How to get rid of menstrual pain without the need to take medication

Menstrual pain is a frequent complaint of a number of women each month. You are not alone. At least 3 in 4 women experience mild menstrual pain, while 1 in 10 experience severe symptoms. Relax, there are several natural ways you can try to get rid of menstrual pain.

There are various ways to get rid of menstrual pain without drugs

Before rushing to take medicine, it's a good idea to try the following ways to deal with menstrual pain:

1. Moderate exercise

You may prefer to be lazy in bed while you have your period. However, moderate exercise can actually be a healthy way to relieve menstrual pain.

Exercising makes your blood circulation smoother. In addition, endorphins, which are produced as natural pain relievers, can help reduce the effects of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are hormones that make the uterus contract and cause cramps.

Exercise helps relax muscles and increase blood supply to the pelvis. Not only does it relieve pain, exercise also helps improve mood (mood) which is chaotic during menstruation.

There are many choices of sports that are safe and you can do them during your period. For example, light jogging or aerobic exercise. Exercise regularly, from before and during menstruation.

2. Compress the stomach

When menstruation feels painful, try compressing the stomach with a bottle of warm water. The heat will help relax tense uterine muscles, which can reduce pain.

Place a bottle of warm water wrapped in a washcloth whenever your stomach hurts. You can repeat it as often as possible. This method can relieve menstrual pain without causing any side effects.

Also, try taking a warm shower or bath. Warm baths not only reduce pain, but also relax your body and mind. A warm bath also helps relax the muscles in the stomach, back and legs.

3. Drink chamomile tea

If you've never tried chamomile tea, this might be a good time to give it a try.

A study published in the Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility said this flower-scented tea can help reduce menstrual pain that is not triggered by disease.

Chamomile tea contains a compound called hippurate. Hippurate is originally a natural compound in the body that fights inflammation.

These anti-inflammatory compounds can help reduce the production of prostaglandins, thereby relieving menstrual pain.

4. Acupuncture

There is a lot of evidence that acupuncture can be an effective way to treat menstrual pain.

Reporting from the pages of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, acupuncture can relieve the effects of stomach cramps due to menstruation.

For those of you who don't know, acupuncture is a traditional medicine that uses thin needles. These needles will be inserted into the skin at certain points of the body to stimulate the nerves in that area.

If you want to do acupuncture, see a professional therapist to ensure safety. Do not carelessly choose a therapy location because the acupuncture needles that are used interchangeably can actually cause new diseases.

5. Take supplements

One study from Iral published in the journal Gynecological Endocrinology found that vitamin D supplements can reduce menstrual pain.

This study was conducted on 60 women who experienced menstrual pain and vitamin D deficiency. The participants were then divided into two groups, namely treatment and control.

The results showed the severity of menstrual pain was reduced quite drastically after 2 months of treatment. Each week they are asked to consume 50,000 IU of vitamin D for 8 weeks.

You can get vitamin D from supplements or from foods such as beef liver.

Apart from vitamin D, supplements of vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins B1, B6, and magnesium can also reduce stomach cramps.

But before consuming it, be sure to consult a doctor first. Ask your doctor for advice on the type of product and dosage you should take.

6. Avoid certain foods and drinks

You should avoid fatty foods, sugary foods, high salt foods, sodas and alcohol as natural ways to relieve menstrual pain.

Salt, sugar, fat, and alcohol can all cause water to build up in your body and cause flatulence. This can make menstrual pain worse.

In addition, you also need to avoid caffeine in coffee, tea, soda and chocolate. Caffeine can make stomach cramps and pain worse. Not to mention calculating the intake of sugar which is usually contained in caffeinated foods and drinks.

You can replace coffee and tea with warm ginger or lemon liqueurs. Ginger and lemon can help reduce stomach upset and have a calming effect.

High fiber foods such as vegetables and fruit are also recommended when you are experiencing menstrual pain. Although they do not reduce pain, these foods help provide the body with vitamins and minerals.

7. Stop smoking

Besides being bad for lung health, smoking can also worsen menstrual pain. The reason is, smoking limits oxygen supply to the pelvis.

Therefore, quitting smoking is the best way to relieve menstrual pain if you have been an active smoker.

Women who smoke can also be at risk of infertility, aka infertility.

8. Reduce stress

Did you know that stressful thoughts can trigger pain and make it worse?

During menstruation, stress can make stomach cramps worse. Therefore, an effective way to deal with menstrual pain is of course doing things that can reduce stress.

Everyone must have their own way to relieve stress. Watching movies, taking a leisurely walk, or just doing meditation can be options for reducing stress.

When stress strikes, you can start to take a deep breath while exhaling slowly. This breathing technique is the most simple way to get rid of stress and ease the burden on the head.

9. Drink water

Dehydration or lack of fluids is one of the causes of muscle cramps, including in the stomach.

Drinking water is a great solution for keeping the body hydrated. Adequate body fluid intake is an important key to relieving stomach cramps during menstruation.

By drinking lots of water, the body can avoid painful cramps. Apart from plain water, you can also drink pure juice without added sugar as a way to deal with menstrual pain.

If these various methods do not relieve your menstrual pain, then take pain relievers. You can try an over the counter NSAID drug such as ibuprofen. It would be even better if you consult your doctor first to find out the right dosage.