Are Cramps Normal?

It’s one of the more annoying aspects of being female. When that time of the month rolls around, abdominal pain sets in for most of us. Without the benefits of home remedies, we would be miserable for three to five days. If you’ve ever had a baby, you will recognize the sensation. It’s not that dissimilar to labor pain.

What causes this discomfort? The process of your reproductive tract works like this. Your ovaries release an egg, which travels through the fallopian tube to your uterus. If it joints a sperm cell, you become pregnant, and the lining of your uterus becomes the placenta. If it doesn’t, your uterus sheds the lining. To do so, it has to contract, which is what causes the pain.

There is some good news, you don’t have to just live with the pain. Many home remedies can help you reduce or get rid of it entirely. Here are a few tips for you to try:

Diet Matters: The reduction of one thing can make the world of difference in this situation. Watch the sodium, particularly salt. It causes water retention and it can cause a lot of pain. It’s not easy to avoid, as it’s in so many packaged or frozen goods, but it is worth the effort.

Feet Up: I’ve found that propping my feet up for a while can be helpful. It helps to reduce the swelling that can also occur during menstruation.

Herbal Remedies: Chaste tree (sometimes called vitex), cramp bark, raspberry leaves and wild yam may help reduce the pain, tone the uterus and help support the reproductive tract. Raspberry leaf is one of the best resources for this problem. Willow bark contains the same active ingredient as aspirin, and could stop the pain.

Walking: If the pain allows you, alternate walking with propping your feet up. This is advice often given to women in labor, and it should be helpful during your period.

Warmth: Being cold can be helpful in some situations, but this is not one of them. Make sure you keep warm, especially your feet. If you live where it gets very cold in the winter, make sure your thermostat is set properly and dress warmly when you go out.

If these remedies don’t work, talk to your doctor. There are a few medical conditions that could cause the cramping. Also, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any medications, as there can be side effects and drug/herb interactions that could cause you problems.