NATURAL CRAMP TIPS

chirohito:

Foods: Stay away from caffeine (coffee) and sugar (pop/soda, chocolate, sugary snacks) for they create more intense cramps. Avoid cool foods as well (chilled dishes, ice cream *sobs*, etc.) Instead choose a diet of fresh fruit and vegetables. Go low on meat, dairy, and processed foods, and consume more “warming” meals (soup, tea, steamed vegetables).

Stretches and Practices That Help: Bring your knees to your chin while lying on your back and stay in position before lowering your legs again. Repeat a few times.

Or lie on your knees and bring your forehead down to touch the floor, or however far you can go comfortably. Stretch your arms ahead of you on the floor and breathe, like a feline. Hold for a moment or a minute. Continue as long as needed (look up other stretches in books or online to suit your personal needs).

•   Use a hot water bottle, warm towel, or fill a warm bath to soak in to relax your abdominal and body muscles.
•   Exercise. As much as most of us hate it. It starts off by distracting you from the pain and it increases menstrual flow so your period is over quicker.

Turn Into Tea Drinkers: Have lots of it, especially herbal ones with beneficial menstrual effects. Drink the types shown below one to three times a day as needed during the month of and during your cycle (consult a qualified healthcare provider before using just in case of allergic reactions):

Cramp Bark: Relieves any tense muscles, and relaxes excessive contractions of the uterus that also aids with back pain.

False Unicorn Root: More commonly used to help with fertility amongst other lavish things, this can be still used to deal with menstrual pain, although, this species is threatened, so please try not to use it!

Red Raspberry Leaf: This combats cramps and lightens blood flow.

White Dead Nettle: Once again a plant with many uses, such as sore throats and skin inflammations, although it needs to be applied to the direct area if used. Drink the tea for cramps, but other uses mostly require direct plant contact.

Homeopathic Remedies: You can take these in forms of pills; The homeopathic pills aim to trigger the body’s natural system of healing through plant-based medicines, not chemical substances. Once again, consult your physicians before using for dosage levels and body reactions:

Magnesium Phosphate: Used for all sorts of cramps, it is said if taken with hot water it improves its action.

Apis Mellifica: If you’re allergic to bees do not use this!

Maca Root: Cycle changes happen due to hormonal imbalance. This regulates hormones that control the function of the ovaries. They’re available in powder form or capsules.

Belladonna: Sackville-Baggins.

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum Thalictoides): Used commonly in tiny capsules, blue cohosh can also help with labour pains.

Chamomile: This plant contains high levels of glycine, which is a chemical that relieves muscle spasms and relaxes nerves. Higher glycine levels relax the uterus, therefore relaxes cramps.

Sabina: This lightens the blood flow as well works against vomiting from cramps and sorts of headaches and pain in the temples.

Nux Vomica: The seeds are taken from this plant and dried to remove the poison from its seeds. Various herbal preparations are made from these, including tinctures.

Chaste Berry: Take this preferably in a 20mg dose once to three times a day. This will help with hopefully cramps and to lighten your blood flow during menstruation.

Essential Oils and Such: These can be used in a warm bath or to rub onto your abdomen with a dilution of vegetable or (preferably) olive oil:

Chamomile

Lavender

Melissa

Marjoram

Rosemary

And to lighten your flow, rub the mixture below onto your stomach every night during menstruation. I got this nifty recipe from the internet, but have yet to test it:

•   2 tablespoon of a carrier oil (olive oil or sweet almond oil)
•   2 drops of rose attar
•   2 drops of Roman chamomile
•   2 drops of Clary sage
•   4 drops of sweet marjoram

Lastly, if you drink yarrow tincture a week before your period, it acts as a homeostatic that reduces bleeding by contracting tissues or blood vessels. You can buy this premade or make it yourself with the aid of a glass jar and some vodka:

Method One

Method two

Method Three

Method Four

Sources (may not include all):

ABC Homeopathy.” ABC Homeopathy. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 June 2014.

Curtis, Susan, and Romy Fraser. Natural Healing for Women: Caring for Yourself with Herbs, Homoeopathy & Essential Oils. London: Thorsons, 2003. Print.

Lawless, Julia. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism. Shaftesbury, Dorset: Element, 1995. Print.

Lust, John B. The Herb Book. New York: B. Lust Publications, 1974. Print.

Weiss, Gaea, and Shandor Weiss. Growing & Using the Healing Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale, 1985. Print.