been found to be very helpful for women who struggle with higher estrogen levels.

Burdock

Burdock is an anti-inflammatory. It helps to improve the liver’s capability I metabolizing estrogen and thus improves the hormonal issues of PMS.

St. John’s wort

Well known for its ability to treat depression and moodiness, St. John’s wort works well to help improve moods.

However, it can interfere with birth control pills making them less effective. Always tell your doctor if you’re taking any herbal supplements and you’re using birth control pills as many can interact and cause the birth control pills to become inert.

Ginkgo

Renowned for its ability to improve memory, it can help to improve fluid retention and breast tenderness when treating PMS.

Chromium

This mineral helps to stabilize insulin and blood sugars. It also helps to stop the cravings and regulate the appetite during PMS so you’re not tempted to over eat or over indulge in comfort foods.

Calcium with Magnesium as well as Vitamin B6

This combination does a great job of treating PMS. They work in tandem to treat mood changes, pain, and cravings. Incidentally, craving chocolate is the body’s way of saying it’s having a magnesium deficiency.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps to balance out the hormones and keep them on a more even keel.

Omega 3s

These offer a myriad of benefits that will help the system to return to normal more quickly.

Balanced Diet

Be aware that some foods have added hormones, this is quite common in meats, milk and some of the other products on the grocer shelves today.

Read your labels carefully and make sure that you are paying close attention to what is in the foods you’re buying for yourself and for your family.

Also, avoid sugar and foods that have a lot of preservatives in them. This will include prepackaged foods, boxed foods and luncheon meats (which also contain nitrites which aren’t healthy for you either).

Focus on whole foods that will provide you with better nutrition and fewer empty calories.

Strive for a healthy balanced diet that offers plenty of lean meats, leafy greens and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Consider smaller meals more frequently to help combat the symptoms. Cut back on salt and foods with salt to help reduce fluid retention and the tendency to bloat.

Foods that are higher in complex carbohydrates such as fruits, whole grains and vegetables will go far in helping to reduce symptoms as well.

Foods that are rich in calcium will also help and if you can’t tolerate calcium rich foods consider a good calcium supplement for your diet.

Consider eliminating caffeine as well as alcohol from the diet. These can both cause you to be more irritable and edgy in spite of the fact that both work as diuretics.

Exercise

Believe it or not, when you feel least like exercising (due to cramping and bloating not to mention pain), you will actually benefit more from the exercise.

Yes, that’s right. Exercise. It can help to keep things flowing smoothly in your system and the motion tends to lessen the severity of the symptoms.

This works especially well if you’re active the week or so prior to your cycle. Consider aerobics, walking, running, jogging, and any other form of exercise that you enjoy.

It will also help to lighten your flow and give you more stamina during your cycle.

You might also consider such exercise forms as yoga, tai chi as well. These are very gentle on the body but very beneficial.

All that stretching and sweating will release more endorphins in the brain and help to soothe those painful cramps and that bloating.

Many people talk about an endorphin high that they get from exercising. You’ll release those endorphins and feel much better for quite some time.

Acupuncture

According to at least one study, acupuncture is ideal for treating the symptoms of PMS.

Up to 78 percent of all women who have tried this as a form of relief for their PMS symptoms, have found success.

It is said to improve circulation and increase endorphins which in turn can enhance the mood and relieve pain.

Relief is found within 24 hours of an acupuncture session so many women only need the treatment once or twice per cycle.

It also helps to relieve painful cramping and treat insomnia as well as headaches and nausea.

With just one easy treatment it’s easy to schedule it into the week prior to the start of your cycle and reap the benefits throughout your entire cycle.

Progesterone Cream

Many issues with PMS are related to hormones being out of balance. Natural progesterone works to help restore those balances.

These are readily available over the counter and you apply the cream to your lower abdomen or your inner thighs.

It’s scent free and many say that it gives relief from cramps, as well as mood swings and insomnia.

It’s found under the name of wild yam and isn’t too terribly pricey so it’s readily available for most budgets.

It’s also said to help soothe anxiety that can often go along with PMS. If you can’t find it at your local drug store ask the pharmacist if they carry it.

Most likely they do and if they don’t, most will gladly order it for you. It tends to work best if you begin using it about 7 days prior to starting your period.

All Natural Diuretics

Fluid retention is so frustrating. All that bloating and having to squeeze into those pants can be frustrating.

You begin to feel (and your fingers may even look like) an overstuffed sausage. Simply put, you’re not yourself.

You’re more irritable (partly due to the hormonal changes and partly due to the bloating which can make anyone irritable).

Diuretics help to relieve a lot of that water retention and ease those symptoms you’re going through.

Consider eating more diuretic foods the week prior to starting your period such as bananas, tomatoes, watercress, fennel and citrus foods.

You may also want to think twice before you rely upon a morning latte or diet soda to get yourself up and going.

While the caffeine may work as a diuretic, it can also be counterproductive and cause more anxiety so you may want to cut back on anything that increases anxiety.

Always ensure that you’re drinking at least six to eight glasses of water per day as well.

This helps to flush those excess toxins from your body and it can also work as a diuretic.

Pace yourself and drink it over the course of the entire day if you feel that you’re in the bathroom too often.

Massage

You can opt for a full-fledged massage therapist or you can do some self-massage. This will increase the blood flow to your body and help ease those aching muscles and that tension.

Consider essential oils that are soothing and relaxing such as lavender and geranium (this is an estrogen balancer) to help soothe your body.

You can apply a few drops of your favorite lotion and add in a few drops of your favorite scent to get started.

Start at your inner thigh and massage in gentle circles up to your waist in a clockwise motion.

From there, move to your left side and work your way back down. Do this for both sides of your body for five minutes several times a day until your symptoms subside.

You can apply moderate to deep pressure if you’re up to it. This is also ideal for treating hormonal headaches simply massage lavender oil in your favorite lotion gently into your temples until symptoms subside.

If you’re going to a full-fledged massage therapist, be honest and tell her that you’re having PMS symptoms, many will give you a massage to alleviate those specific symptoms.

They know how to target specific nerve endings and deliver nearly instant relief from such things as bloating, painful cramping and headaches that are all a part of PMS.

Aromatherapy

Everyone has walked into a room and smelled something wonderful. That fresh scent can change your mood.

Consider buying a few scented candles that make you feel special and relaxed. You may opt for such scents as lavender, sandalwood, citrus and the like to help ease your symptoms.

When you feel you’re beginning to slip into your PMS mode, simply light up one of your favorite candle scents and inhale the deep aroma.

You can also couple this with a nice warm bubble of the same scent and soak your cares away. The warmth will soothe your body aches and the scent will soothe your soul.

Magnetic Therapy

Many people have tried this with great success. Doctors have been using magnetic therapy sessions for years and it is helpful for relieving pain and depression. Magnetic therapy is easy to try and you’ll find many ways to try it.

It can be accomplished by wearing small magnetic devices in the sides of underwear and there is also some jewelry that can be used as well.

Many women have tried these for years and swear by them. They are readily available online and you can also find them in some drug stores.

They help to ease cramps, sore breasts, acne and bloating that can all go along with PMS symptoms.

Rid Yourself Of Stress

Get plenty of rest, rest helps you to deal better with stress. Rest is also a great way to help ward off that sluggishness that you’re feeling mid-month cycle as well.

