Every month or so, the deluge comes — abdominal cramps, lower back pain, nausea, diarrhea, and more. Over half of women who menstruate experience period pain (dysmenorrhea) for at least one to two days every month. The main culprit of period pain are prostaglandins which provoke muscle contractions of the uterus causing pain and cramps. They are also responsible for causing nausea, diarrhea, and headaches felt during menstruation. While NSAIDs also counter the effects of prostaglandins, there are several ways to naturally combat period pain. Read below for more!
1. Heat
This isn’t just an old wives tale — heat therapy increases blood flow to muscles encouraging them to relax, great for reducing uterine cramping during menstruation. It can also mean fewer and less intense cramping as the increased blood flow brings more oxygen with it. In fact, research published in Evidence-Based Nursing found that topically applied heat was just as effective as ibuprofen for period cramps so instead of reaching for the pill bottle, try a hot water bottle instead!
2. Get Moving
Exercise may reduce pain by releasing endorphins that work by binding to opioid receptors in your brain and blocking the perception of pain. Endorphins also create the sensations of pleasure, which can take the focus away from discomfort. If yoga seems to be too much and you can’t get out of bed, take comfort in the fact that some studies recommend sex or masturbation as a strategy to reduce period pain, and sometimes its duration.
3. Drink Up
Ideally, you should drink between 6 and 8 glasses of water a day but during your period, increasing that amount can do wonders. Drinking more water can help ease bloating, which makes symptoms and discomfort worse. Try to stay away from alcohol and caffeinated drinks which increase dehydration and ultimately, cramping. If you don’t like water plain, try chamomile tea which is excellent for reducing cramping as it inhibits prostaglandins.
4. Try a CBD Infused Product
CBD inhibits the prostaglandin producing enzyme thereby causing health benefits like anti-inflammation, desensitized pain receptors, relaxed muscles, and vasodilation. It means fewer and less painful cramps due to increased blood flow and oxygen to the tissues. Recognizing these benefits, we’ve developed a CBD lotion at Maxim with 500mg CBD, kokum butter, and argan oil. Made with American hemp, the lotion is an all-natural, topical solution for pain relief that can be used on areas that get a beating during your period, like your lower back!
5. Eat “Properly”
One way to relieve period related pain is by eating a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods like cherries, blueberries, squash, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Coldwater fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, nuts, and foods with magnesium and zinc are also great choices. Spices like turmeric, ginger, fennel, and capsaicin have all also shown to help alleviate pain due to their anti-inflammatory properties so if you’re looking to relax and eat take out, try Indian food!