Remedies for Menstrual Pain

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Menstrual pain (or dysmenorrhea) afflicts the vast majority of women during their fertile age. It is a physical and psychological discomfort of high medical interest, often so annoying and debilitating as to heavily compromise normal daily activities.

Dysmenorrhea does not simply coincide with the menstrual cycle. Typical symptoms - diarrhea, cramping abdominal pain, low back pain, sweating, breast tenderness and dizziness - also begin a few days before the onset of menstruation.

The published material is intended to allow quick access to general advice, suggestions and remedies that doctors and textbooks usually dispense for the treatment of Menstrual Pain; such indications must in no way substitute the opinion of the attending physician or other health specialists in the sector who are treating the patient. : Anxiety and worry can aggravate menstrual symptoms

Apply a bag of hot water on the abdomen: the heat applied directly on site alleviates pain, relaxes the abdominal muscles and relieves cramps

Immerse yourself in hot water. Even a hot bath can relieve abdominal pain, as well as generate a pleasant feeling of well-being and relaxation.

Spread the daily meals into many small snacks

If necessary, supplement the diet with a supplementation of vitamins and minerals (especially calcium, magnesium, potassium)

Practice constant physical exercise: sport is a particularly effective remedy for mood

Follow yoga, pilates or any other form of relaxation, so that in addition to the physical, the psyche can also benefit

Alternative remedies. Perform acupressure on the sides of the heel, slowly rising towards the calf. According to foot reflexology, the reflexes of all organs are placed on the feet: massage in a specific point of the foot (in this case, corresponding to the tissues involved in menstruation) can alleviate menstrual pain

In some women, acupuncture is an effective remedy for relieving painful menstrual symptoms

Drink hot liquids (broth, milk, decaffeinated tea, soups)

Acquiring breathing and meditation techniques can be useful for decreasing the sense of anxiety and irritability that characterizes the menstrual period

Practice a massage at the level of the lower abdomen. Although this may be apparently ineffective or trivial, the massage can actually give immediate relief and attenuate menstrual pain.

Losing weight (in case of overweight / obesity)

Engage in "aerobic sporting activity such as swimming or water aerobics, which increases circulating levels of serotonin and dopamine

Control hunger by preferring whole foods (pasta, rice) and rich in fiber (lentils and chickpeas)

and tight belts: such behavior can potentiate menstruation-dependent abdominal pain

Drinking alcohol (wine, vodka, whiskey): alcohol can foment the feeling of bloating, which is important in itself during menstruation

Take caffeine

Take diuretics (unless otherwise indicated by the doctor). The administration of these drugs favors a greater excretion of mineral salts (in addition to water)

Depression, anxiety and stress potentiate menstrual pain

To smoke

Sedentary lifestyle. A sedentary lifestyle can aggravate abdominal pain during menstruation

Insert vaginal tampons frequently during menstruation. Frequent use of tampons can accentuate pain and the sensation of local discomfort and irritation. It is advisable to alternate the use of internal tampons with external pads or menstrual cups

Stand for a long time

Binge eating: the "abnormal" hunger that characterizes the menstrual period must be kept under control

. Especially during the menstrual cycle, it is good practice to consume healthy and easily digestible foods, avoiding excesses

Consume foods rich in omega-3s, (rich in EPA and DHA): salmon, oily fish, flaxseed oil, fish oil

Supplement the diet with vitamin B6 and magnesium, important elements for the synthesis of serotonin

Cereals, legumes, potatoes

Foods rich in iron such as oats, muesli, lentils and bran, always to be associated with foods with a good amount of vitamin C, which allows the absorption of iron

o rich in fats: these foods enhance the "swelling" effect typical of dysmenorrhea

Nervous, caffeinated foods: it is recommended to eliminate or limit coffee, chocolate, tea and cola-based drinks during menstruation. Foods rich in caffeine are exciting, therefore they can accentuate the discomfort during menstruation (caffeine can induce tachycardia, hypertension, nervousness, tremor)

Chocolate and sweet food during the afternoon

they can relieve abdominal cramps, as well as promote relaxation and anxiety relief. Here are some examples:

• Potentilla Anserina And Pontetilla tormentilla → exploited for its spasmolytic properties, to relieve abdominal pain during the menstrual period
• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) → antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory properties
• Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) → spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic properties
• Melissa (Melissa officinalis) → relaxing, anxiolytic, antidepressant, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Regulates intestinal function
• Piscida (Piscidia erythrina) → pain relieving, antispasmodic and muscle relaxant properties
• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) → antispasmodic, prokinetic, spasmolytic properties
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale) → anti-emetic properties: menstrual pains can occur with such intensity as to induce nausea
• Angelica sinensis (Dong quai) → the natural remedy comes to us from Chinese medicine. This plant is indicated to treat chronic fatigue and abdominal cramps that characterize the menstrual period

We remind you that the effect of herbal teas is modest: severe menstrual pains cannot be completely removed with the help of herbal teas alone.

) such as, for example, ibuprofen

The administration of estrogen-progestin hormones considerably reduces the severity of menstrual cramps, thanks to the ability to reduce uterine contractility and inhibit ovulation. Hormone therapy is generally prescribed only in particularly severe cases of dysmenorrhea.

Always follow a healthy and balanced diet, free of excesses, not only during menstruation

that uterine blood loss decreases. Remember that menstrual pain afflicts almost all women during their fertile age.

When menstrual pain depends on an underlying pathology (e.g. fibroid, endometriosis, uterine polyp, endometrial polyp, etc.), it is necessary to intervene by surgical ablation of the abnormal tissue (therapeutic hysteroscopy)

Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) is conceivable when dysmenorrhea depends on large fibroids or malignant uterine tumors