Other ways of reducing stress include progressive muscle relaxation, which can help you to feel more energized.

Try some deep breathing exercises as well to help lower your stress levels. An added benefit is that the deep breathing can help to send more oxygen throughout your body and thus help to eliminate headaches and reduce cramping.

Yoga, massage and even exercise are all great ways to lower your stress levels and bring balance back into your life.

If you have other forms of stress in your life, do what you can to reduce those forms of stress.

Consider taking on smaller projects at work when you’re getting closer to your cycle.

Avoid stressful tasks that make you feel more stressed during the week before you start your period.

If you’re stressed about bills or something else do what you can to reduce or eliminate such stress in your life.

While ridding yourself of all stress isn’t always possible, do what you can to eliminate the stress that you can control, your body and symptoms will thank you for it.

Many women have found great relief by mixing and matching several of the above all natural remedies.

If one doesn’t work by all means, consider the next one on the list and so on. These can all be mixed and matched to create the perfect treatment plan for your PMS symptoms. Talk about individualized care.

No woman should have to suffer every month with pain and bloating. Do something about it and try these remedies and see if they don’t help to relieve your symptoms.

Whether your symptoms are mild or severe you’re sure to find some measure of relief by trying these easy to do remedies.

Many of these remedies can be done all month long so you can get into the habit of healthy eating and exercise. Sometimes, just a few simple changes are all that are needed to provide a huge measure of relief for PMS symptoms.

Sources:

https://www.womentowomen.com/pms/herbal-treatments-for-pms/

http://www.webmd.com/women/pms/features/herbal-treatments-for-pms?page=2

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/natural-pms-cures

PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, is a term used to describe a very wide range of symptoms that occur during the second half of a woman’s menstrual cycle- approximately 14 or more days after the first day of her last period.

In most cases, these symptoms will disappear 1 to 2 days after her next period begins.

What are the Causes of PMS?

Researchers have been unable to pinpoint a specific cause of PMS. However, it is apparent that some changes in the hormone levels in the brain might play a role in this condition- but this has not yet been proven.

Women with this condition might have different responses to these hormones. Additionally, this condition could have some relation to psychological, social, biological, and even cultural factors.

Approximately 75 percent- or 3 out of every 4 women experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome during their childbearing years. A woman is more at risk if she has some or all of the following:

• Is between her late 20’s to late 40s.
• Has had at least one child.
• Has a family- or personal- history of major depressive disorder.
• Has had a history of an affective mood disorder or postpartum depression.

In many cases, the symptoms of PMS will become much worse when a woman is in her late 30s to late 40s, as she gets closer to the transition into menopause.

Some of the other factors that can increase a woman’s chance of experiencing premenstrual syndrome are not getting the proper amounts of calcium, B6, or magnesium in her diet, not getting proper exercise, high levels of stress, and consuming too much caffeine.

Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome

PMS is characterized by some of the following common physical symptoms:

• Bloating
• Cramps
• Pain in the lower back
• Lowered energy levels/lack of energy
• Tender and swollen breasts
• Headaches
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Little to no tolerance for noise/light
• Clumsiness

In addition to the above physical symptoms, it is also very common for a woman to experience some of the following mental/emotional symptoms:

• Anxiousness
• Unexplained sadness
• Difficulty staying alert
• Difficulty focusing
• Becoming withdrawn
• Mood swings
• Poor judgement
• Sleeping too much
• Sleeping too little
• Lowered self-image/self-esteem

Some women will experience very severe PMS symptoms, while others will barely notice theirs. Also, symptoms vary from one woman to the next and can also vary from one month to the next.

Finally, be aware that if a woman notices her symptoms are very severe, she could be suffering from a condition known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD. This is a very rare condition, though, so don’t get too concerned.

Should You Visit Your Physician?

If you have done everything you can do in order to manage your symptoms, and they are still controlling your life by affecting your daily activities as well as your health, you should definitely see a physician.

As I have already said, there is no specific cause that has been found for PMS. However, there are several factors that have been found to contribute to this condition, including:

Changes in hormones: when a woman is going through pregnancy and menopause, the signs and symptoms of PMS are likely to disappear due to the fluctuations in hormones.

Chemical changes: it is possible that fluctuations of the neurotransmitter serotonin could be a trigger for PMS. When you don’t have enough of this neurotransmitter, you are likely to experience depression, food cravings, fatigue, and problems with sleep- too much or not enough.

Depression: in some cases, a woman experiencing severe PMS also has an underlying condition of depression that has not been diagnosed. However, depression by itself will not cause all of the symptoms of PMS.

Getting Ready to See Your Physician

Chances are, you will first turn to your primary care provider. However, sometimes, when you call to make an appointment, they may go ahead and refer you to a gynecologist- a physician who specializes in this area.

Following are some things you can do to get ready for the appointment.

When you make your appointment, be sure to ask if there’s anything you need to do to prepare for it. Make sure that there are no restrictions.

Take a few minutes to record all of the symptoms you have been experiencing- even if you don’t believe they’re related to the reason you made the appointment in the first place. The physician may be able to see a connection that you can’t.

Be sure to write down all of your key medical history, including medications you’re taking such as prescription, OTC, and even vitamins. Also, write down other conditions you are being treated for or have been treated for.

Think about and write down a few questions to ask the doctor. Then, be sure to bring your notebook with you so that you can write down the information as the doctor is answering your questions and concerns. Here are a few questions to consider:

1. What can I do to minimize my symptoms of PMS?
2. Will these symptoms resolve on their own or will they require treatment?
3. Is it possible that these symptoms are pointing to a more serious condition?
4. Do you think that PMS symptoms should be treated and which ones are available?
5. (If he/she is prescribing a medication) Is there a generic alternative to that medication?
6. Are there any brochures that I can have to read more about this or are there some websites that I can take a look at to educate myself?

In addition to these, feel free to ask any other questions that come up during your appointment.

What Your Physician will Do

Be prepared because the physician is likely going to be asking you a few questions as well.

If you’re prepared for these questions, it’s possible that you may open up some time to further discuss some of the points you need or want to spend more time on.

Following are some of the questions that he/she may ask:

• What is the severity of your PMS symptoms?
• Which days during your cycle do you notice the symptoms to be worst?
• Are there any days during your cycle that are free of symptoms?
• Do you have any warning of when the symptoms are coming on?
• Is there anything that makes these symptoms better?
• Is there anything that makes these symptoms worse?
• Do these symptoms cause any interference with your normal, daily activities?
• Have you recently been feeling hopeless, depressed, or down?
• Have you ever been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder?
• Has anyone in your family been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder?
• Have you tried any treatments for your PMS?
• How have these treatments worked?

Diagnosing PMS

Unfortunately, there are no lab tests or examinations that can diagnose this condition.

However, a woman can visit her physician to rule out other possible conditions. The physician will perform the following:

• Complete medical exam, including a pelvic exam
• Collect a complete medical history
• Collect a complete family history

There are many different symptom trackers available that can help a woman identify the symptoms that give her the most trouble and will help her physician come up with an official diagnosis.

Treating PMS

In order to obtain effective treatment for your PMS symptoms, you’ll need to keep a diary/record of your symptoms for at least three months.

