Home Remedies for Cramps

By: Cynthia Ramos & Daira Ruiz

Period 8

Drink Water

It sounds odd, but drinking water keeps your body from holding in water and helps to avoid painful bloating during menstruation. Warm or hot water is usually better for cramps, as hot liquids increase blood flow to the skin and may relax cramped muscles.

CalciumCalcium can help reduce muscle cramping during menstruation. The Mayo Clinic recommends 1,000 mg per day for women between the ages of 19-50. Foods high in calcium include:

• dairy products

• sesame seeds

• almonds

• leafy green vegetables

Do's & Don'ts

Stay warm. Women who stay warm during their period are less prone to cramps.

Exercise regularly.

Try using sanitary pads. Tampons can cause cramping.

Do the pelvic tilt to relieve cramps. Lie on your back with your knees bent.

Take a nice hot bath.

Relax. Listen to soothing music. Read a good book.

Talk to your doctor about your birth control choices. The Pill can relieve symptoms: It lessens cramps and flow, shortens the length of the period, and makes a menstrual period regular.

Home Remedies from the Spice Rack

Basil

Cinnamon

Fennel

Ginger

Mint

Mustard

Home Remedies from the Sink

Hot water. Put it in a hot water bottle and place on your stomach to relieve cramps. Or, soak a kitchen towel heat in microwave for a minute, and place on stomach

Water. Drink plenty of it. Dehydration can cause the body to produce a hormone called vasopressin that contributes to cramps.

Home Remedies from the Refrigerator

Citrus fruits. Eat or drink with your meals to help iron go into the body, since iron is easily lost during menstruation.

Dried apricots. These are high in iron, which is important during menstruation because iron supplies can be lost with heavy bleeding. Other iron-rich foods are: liver, legumes, shellfish, and fortified breads and cereals.

Red meat. It's loaded with iron as well as zinc. Zinc is necessary for healthy bones, and a zinc deficiency may result in amenorrhea. Other iron- and zinc-rich foods: poultry, fish, green leafy vegetables.

Drink Chamomile tea

A study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Chemistry found that there might be pain-relieving properties in this fragrant tea. "This is one of a growing number of studies that provide evidence that commonly used natural products really do contain chemicals that may be of medicinal value," said Elaine Holmes, Ph.D., a chemist with the Imperial College of London.

Eat a banana

Bananas contain potassium, which may reduce cramps, as cramps could be due to a potassium deficiency. Other foods that contain loads of potassium include:

White beans, such as Adzuki, soy, or Lima beans

Leafy greens, such as spinach or kale

Dried fruits, such as apricots, prunes, or raisins

Fish, such as salmon, halibut, and tuna

Tips Don't wear things that are tight

around the waist. For example, skinny jeans, elastic plants, tight waisted jeans. Try and just wear loose fitted shorts, and sweats.

Lift your feet up while laying down and get a heat pad and place it on top of you stomach, it's works amazingly.

Massage the area where the cramps are coming from.

Use breathing to relieve the pain: Breathe slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth.

Leaning forward helps.

More Tips Lay on your side with your knees

bent and legs curled inward, like you're rolling up into a ball

Lie on your stomach with a pillow directly under where the cramps are.

Get on your knees and lean forward over them, so that your knees are pressing on to your stomach

Distract yourself. Stay active to take your mind off the pain. Or, try not think about it. Focusing too much on the pain will make it feel worse.

Fill a sock with rice, beans, or flax seeds and microwave for 1 minute, then put it on your abdomen.

Push between big toe and little toe as a pressure point to relieve pain.

Video links:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/womens-health/ideas-for-menstrual-cramp-relief.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-93qWK5uZM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tD8Aug6r2U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVTfxV6NbH4

Bibliography

http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/menstrual-cramp-remedies

http://www.thankyourbody.com/menstrual-cramp-remedies-natural/

http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Menstrual-Cramps.html

http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/home-remedies-for-menstrual-cramps-easy-and-simple-natural-cure-5382891.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ab_paid_12&gclid=CNHEz9qQ3rwCFYhbfgod_xAACA