Period pain is a constant monthly battle for some women, disrupting normal activities and in some cases even preventing those routines from happening at all. While over-the-counter medications exist and can be used to alleviate the pain, some natural remedies are equally as effective and worth considering. We sought the help of our medical partner, Dr. Caleb Mawutor Dzunu, Family Physician at St. Luke Catholic Hospital, Ghana, to shed light on the causes, use of home remedies and when to seek medical help for menstrual cramps.
“Alternative and home remedies may help in dealing with period pain. They may also be used as adjuncts to medical treatment. However, at some point you may need to see your doctor to examine you and conduct some investigations.Your doctor may give you hormone therapy or even offer surgery depending on the cause,” advises Dr. Dzunu.
But what are the root causes of menstrual cramps?
“Causes of period cramps are usually classified into two groups,” clarifies Dr. Dzunu, “Primary causes, which are not caused by any condition and then secondary causes which are triggered by other conditions such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis and others. The primary causes generally start when younger and often get better when older.”
Regardless of the cause of unbearable period pain, Dr. Dzunu recommends the following five home remedies:
- Placing a hot water bottle on your lower abdomen
- Taking a hot water bath
- Exercising
- Getting your back massaged
- Getting enough rest
If you’re a tea drinker, chamomile tea can become a menstrual pain relief for you due to its fantastic medicinal properties and can help soothe you.
What about sex?
“Yes sex, exercising and eating your favorite food during this time has helped some women ease their pain and to improve their mood,” he confirms. “Sex, for instance, releases pleasure hormones and endorphins which are natural pain killers in the body. These activities also momentarily divert attention from the pain and have proven to be helpful for some women.”
However, just like any health condition, there may come a time when a trip to the doctor is necessary. This is when, according to Dr. Dzunu, home remedies and over-the-counter painkillers fail to relieve the pain. Also, if menstrual cramps occur when you’re older, it’s associated with very heavy bleeding or interferes with your work.
As a final advice, Dr. Dzunu says: “A positive lifestyle and physical fitness is generally helpful. Avoid smoking because it is thought to reduce the amount of oxygen to the body and this can worsen the pain.”