You’ll want to make sure to record what the symptoms are, how long they last, and the severity of them.

This information will be extremely helpful for your healthcare provider to find the treatment that will work best for you.

Of course, as with many other conditions, a healthy lifestyle is the very first step for managing this condition.

Most women will find that making a few changes in their lifestyle will get their symptoms under control. Be aware though, the success of these changes in lifestyle varies from one woman to the next.

In some cases, you may find that they don’t work for you. In that case, you’ll need to speak with your physician about medications for treating your symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

First of all, you should make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water or juice. Try to avoid caffeinated beverages, alcohol, and soft drinks- or if you must have them, only do so in moderation.

This will help to reduce fluid retention and bloating, as well as a few of the other symptoms of PMS.

Instead of sitting down for three full meals every day, try eating smaller, more frequent meals.

Avoid eating too much and try not to go more than three hours between eating something.

Make sure that you are consuming a balanced diet, with lots of fruits and veggies as well as whole grains. Try to avoid or limit sugar and salt.

In some cases, your healthcare provider will suggest that you take some nutritional supplements such as calcium, magnesium, and B6.

Another one that might be helpful in controlling symptoms is tryptophan, which is found in dairy products.

Make some time throughout the month to get in some aerobic exercise- this has been proven to reduce the severity and occurrence of symptoms of PMS.

During the weeks that you are experiencing the symptoms of PMS, exercise more often and harder.

Instead of taking something for your insomnia, try to make some changes in your nighttime sleep habits.

This includes, only using your bed for sleeping- don’t work, watch TV, read, or other activities that keep your brain going.

Don’t play on your phone when lying in bed. Make sure your room is dark and quiet- all of these will wire your brain to sleep at night instead of having you lie awake.

Your physician may recommend that you take OTC pain relievers for menstrual cramps, breast tenderness, backaches, and headaches. However, make sure that you take them as instructed.

In addition, some physicians recommend birth control pills- but these could decrease or they could increase symptoms of PMS.

If you are experiencing very severe symptoms, your physician may recommend medications to treat depression.

In some cases, SSRIs- or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors- have been prescribed first and have been proven to help.

In many cases, these have proven to stabilize mood symptoms. These are the first line of treatment for PMS and PMDD.

They are usually taken daily- but in some cases, your physician may only recommend that you take them for the two weeks before menstruation.

In addition to these, you might want to consider seeing a therapist or counselor- especially if you do have depression as an underlying condition.

Some of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors used include the following:

• Prozac
• Sarafem
• Paxil
• Pexeva
• Zoloft

Other medications used to control the symptoms of PMS include the following:

• Antianxiety medications: for treating severe anxiety
• NSAIDs: as already mentioned, these OTS pain relievers can help relieve breast tenderness, headaches, cramps, and backaches.
• Diuretics: these will help your body to shed excess water weight through your kidneys- especially when lifestyle changes such as exercise and avoiding too much salt don’t help.
• Contraceptives: as stated earlier, these may or may not be helpful for controlling the symptoms of PMS. They do stop your body from ovulating, which may be helpful.

Lifestyle Changes to Control Symptoms of PMS

As said earlier, in some cases, your symptoms of PMS can be managed by making a few very simple changes in your lifestyle. Following is some more detail on these:

Diet Modification

In some cases, it is your diet that is either triggering your symptoms or aggravating them. By simply making a few very minor changes, you may be able to get these under control.

• Eat small meals often. This will help reduce that full sensation and bloating.
• Avoid (or limit) the amount of salty and sugary foods that you’re consuming- this will help to reduce retention of fluids and bloating
• Try to select foods such as whole grains, fruits, and veggies that are high in complex carbohydrates.
• Try to select foods that contain lots of calcium– such as dairy products. On the other hand, if you can’t tolerate dairy products and you’re not getting the proper amount of calcium in your diet, consider taking a supplement.
• Avoid (or limit) alcohol and caffeine consumption.

Get Plenty of Exercise

On most days of the week- all month long- make sure that you’re getting at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity such as swimming, walking, or cycling.

Getting plenty of exercise on a regular basis will help to improve your health overall as well as relieve specific symptoms of PMS such as depression and fatigue.

Reduce Your Stress Level

It’s no secret- stress makes everything worse, right? If you want to relieve your symptoms of PMS, make sure that you are doing things to reduce your stress levels whenever possible.

Make sure that you’re getting plenty of sleep- adults should be getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.

Practice yoga and meditation, including deep-breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation to reduce your anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and headaches. In addition, consider visiting a massage therapist to help alleviate symptoms.

Observe/Record Symptoms of PMS for a Few Months

Instead of relying on yourself to remember these things, just as you would do if you were preparing for a doctor’s appointment, make a record of your symptoms over the course of a few months.

This will help you to learn what your triggers are and how you can tell when the symptoms are coming on- therefore, you can intervene before they become unbearable.

Following are some complementary remedies that are possibly able to soothe your PMS symptoms:

Calcium: taking in 1200 milligrams of calcium either through your diet or by taking a calcium supplement might help to reduce both the psychological and physical symptoms of PMS.

Magnesium: taking in 360 milligrams of magnesium via magnesium supplement can help reduce the symptoms of fluid retention, bloating, and breast tenderness

Vitamin E: taking in 400 IUs, or international units, daily could help the symptoms of PMS because prostaglandin production is reduced- prostaglandins cause breast tenderness and cramping

Herbal Remedies: some women have reported that they found relief of the symptoms of PMS by using herbal remedies such as chasteberry, St. John’s wort, evening primrose oil, ginger, and gingko.

However, scientific studies do not back this information. Since herbal remedies are not regulated by the FDA, there is no record of effectiveness or safety- so speak with your physician before taking any of these because they could have some harmful interactions or reduce the effectiveness of your birth control pills

Acupuncture: some women have said that they experience relief of the symptoms of PMS after acupuncture or acupressure treatments.

Acupuncture is where sterilized stainless steel needles are inserted into your skin and acupressure is where pressure is applied at pressure points.

Prognosis of Women with PMS

The good news is, that no matter how bad your symptoms are, most women who are treated for this condition do get relief.

However, keep in mind that it is possible for the symptoms to become severe enough that you will be unable to function normally.

Additionally, the rate of suicide in women is much higher during the second part of their menstrual cycle.

Overview of Menstrual Cramps

What distinguishes menstrual cramps from other forms of pain is that their underlying ailment is not an ailment at all in many cases-it is an act of nature.

Many women lament the severity of their menstrual cramps, without doing a critical examination on their own lifestyle choices and health, and how this may be contributing to their incessant menstrual pain.

About Menstrual Cramps

Have you ever questioned the underlying cause of your menstrual cramps? If so, then perhaps you are familiar with specific terminology, such as prostaglandin. A prostaglandin is a chemical that travels throughout the body, and it exists in high concentrations in the inner lining of the uterus.

They are systematically responsible for inducing contractions in the uterus altogether, and it is these contractions that result in the pain that women experience during their periods.

As you can see, there is a correlation between the presence and concentrations of prostaglandins, and the degree of pain that one experiences. Various factors contribute to the emergence of menstrual pain, one of which happens to be endometriosis, along with fibroids, IUDs and sexually transmitted infections, as well.

