• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ranson
  • John F Dean
  • Pearl Sutton
  • paul wheaton
stewards:
  • Jay Angler
  • Anne Miller
  • Nicole Alderman
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Maieshe Ljin
  • Benjamin Dinkel
  • Jeremy VanGelder

Natural remedies for PMS and menstrual cramps

 
gardener
Posts: 1177
Location: Wheaton Labs
757
3
foraging books wofati food preservation cooking fiber arts building writing rocket stoves wood heat woodworking
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
What are the best natural ways to deal with PMS and/or menstrual cramps?
 
pollinator
Posts: 1255
Location: Chicago
428
dog forest garden fish foraging urban cooking food preservation bike
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
For me, the key to dealing with menstrual symptoms is recognizing and acknowledging what they are. It is said that menstruation is the only bleeding that is physiological, not pathological, it is helpful to view other menstrual symptoms the same way. So, for example, my lower back aches leading up to menstruation. It always happens, it does not mean that I have any injury or that there is anything wrong with my back--i.e. nothing pathological is happening. Knowing that it always happens the same and always goes away makes any symptoms more bearable.

If pain from any particular symptom like backache or migraine is interfering with life, I will treat the pain the same as any other pain.  But I will not stress about it because I know it will resolve itself in a day or so.
 
gardener
Posts: 828
Location: Central Indiana, zone 6a, clay loam
592
forest garden fungi foraging trees urban chicken medical herbs ungarbage
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I have found that making sure my nutrition is really on point, especially the week before makes a big difference. Avoiding processed stuff, eating lots of veggies, healthy fats and plenty of magnesium. If the cramps still show up, heat and restorative yoga are what I try first. If that doesn't work, cramp bark, hops, CBD or valerian have all helped.
The most helpful thing I have found was Mayan abdominal massage. It eliminated my otherwise debilitating cramps I'd had my whole life in one session! The therapist did a very detailed intake and explained that frequently, cramping occurs because the uterus has shifted out of proper position, preventing it from just draining via gravity. So it has to cramp to move the blood out. This can happen from injury, lifting too much, certain kinds of high impact exercise, poor posture, etc. She gently worked on my abdomen to help the uterus shift back to a more proper orientation. She also taught me a simple, quick (5-10 minute) self massage that I was to do daily. This was both to continue working on the adjustment she made and to help maintain the correct position.  I'm sure this self-massage was a big part of what helped. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
 
pollinator
Posts: 102
Location: Rural North Texas
28
purity solar homestead
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Honestly, heating pad.  I find that just a half an hour with a heating pad applied to the offending area either front or back does wonders.  
 
Power corrupts. Absolute power xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx is kinda neat.
Learn Permaculture through a little hard work
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic