Sep 12, 2018

Five Remedies to Help Ease Period Pain

You spend 10 minutes tossing and turning, re-adjusting pillows and the waistband of your comfy trackies, finally finding the sweet spot that settles your uterus… only to have to repeat the same thing just 14 seconds later. Sound familiar? We feel you girlfriend, that time of the month can be a REAL pain.

What is it and how is it caused? Period pain, also known as dysmenorrhoea, happens when your body produces natural chemicals (called prostaglandins) that collect in the uterus lining. These chemicals are what help the uterus shed the lining during your period, by making the walls of your uterus contract. Studies have shown that those of us who experience period pain may have higher levels of prostaglandins, making those contractions feel painful. #ouch.

Unfortunately, there’s no total cure for the dreaded pain that can come at that time of the month. We’ve still got your back though, sharing our 5 absolute go-to remedies that’ll *hopefully* help get you through it.

 

5 Top Tips for Period Pain

1. Hot water bottle: For some instant relief, whip out your favourite hottie pack and rest it on your lower abdomen. The heat can help ease the pain by relaxing your muscles and increasing blood flow.

2. Chamomile tea & Netflix: Get the kettle boiling, snuggle up on the couch and get in a few eps of Riverdale. Chamomile tea is not only great for creating calm, it also has anti-inflammatory properties. #winning!

3. Gentle exercise: It’s probably the last thing on our minds, and that’s totally okay, sisters. But gentle exercise has actually been shown to help relieve PMS symptoms like cramps, bloating, headaches and lower back pain. Our fave activities? Heading out for some fresh air and a light walk, or taking a slow yoga class; bonus points for that mindfulness and meditation time!

4. Eating well: We know the cravings can be seriously REAL at that time of the month, but be sure to keep fuelling your body with nutritious food! Reach for good fats; like avo and nuts, foods that are rich in omega 3 and iron; like salmon or eggs, and bananas for a big dose of potassium and vitamin B. But hey, you can still treat yourself to that block of Cadbury (or Whittakers for our NZ sisters!) #beenthere. In fact, dark chocolate is rich in magnesium and high in antioxidants, which increases blood flow, helps to relax muscles and alleviate menstrual cramps. Life is all about
balance, right?

5. Painkillers: Save the aspirin and ibuprofen for when the pain is really bad. While they definitely can bring about some effective relief, popping too many too frequently can potentially cause some nasty side effects.

 

And on a last, super important note, many girls think that painful periods are just part of life.  However, if your period pain is excruciating every month, you don’t need to just #dealwithit – see your GP or health professional as there could be a deeper health issue, such as Endometriosis.

Where to go for more information, support or help? Your GP is always the best starting point.

 

Love, Libra x

 

 

Asaleo Care makes no warranties or representations regarding the completeness or accuracy of the information. This information should be used only as a guide and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional, medical or other health professional advice.

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