But generally speaking, if a woman has always had severe cramps, then she is most likely the subject of high prostaglandin levels.

Great Remedies For Cramps

If you struggle with menses related pain, then perhaps the following remedies will come to your aid:

Many disregard the indispensable value of bioflavonoids, in the context of their menstrual cycles. Essentially, when one undergoes a heavy menstrual cycle, they are often depleted of nutrients.

Whereas, flavonoid rich foods such as buckwheat can counteract these effects. You can put buckwheat in many appetizing foods, to make ingestion easier.

What is the most delicious way to consume iron and reduce your menstrual symptoms?

By consuming dried apricots. The high levels of iron in this fruit make it possible to load your body with much needed nutrients and boost your body’s pain fighting capabilities. Breads and liver contain iron.

While some show disdain for red meat, it is essential in terms of boosting your iron and zinc. Poultry and vegetables also serve as great sources for these nutrients.

Apply a heating pad to the site of your pain. One easy way to go about this is to simply fill a bottle with hot water and use it as such.

Always remember to hydrate yourself during your menstrual cycle. If you do not, you will pay the consequences and heap yourself into a flurry of unbearable pain. Water is beyond essential, and it fortifies your body with the blood flow you need to counteract pain.

Try adding a small helping of basil to your diet, if you frequently encounter painful menses. The caffeic acid in basil has been known to fight pain because it possesses analgesic properties. You can put basil in your food, or you can turn it into a tea.

Cinnamon, one of the most cherished spices in the world, happens to have incredible pain fighting properties and anti-inflammatory effects.

Brew a cup of delicious, fennel tea to increase the circulation in your reproductive organs. This can appease cramps.

Ginger is a natural pain reliever, and it works to counteract the effects of cramps and normalize your menses, as well.

Mint, which can be consumed in a variety of different forms, can reduce your menstrual pain.

If you want to know how to alleviate menstrual cramps, consuming a mint is one of the easiest ways.

Vitamin K is one of the most critical vitamins on the planet, and is known to prevent cancer and a number of other diseases. Accordingly, it also helps fight off cramps, as well. Most vegetables contain fairly high levels of this vitamin.

The warmer your environment is, the milder your cramps will be.

Many women are unaware that tampons may be responsible for a steady increase in the severity of cramps. Because of this, it is recommended that one use sanitary pads instead.

Even though you may feel fatigued, light exercise is recommended, as the endorphins released can ward off pain in your body. There are numerous exercises that are designed to release these pain fighting properties, increase blood flow, and relax muscles, as well.

Specific types of birth control make cramps feel worse. The IUD has a tendency to intensify cramps for some women.

Take a hot bath, as this will increase blood flow and soothe the lower back and lower abdominal region.

The human body contains various energy fields that correspond to certain pressure points. When pressure is exerted in the corresponding pressure points in the body, you can alleviate the severity of menstrual pain. This can provide you with temporary relief.

Manganese is a great way to treat menstrual cramps. It is important to consume such foods before and during your period.

If the above listed method, along with ginger, proves to be ineffective perhaps the next viable step is to take an anti-inflammatory medication, such as naproxen or ibuprofen,

Stress can drastically increase the severity of your painful menstruation symptoms. In order to alleviate stress, try engaging in breathing techniques designed to calm the muscles, meditative techniques that can distract from the pain, and even yoga.

Keep your mind active in order to distract yourself from your pain.

What is one of the best ways to fill your body with pain fighting endorphins? Just dance the pain away.

Excessively tight fitting clothing can prove uncomfortable for those with cramps.

What Not To Do

There are a few basic pieces of advice, regarding what you should not do during your menstrual cycle. While this may prove to be difficult, you must avoid soft drinks, caffeine and soda, as these foods will intensify your pain.

They are absolutely horrible for you, in terms of treating your cramps, so avoid them during your menses. Your diet will also shape how your body reacts to your hormonal changes, and this will determine your pain severity.

In order to avoid severe cramps, try to refine your diet and consume foods that are rich in nutrients and vitamins that fight pain.

You can learn how to relieve menstrual cramps naturally by coming to understand which symptoms are associated with what phase of menstruation (dysmenorrhea). There are two types, primary (during your period) and secondary (during ovulation). The symptoms of cramping during primary dysmenorrhea include:

• loose stool
• abdominal cramping
• pains in the uterus or ovary area
• bloating
• feelings of heaviness and nausea
• increased moodiness
• fatigue

Some women may experience muscle cramping in the abdominal area as well as the cramping of the uterine muscle too. The majority of cramping experienced (which can feel like a sharp pain or a painless pressure in the uterine area) is from the contractions of the uterine walls.

Cramping during ovulation

Secondary dysmenorrhea is associated with the symptoms of menstrual cramps that may occur during the actual time frame of menstruation, or during ovulation. They are commonly experienced as a pain or cramping in the womb area, or ovaries. Many women also experience heaviness to their body, it often feels as if the uterus has gotten heavier and is lying lower in the body than before. Some women will also experience a sharp pain in the general location of one ovary around the time of ovulation. The pain usually does not last long.

What makes cramps worse?

There are quite a few things that can make menstrual cramps worse. The first one that everyone cautions against is caffeine. This may not make sense to you when you think that caffeine is a common ingredient in many of the over the counter remedies, but too much caffeine can cause you to retain water. You also don’t want to stop drinking water to avoid the water bloat that can aggravate the symptoms of menstrual cramps.

If you stop drinking water your body will go into a starvation mode and retain as much water as it can – aggravating the problem. Making sure you get regular sleep and exercise remains one of the best ways to relieve the symptoms. Being overweight or having a sedentary lifestyle has been proven to make them worse.

What factors affect severity?

There are many different factors that will affect the severity of your menstrual cramps. Your diet, weight and amount of exercises that you get on a daily basis will be one of the most important. Woman who have had, or have – fibroids, endometriosis and other conditions may have more severe cramps if the condition is not resolved.

You can also increase your risk for cramps by being in a high stress lifestyle, having inadequately managed diabetes and other disorders or diseases. Some medications can also increase the rate of your menstrual flow as a side effect which can also cause pain. There are a few conditions that are genetic that can promote menstrual cramping as well.

Relieve menstrual cramps naturally with herbal compounds and teas

Many herbal remedies have clinical proof behind them that they can relieve the symptoms just as well as the over the counter remedies, but may not have the side effects or additional ingredients that many people don’t want in their pain relievers. Some of the most common herbs used to relieve menstrual cramps naturally are:

• Ginger
• Chamomile
• Jamaican Dogwood
• Dong Quai
• Licorice
• Black Cohosh
• Yam
• Motherwort
• Sweet fennel

Black cohosh has gotten a lot of notice recently as a way to reduce the symptoms of menopause naturally as well. These compounds can be taken in a pill, tea or tincture form – which ever works best for you. Be careful and pay attention to how you react to them as just because they are natural, doesn’t mean they don’t come without side effects.

Drinking water and stretching to reduce severity of cramps

One of the best ways to relieve menstrual cramps naturally is to work towards increased muscle relaxation and flexibility and to reduce any water retention in the body. Water bloating can be difficult to get rid of it just by not drinking water. This won’t get your body to release the water it is retaining; in fact, it will cause it to retain more water. If the body believes that it will not receive adequate food or water, it will choose to store and hoard fat and water in the cells.

Drinking enough water, but avoiding sugary drinks and caffeinated drinks will help you to stay hydrated but to avoid water bloat. Another of the ways to ease menstrual cramps is to keep your lower back and upper hamstrings well stretched. These are the two areas of the body that tend to tighten in response to the uterine contraction that can increase the severity of your pain.

Changing your diet and keeping to regular exercise

Eating a diet that is low in caffeine, low in salt and avoids certain foods – such as processed foods and those with a high GI also one of the best ways to ease menstrual cramps. High GI foods tend to those with processed sugars and flours – white flour, white rice and baked goods all tend to be in the high glycemic range. One thing that all women should avoid if they are trying ease menstrual cramps is alcohol of any sort. Alcohol may feel like it may help you relax, but the effect is too dehydrating on the body in even small amounts to really help – it can contribute t bloating.

When should I be worried about menstrual cramps?

Most women get menstrual cramps of the primary and secondary types. The type of symptoms of menstrual cramps that you may get will vary through your life time so you shouldn’t worry if there is a change in what you experience. There are some changes that mean you should see a doctor as there may be an underlying condition creating them. You should see a doctor if:

• Symptoms are very painful, recurring or last for several days.
• Symptoms become worse for several consecutive periods.
• Bleeding is heavy.
• You are spotting through the month.
• Unusual swelling or tenderness in the abdomen, groin or genital area.

While it is not uncommon for women to experience a change in the symptoms of menstrual cramps that are associated with menopause, if there is any very noticeable change at all you should see your doctor.

Many women are misguided by the fallacious notion that pain reduction begins as soon as menstrual cramps infiltrate your body. If you begin mitigating menstrual pain on the first day of your period, you will undergo an incomprehensible level of suffering.

Did you know that for women under the age of 30, menstrual pain is the foremost cause of absenteeism? That means that menstrual cramps have such a compelling sensation, that they can literally prevent you from attending work, school and other events. Luckily, cramps do not have to alter the course of your life.

Clearly, there are many things that you can do before your menses starts in order to mitigate the pain. Furthermore, this will be coupled with remedies that you can use during your period, as well. A week before your period begins, it is highly recommended that you consume a healthy diet that is relatively low in sugar and fat, and high in water intake. Furthermore, you should bolster your manganese and calcium intake significantly. It is also recommended that you avoid caffeine as much as possible during this time.

What can you expect from these pre-menstrual preparation tactics? The inner lining of your uterus contains what is known as prostaglandins, which is a chemical designed to induce contractions in the inner lining of the uterus.

You may be pondering why this chemical is needed. During the period, the endometrial lining is shed, in an effort to reactivate the cycle of fertility. When you fail to fertilize an egg, the endometrium sloughs off and you have your menses. The prostaglandins enable your period to occur. Of course, when these prostaglandins go unregulated, they exact more harm than good.

Stopping Those Cramps

By integrating the power of NSAIDs with home remedies, you can pursue a life devoid of debilitating menstrual cramps. If you simply follow the tips that are listed, you will experience a great degree of relief.

The first step to mitigating your period symptoms is to radically alter your diet. A stated, you must prepare for these symptoms by pursuing a healthy diet before your menses even begins. However, your diet during your cycle matters as well. In terms of boosting the level of manganese levels in your diet, you should consume more almonds overall.

This is because manganese is uniquely endowed with the ability to help the body regulate its pain levels, and this applies to the menstrual cycle. Another key element of your diet should undoubtedly be calcium, as this reduces pain levels, as well. For this reason, consume more dairy products and other foods that contain high levels of calcium.

Using a heating pad to reduce the painful sensation in your lower abdomen is a very effective way to rid yourself of your pin. This increases blood flow in that region, enabling your blood vessels to permit realization in the muscle in that area.

Believe it or not, moderate exercise can counteract the pain that is associated with your menstrual cycle. Most people abstain from exercise because the pain is simply too debilitating. However, contrary to popular belief, the pain can actually be appeased by light to moderate exercise.

One great way to reduce your menstrual pain is to engage in the use of pressure points. As it turns out, different pressure points in the body actually correspond to energy pathways. And if you manipulate those pathways correctly, you can successfully reduce your body’s pain levels. Choose a pressure point corresponding to your type of pain, and localize pressure on that particular area. There are a few yoga poses that can actually decrease menstrual pain, and they include the head to knee forward bend, the noose pose, the camel pose, as well as the reclining big toe pose.

Breathing exercises, which are designed to relax the muscles, can alleviate the cramps to an extent by mitigating stress and enabling the uterine wall to release tension.

Do not dehydrate yourself with caffeine, as this will merely increase muscle tension. Drink the recommended amount of water in order to bolster your muscle relaxation and to reduce pain, as well. Just as you can obtain sufficient water throughout water itself, you can also select foods that contain high levels of water also, including celery.

Additional Tips

As you may already be aware of, the menstrual cycle is accompanied by far more than mere cramps. While the cramps singlehandedly afford you with the worst possible bodily sensations, accompanying systems can maximize the pain overall. Most women complain incessantly of bloating during this time of the month, and weight gain is fairly common.

In order to counteract weight gain, you should not resort to consuming more caffeine. As stated, caffeine can actually increase your muscle tension and your painful symptoms, also. To combat bloating, you must do something that is counterintuitive. By increasing your water intake, you can compel your body to shed any excess water that it has accumulated in the process. Furthermore, you can resort to using natural diuretics, which can be found in vegetables and fruits. This allows you to forego the use of caffeine.

Another common ailment that is experienced during the menstrual cycle is mood disturbances and fatigue. If you are stricken with both lethargy and an unstable emotional state, then consider consuming foods that counteract these effects.

A proper diet truly is the hallmark of regulating period symptoms. For instance, a number of foods, including broccoli, allow your brain to produce more serotonin and elevate your mood state overall. Furthermore, in terms of fatigue, natural carbohydrates, such as oranges, can be used to energize you.

Advantage to Relieving Cramps

When you transition from a physical state of excruciating pain, to a physical state of immense relief, the feeling is simply indescribable. When you implement the techniques learned in this article, you will find that you can still enjoy life, attend work, and events without being bedridden during your cycle. Your life does not have to be ruled by pain, if you know how to stop menstrual cramps fast through the aid of yoga, pressure points, and proper dieting.

That time of the month: dreaded, but yet a wonderful sign that your body is functioning within its normal parameters (and that you will be able to get pregnant if you want to).

Menstruation is nothing to joke about with the more than 15% of women in the United States who claim their menstrual cramps are severe.

Even when these cramps are not very intense, they can still cause discomfort and they can be very annoying.

And if you add cramps on to the wide variety of other symptoms women can experience before and during the first days of menstruation, you can understand why this is not the happiest part of a woman’s month.

Of course, some ladies don’t experience many symptoms (or none at all, for that matter) and others experience them in mild versions.

But for the unluckiest ones out there, menstruation is extremely difficult to deal with – to the point where it inhibits normal life from happening.

Menstrual Cramps: It All Starts with Day 1

Believe it or not, your body has been pre-programmed to contract the uterus during the menstruation from day 1 of the menstrual cycle.

At this point, the estrogen levels in your body will increase, preparing it for a potential pregnancy.

This will make the uterus thicken itself with a blood lining (to accommodate a baby if he comes) and it will also make the ovaries create an egg – an ovule – which will be released by the middle of the menstrual cycle.

When that happens, the estrogen levels will be quite high and the progesterone levels will also be increased.

In most of the times, the egg is not fecundated, which triggers another series of reactions in your body.

Prostaglandins will dry off the lining created by the uterus and they will also make it contract so that it can shed off the dried lining – this is precisely what menstruation is. These contractions don’t simply come and go though.

They come with pain in the lower abdomen, in the lower back and sometimes even in the legs as well (because the uterus and the legs share nervous terminations).

Therefore, from the very first day of your menstrual cycle, your body will know that it will have to go through everything if fecundation does not occur.

Estrogen and progesterone will slowly start to lower their levels as soon as they start approaching menstruation (if the fecundation did not happen) and this will trigger even more reactions in your body: the serotonin levels will drop, the endorphin levels will drop, the gamma-aminobutyric acid levels will drop, the norepinephrine levels and the epinephrine levels will also drop.

Since these neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain regulate things such as sleeping, mood, depression, anxiety, stress, pleasure and pain, it is only a natural reaction that PMS can get so hard on some of the ladies out there.

Drugs That May Help You

Modern medical knowledge has helped us a lot from many points of view.

Unfortunately, menstrual cramps cannot be eliminated once and for all (or at least not without serious consequences on your reproductive system).

But every month can be made easier for those of you who have to go through this.

The following 3 types of drugs are used quite frequently by women who suffer from the pain inflicted by their menstrual cramps:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

These are the common “pain killers” anyone can get at the drug store without a prescription. Among them, ibuprofen and naproxen-based drugs are the most common ones.

Also, ketoprofen is probably the strongest one, but this really depends on the country where you live, on who produces the drug and on how it is combined with other elements as well.

Some doctors will recommend women who suffer from more severe version of the normal menstrual cramps to start medicating 1 day before the date at which the menstruation is expected to start and to continue the medication for a few days – but never more than that.

Hormonal birth control pills

These are actual birth control pills that have been created based on hormones. Since hormones are the ones responsible with most of the symptoms felt by women both before and during the menstruation proper, birth control pills are believed to be able to ease off these symptoms – including menstrual cramps.

The more recently developed such pills have been researched to be more effective than the older formulae out there.

However, do bear in mind the fact that you should be fully informed on the fact that birth control pills can have harsh effects on your body if used on the long-term and that they should not be used unless you actually have a prescription for them.

Prescription pain medication

In the worst of the cases and when nothing else can be done, some of the doctors will want to prescribe pain medication that can only be released this way.

In addition to these drugs, there are some others that are either prescribed for the other symptoms that come along with menstruation (for instance, some will be prescribed with antidepressants).

Also, there are some drugs and treatments that are prescribed when the cause of the menstrual cramps is not the actual menstruation, but an underlying illness.

Here are the potential complications that can come with menstrual cramps:

1. This is a condition that makes the lining of the uterus grow on the outside of it
2. Uterine fibroids. These are noncancerous growths on the inside of your uterus walls.
3. This condition makes the lining tissue grow on the muscles of the uterus.
4. Cervical stenosis. This occurs when the opening of a woman’s cervix is too small and it does not allow the menstruation fluids to flow through properly.

In each of these cases, adequate treatment will be recommended. However, do keep in mind that you can be diagnosed with these illnesses only if you visit a doctor and undergo certain tests – and only then will your doctor be able to prescribe you with the right treatment.

Even more than that, you should not take any kind of pill (not even of the over the counter type) without prior medical consultation because these drugs can interfere with other treatments you are following and with certain medical conditions you may be suffering from.

It is not easy being a woman. Aside from all the feminism-related issues out there (woman oppression, discrimination and so on), all women out there have to face physiological issues men have absolutely no idea how they feel.

Menstrual cramps are among them and most of the women who suffer every month from the harsh pain will want to know how to get rid of these cramps. Read on and find out more!

The Anatomy behind Menstruation

Menstruating may not be the nicest thing out there, but the truth is that it is that “thing” that makes women fertile and able to bear children.

Regular menstruation means that the woman’s body is ready to become pregnant and that she is healthy enough to sustain the pregnancy until the delivery of the baby.

So, the next time you have unbearable menstrual cramps, remember that it is all for a great cause!

Basically, a normal menstrual cycle has 28 days (but slight variations are more than just normal as well and some women out there have cycles that are actually longer than that or shorter than that).

By the halfway of the menstrual cycle, your body will be ready for ovulation (for having ovules or eggs implanted with spermatozoids). Thus, the egg will begin to travel down the Fallopian tubes.

When this happens, the lining of the uterus will thicken with blood – just in case pregnancy occurs. In case pregnancy does not occur, the lining (and the egg itself) will not be useful any longer – so it will be released further on. This is your menstruation.

Menstrual Cramps: Why Do You get Them?

Menstrual cramps appear when the uterus is contracting to release the blood lining. Some women have this, some don’t.

Even more, there are multiple types of cramps: some are long lasting and annoying, while others are very painful and acute.

Some women experience menstrual cramps 1-2 days before the menstruation occurs, some experience them during their menstruation and the unluckiest ones have to face them both before and during the menstruation as well (with varying degrees of intensity).

Every human body is different and it may react differently to the menstrual cycle, so don’t worry if you notice that one of your friends doesn’t have cramps and you have or if they feel pain in their lower back rather than in their lower abdomen – it is normal!

Also, it is worth noting that there may be cramps that can point out a health issue. Primary dysmenorrhea occurs normally, as explained above and it can vary in intensity, duration and type of pain.

However, secondary dysmenorrhea occurs when there may be a health issue such as uterine fibroids (non-cancerous tumors in the inside wall of the uterus), endometriosis (when the tissue of the uterus’ lining develops outside of the actual uterus), the pelvic inflammatory disease (a sexually transmitted infection that is caused by a bacterium), cervical stenosis (when the cervix is not opened enough and this limits the blood flow) or adenomyosis (when the tissue lining the uterus grows inside the muscles of the uterus).

Together with menstrual cramps, women experience a series of other symptoms (which can also be felt both during the menstruation and before it).

These symptoms are very frequently referred as Pre Menstrual Symptoms (or PMS) and they include bloating, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, loose stools (and even diarrhea), constipation, lightheadedness, headaches and sweating as well.

Risk Factors in Severe Menstrual Cramps

According to recent studies, only about 15% of the women out there would describe their menstrual pain as being severe. Medical professionals have also identified a series of risk factors that influence the intensity of the cramps:

1. Generally, women who do not exercise generally have more painful cramps than those who do.
2. It has also been shown that emotional stress can increase the intensity of the cramps.
3. Women who are younger than 20 of age may experience more severe menstrual cramps as well.
4. Also, heavy bleeding during the menstruation can lead to a more severe type of pain.
5. Not having given birth yet is also believed to influence the intensity of the menstrual pain.
6. Last, but not least, research has shown that those who start puberty at an age younger than 11 can develop more severe cramps during their menstruation.

How Do You Get Rid of Them?

Unfortunately, being fertile also means that there is a certain degree of likelihood that you will experience menstrual cramps.

You cannot get rid of these cramps “once and for all”, but you can indeed ameliorate the symptoms that come with them. Here are some things you should certainly keep in mind:

1- Over the counter medication is one of the most commonly encountered types of treatment women in this situation acquire. Pain killers, anti-vomiting pills and several other types of pills can alleviate the symptoms.

2- Many physicians will prescribe their patients with hormonal birth control pills, which can get rid of the PMS symptoms altogether and can regulate the menstrual cycle as well.

Although some women believe that this may not be a safe way, the truth is that the largest majority of the doctors out there would recommend this solution – especially in the case of the severe cramps.

3- Some physicians may recommend certain types of vitamin supplements as well. Vitamin E, thiamin and omega-3 (which can be taken from foods such as salmon, for example) are known to help with PMS symptoms in general.

4- Home remedies can work as well. Taking a hot bath, placing a bottle with hot water on your belly (or a heating pad, for that matter) and massages can really help. Furthermore, sex can help as well.

5- Eastern remedies are quite commonly encountered too. It is believed that Yoga and Acupuncture can alleviate the pain and the other symptoms that come with menstrual cramps too. Also, some women practice meditation, as it takes their mind off the pain.

Menstruation is not even by far the most joyous time of a woman’s month. It is, of course, a very efficient reminded on the fact that you are healthy from the reproductive point of view.

But other than that, nothing is happy about it. Even when you don’t experience any kind of symptoms, it will still feel uncomfortable – not to mention when the symptoms you experience make you unable to actually do something. And this happens every single month for several decades!

Menstrual cramps are among the most unbearable of all the menstruation symptoms out there. Most of the women don’t experience very severe cramps indeed, but according to recent studies, 15% of them have stated that they actually feel their cramps as severe.

Even when they are very painful, you should know that they can be normal. Unless they are not associated with fever and unless they last longer than 3 consecutive days, they are most likely normal.

Luckily, with the modern knowledge, it is more than possible to make your life easier to handle when you are having your period. But it all begins with knowing exactly why it is that you get these symptoms and with knowing exactly why you get to menstruate in the first place.

A Complex Mechanism

Everything in the human body, from the way you blink to the way you breathe and eat is controlled by a system on its own which “collaborates” with all the other symptoms perfectly.

The reproductive system makes no exception from this rule – and much less the female reproductive system, which will always be more complex than the male one, especially considering the fact that women have to bear children and they have to “accommodate” the baby for no less than 9 months.

So, the reproductive system is very much connected with hormones, which are the ones that basically dictate everything that happens during a menstrual cycle. Estrogen, for example, helps with the releasing of the ovule(s) when the time comes.

Progesterone is also involved in the entire process, and, as its levels drop, symptoms such as bloating and gas appear. In addition to hormones, there are other chemicals involved in menstruation as well.

Prostaglandins, for example, are the ones responsible with the release of your uterus’ lining and, as recent studies show, with symptoms such as diarrhea.

When you menstruate, what happens is actually your body releasing the blood lining it has built on the walls of the uterus (a means of protecting it in case pregnancy occurs and a baby has to develop there).

In addition to this release, there are many other symptoms caused by various reasons (such as shown above as well). Menstrual cramps are probably among the most commonly encountered of these symptoms and most of the women feel them in the lower abdomen area or in the lower back area as well.

However, in certain situations, you may feel pain in your legs too and following you will learn why this happens.

Menstrual Cramps in Legs? How Did It Get to It?

Remember when this article mentioned that the human body is an incredibly complex mechanism and that the reproductive system makes absolutely no exception from this rule? As you probably know it, leg pain is quite common out there and although it may seem odd, it can indeed be related to menstruation.

Some specialists say that leg pain during the period occurs due to dehydration, due to mineral deficiency, as well as due to vitamin deficiency. This is quite plausible, considering the fact that many women also have other symptoms of this deficiency when they are menstruating.

Also, there are cases in which the leg pain is caused by the simple fact that the uterus and the legs share a nervous pathway which basically means that the contractions in the uterus can be felt in the legs as well.

Last, but not least, there is the case when a disease may interfere with the menstruation cycle. Dysmenorrhea, for instance, is a very commonly encountered medical condition that does not necessarily interfere with a woman’s ability to reproduce, but which can cause heavy discharge, severe pain, dizziness, diarrhea, bloating and pain in the legs as well.

Also, endometriosis is a more serious medical affection that causes the uterine tissue to grow in other parts of the body than the actual uterus.

Most of the lesions created by this are in the pelvic region, but they can sometimes appear in other areas of the body as well, such as the appendix, the bladder, the colon, the rectum and the bowel.

This disease is treatable, but if the person having it does not get treatment, it can indeed interfere with that person’s ability to bear children.

All of the symptoms caused by menstruation (and by the issues associated with it, to be more precise) can be alleviated either with over the counter medication or by other means as well.

For instance, for the well-known menstruation cramps some of the physicians out there prescribe women with hormone-based birth control pills which can regulate the menstruation and the balance between the various hormones.

Also, you can alleviate pain in other ways as well. One method that always seems to work is simply placing a heating pad on your lower belly. This can help both with the cramps felt in that precise area and with the cramps felt in the legs.

Eating well can really help. If you know exactly when your period will be, then you should focus even more than the usual on eating foods rich in vitamins (Vitamin E in particular), in healthy fats, in fiber with as little sugar as possible. Do try to introduce foods with Omega-3 in your diet these days because it is known that it can help.

Also, try to exercise regularly because working out releases the happiness hormones and it will make you feel much better. Even stretching a bit can release hormones that will alleviate the pain, so do make sure that you try at least, even if the pain may seem very difficult.

Do you fear your monthly cycle because of pain issues? Numerous women experience the ill effects of tormenting periods, ignorant of the compelling regular cures that can make their periods more agreeable.

Some people have seen numerous patients go from taking great measurements of ibuprofen or acetaminophen amid their periods to utilizing little or none whatsoever, simply by actualizing a couple of basic techniques.

You may ask why you need to endure cramps in any case. The clarification lies in the way that your uterus must shed its regular covering every month; this is a job that requires your uterine muscle to contract.

As it contracts, veins that supply the uterus with blood get to be contracted, which lessens the blood flow and brings about cramping and pain.

For some women, the hormonal changes that trigger monthly cycle may be more affirmed, bringing about the uterus to contract overzealously, and all the more painfully.

It can make things difficult for you to get through your period and it can make you feel as if you are in a lot of pain all of the time. In short, it becomes miserable to even try and function.

From the viewpoint of traditional medicine, extreme menstrual pain  is viewed as a state of “stagnation.” Stagnation alludes to an absence of energy (for this situation, blood) moving through an organ.

With menstrual issues, stagnation is thought to “get stuck” in the lower stomach area and get to be disturbed or enacted when the body tries to begin shedding tissue.

To address the overabundance of constriction and choking that cause painful periods, attempt the accompanying tips.

The thought behind all of these ideas is to help manage blood stream in the lower mid-region, standardize smooth muscle withdrawal, and decrease spasms.

You can attempt them each one in turn and see which approach works best for you, or you can attempt all of them together to attain the most extreme impact.

Try taking supplements on a regular basis to reduce the pain. Supplements are, perhaps, one of the best ways for you to get some of the pain away from your system.

There are all sorts of supplements and nutrients that you can put into your body Take calcium and magnesium supplements as the month progressed, as these supplements work in show to help muscle unwinding.

You ought to go for an aggregate of approximately 800mg of calcium every day, and up to 300mg of magnesium on a daily basis. On the off chance that you encounter detached stools or constipation issues, decrease the measurements.

If you’re taking calcium, many professionals propose that you utilize calcium citrate, on the grounds that it has a tendency to be better absorbed into the body than calcium carbonate.

Drink plenty of tea during PMS and while you are going through your menstrual cycle, and avoid coffee.  Raspberry leaf tea is thought to be a mellow uterine tonic. Attempt a mug of raspberry leaf tea every day as the month progresses.

There are plenty of brands that offer raspberry leaf tea, so look around at your local stores and see if you can find a brand that you enjoy.

Remember you are searching for the home grown tea, not raspberry-enhanced dark tea, because it will not have the same effect if you are using the latter.

Coffee, because of its caffeine, makes your veins constrict even further than they already are. Without a doubt, it may cause the vessels that surround the uterus to tighten more than they do in those who don’t drink coffee.

In case you’re a diehard coffee fan and can’t remove it completely, just avoid it during the time prior to and during your period.

Always try a heating pad. It sounds incredibly simple, but it can actually make a huge difference in your pain reduction. By putting a heating pad over your pelvic region, you can help the blood to flow more easily and you can reduce a lot of the pain that you are feeling.

It also feels really good and can help you go to sleep at night if your period is keeping you up late at night.

Try to eat more leafy greens. Leafy greens are a dietary wellspring of magnesium, calcium, and innumerable different micronutrients. These supplements are crucial for intervening with your muscle constrictions.

In some traditional forms of dietary treatment, green vegetables are likewise thought to be gently purifying, which is the thing that the body needs in a “stagnation” condition.

A few greens, for example, dandelion greens (which can be bitter, but they are the most effective in this category) additionally have a gentle diuretic impact, which decreases bloating.

Consider acupuncture as a natural remedy. Certain needle therapy focuses are thought to direct blood flow through the pelvic region and unwind the sensory system, which can help calm down the constriction of your blood flow.

Studies demonstrate that needle therapy is almost as successful as over-the-counter painkillers for decreasing the cramps that you are dealing with during your period.

Notwithstanding pain help, don’t be shocked if these progressions additionally prompt better nutrient absorption, better rest, and a more cheerful disposition.

Then again, if these measures are insufficient to enhance your personal satisfaction, an acupuncturist or naturopath can offer you further refinement of regular methodologies and give you instructions on how you can start to feel better, even if your period is driving you absolutely crazy.

As you can see, there are a lot of things that you can do in order to help relieve the pain that you are feeling as a result of your menstrual cycle, and they don’t necessarily have to involve popping a lot of pills.

Natural remedies can work just as well and you aren’t putting a lot of foreign chemicals into your body as part of the process.

So try these out for yourself, see which ones work, and get the relief from your menstrual period that you have been seeking out for years.

If you leave aside these symptoms and you think of the purpose of your reproductive system, you will realize just how important it is to feel the same every month.

Of course, not all women out there experience these symptoms. Some only have some of the symptoms, others have them all. Some women experience mild symptoms, while the others experience them in their full force. And some other women experience only some of these symptoms and very severe.

To understand menstrual cramps and PMS, you should first start by understanding your reproductive system and how it functions. This way, you will be able to understand why so many women experience cramps during their menstruation and you will also be able to understand when to tell the difference between the normal cramps and those that may be the signs of an underlying illness.

Menstruation – What Is It, More Exactly?

Put very shortly, menstruation is the first sign that a woman has become able to bear children. On the inside of your body though, things get more complex than that. A woman’s menstrual cycle lasts somewhere around 28 days (more or less time than that is common as well). The beginning of the menstrual cycle is marked by the first day of menstruation.

Following the menstruation, the uterus lining will begin to thicken. Then there will come the ovulation phase, when the woman is most likely to get pregnant if the released ovule(s) encounter a spermatozoid. Following this phase, the walls of the uterus will continue to thicken until the lining will be released – which is when a new menstruation cycle begins.

Why the Pain?

When your body releases the uterus lining, the uterus will contract – and this is what causes the pain. The other so-called PMS symptoms occur either as the result of this particular change or as the result of the hormonal changes that take place in the body of a woman during the menstrual cycle.

Pain is normal when menstruating. In some cases, pain will occur 1-2 days before the menstruation begins, while in other cases it will occur in the first days of the menstruation. It can last for anything between 12 and 72 hours and it can be mild or severe as well. Furthermore, it may or may not be associated with the other symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, lightheadedness and so on.

What Is Normal and What Is Not Normal?

It is normal to feel pain, as it was also mentioned before. Our bodies are all different and different people may experience different symptoms at varying degrees of intensity. Furthermore, it is normal that you may feel different in one month than you usually feel. There are several risk factors, such as stress for example, that may influence whether or not you will get menstrual cramps.

Furthermore women younger than 20, women who have never had a baby or women who do not exercise are generally more prone to develop menstrual cramps than other women. Also, girls who have had their first menstruation before the age of 11 also show more risk of feeling menstrual pain.

Even more than that, whether or not you get menstrual cramps or if it will ameliorate as the years go by can also vary a lot from one person to another. Some women experience mild or even severe cramps when they are young, but they get rid of these symptoms as they grow older.

Some women experience severe cramps on a regular basis and that is quite normal. However, you should absolutely know the fact that not all cramps are normal and that sometimes they may be a sign that there is an illness you have to treat.

However, in most of the times these cramps will be extremely severe and they will last for several days in a row. Also, if you normally use tampons during your menstruation and experience fever, cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and rashes that look like sunburns, make sure that you contact the doctor immediately.

Which Are the Illnesses Connected to Menstrual Cramps?

There are some diseases out there that may manifest themselves through symptoms such as menstrual cramps, but only under the circumstances mentioned above. It is important that you know exactly which these diseases are, so that you can be fully informed on what could have gone wrong with your body in the event such an illness develops.

1. Uterine fibroids – these are tumors that are non-cancerous and that grow in the wall of the uterus.
2. Cervical stenosis – this disease occurs when the cervix is too tight and it cannot allow the blood to be eliminated completely.
3. Adenomyosis – a disease characterized by the fact that the tissue supposed to line the walls of the uterus grows into the muscular part of the uterus itself.
4. Pelvic inflammatory disease – this is a sexually transmitted infection that is caused by a particular bacterium.
5. Endometriosis – a disease characterized by the wrongful growth of the lining of the uterus on its outside instead of on its inside.
6. Toxic shock syndrome – this can become life-threatening and it is characterized by the symptoms described above. If you use tampons and you experience fever, rashes, diarrhea and vomiting, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Other than these cases, your menstrual cramps are normal. If you feel that they are too severe, visit your doctor. He/she may be able to recommend you with a series of vitamin supplements or even with contraceptive pills that can regulate the menstruation and alleviate the symptoms related to it.