What Are The Natural Ways To Handle Painful Menstruation?

Painful menstruation or dysmenorrhea as it is medically termed is a painful condition of menstrual cramps due to uterine contractions. The pain generally begins 1 or 2 days before or during the first two days of bleeding. The pain is mostly felt in the lower abdomen, back and inner thighs. The pain may vary from mild to severe and is sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fatigue and loose stools.

Types of dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea: it is the pain associated with regular periods. It is felt during every monthly period and is not associated with any pathological conditions. This type of menstrual cramp gradually becomes less painful as age goes by and might become painless after childbirth.

Secondary dysmenorrhea: it is associated with some pathological conditions of the reproductive organs of the women. Some of the conditions are endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory diseases, cervical stenosis, uterine fibroids, etc. The pains are earlier and long-lasting, which may or may not be associated with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Causes

Painful menstruation is due to menstrual cramps which are caused by contractions of the uterine muscles induced by a hormone-like secretion called prostaglandins. The uterine contractions are stronger during menses and this puts pressure on the adjacent blood vessels and cuts off the oxygen supply to the muscles of the uterus. This loss of oxygen supply causes muscle cramps.

Menstrual cramps can also be caused by secondary causes such as:

• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Adenomyosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Cervical stenosis.

Symptoms of painful menstruation

• Cramping pain in the abdomen
• Pressure in the abdomen
• Pain in the hip, lower back, and inner thighs
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Loose stools
• Headache
• Dizziness

Also Read Painful Menstruation: Causes, Symptoms and Relief

Natural ways to relieve menstrual cramps

• Placing a heating pad or hot water bottle on the back and abdomen can bring some comfort.
• Massaging the lower back and abdomen.
• Regular exercise helps to prevent cramps, especially walking and swimming.
• Proper and enough rest.
• Balanced and nutritious diet.
• Practising meditation, relaxing techniques and yoga help to relieve menstrual pains.
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
• Taking a warm bath.
• Taking foods rich in calcium, magnesium, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Reduced intake of coffee, sugar and salt can prevent bloating and pressure on the uterus.
• Avoid physical and mental stress.

Risk factors

• Women younger than age 30
• Girls who attain early puberty
• Heavy bleed during periods
• Irregular menstruation
• have a family history of menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea)
• Family history of dysmenorrhea

Also Read How Homeopathic Medicines Help to Get Relief from painful menstruation?

Homeopathic Treatment For Painful Menstruation

Caulophyllum thalictroides

Menstrual cramps which occurs at the onset of menses with scanty flow.

Colocynthis

Menstrual cramps better by bending over, pressure and heat.

Ipecac

Menstrual cramps with heavy bleeding and clots, associated with nausea.

Lilium tigrinum

Menstrual cramps with a bearing down sensation in the abdomen. Feels as if the uterus is pushed out and has to sit with crossed legs.

Veratrum album

Menstrual cramps with heavy bleeding, extreme prostration, vomiting and diarrhea. Menses too early and too prolonged.

Belladonna

Very acute and throbbing pains in the abdomen. The pain begins and ends suddenly with menses. Cramp-like pains with intense pressure and weight in the lower abdomen. Bearing down sensation in the abdomen feels as if the pelvic organs will fall out. Pain is relieved by pressure and from sitting.

Sepia

Painful menses with violent stitches upward in the vagina. Sharp lancinating pains from the uterus to umbilicus. It is indicated for all kinds of menstrual irregularities. Bearing down sensation as if the organs would protrude through the vagina and has to sit with crossed legs. Headache with scanty flow.

Nux Vomica

Menses too early, profuse, lasts too long with pain at the onset of menses. Menses every two weeks, irregular, never at right time, stopping and starting again. Violent spasmodic pains in the abdomen and lower back. Labour like pains, causing the urge to pass stool or urinate.

Calcarea Carbonicum

Painful menses with headache and dizziness. Menses too early, too profuse and long lasting. Breasts are tender and swollen during menses. The least mental excitement triggers the bleeding.

Sabina

Labor like or colicky pain in the abdomen and drawing pains extending from sacrum to pubes. Menses too early, profuse, protracted, partly fluid and partly clotted. Painful menses in women who had early puberty. Discharge of blood between periods.

Kali Carbonicum

Backache before and during menses. Pain better by pressure on the back. The back pain makes it difficult for her to walk.

Cyclamen

It is a great remedy for membranous and congestive dysmenorrhoea. Menses too early, too profuse, black and clotted, accompanied by vertigo, headache and dimness of vision. Pressing pains. The person feels better during flow.

Ammonium Carbonicum

Menses preceded by gripping colic. The menses is too early, profuse and acrid which makes the thighs sore. Cholera like symptoms before the onset of menses.

Lachesis

It is indicated for congestive dysmenorrhea where the pain is relieved by the flow. Pain shifts from left to right and worse during sleep. Feels better during menses. Menses at regular time, too short and scanty.

Borax

For membranous dysmenorrhoea with griping colicky pains and nausea. Menses too soon and profus. The pain extends from abdomen to back.

Cactus

Menstrual cramps with pulsating pains in the uterine and ovarian region. The flow ceases when lying down. The body feels as if caged with each wire being twisted tighter and tighter. Constriction of uterus and vagina, as if clasped by an iron band. Congestive, periodic, right sided, neuralgic, throbbing pains in the lower abdomen.

Magnesium Carbonicum

Menstrual cramps with labour like pains, cutting colic, backache and extreme weakness. Menses with flow only at night or when lying down. The discharges are acrid, dark pitch and difficult to wash out.

Magnesium Phosphoricum

Menstrual cramps from membranous dysmenorrhoea. Pain is severe before and better after the flow begins. Congestive dysmenorrhoea with lightning-like sudden pains better by heat, bending double, and pressure.

Colocynth

It is a good remedy for agonizing pain in the abdomen which compels the patient to bend double. The patient twists and turns with restlessness. Pain is better by hard pressure.

Dioscorea

Menstrual cramps are very violent and twisting colic which appears in regular paroxysms. Feels as if the intestines were grasped and twisted by a powerful hand. Sudden shifting pains.

Aconite

Menstrual cramps with intolerable pains which drives her crazy and restless, must change position often.

Chamomilla

Intolerable labour like pains with clots during menses. The pain drives the patient to despair, with heat, thirst, fainting with numbness.

Secale Cor

Irregular menses irregular with labour like pains in abdomen. Constant discharge of watery blood until the next period. It is indicated for women with habitual abortion.

Viburnum Opulus

Spasmodic and membranous dysmenorrhoea. Pain in the sacrum extending to the pubis. Severe bearing down pains before menses. Menses too late, scanty, lasting a few hours with severe cramping pains extending down the anterior muscles of thighs.

Xanthoxylum

Neuralgic dysmenorrhoea with pain in back extending down the legs. Menses too early, thick, almost black and is passed in strings. Pain in loins and the lower abdomen, worse on the left side. The pain extends down the thigh, along the genitor-crural nerves.

Trillium Pendulum

Dysmenorrhoea with sensation as if the hips and the back were falling to pieces, better by tight pressure. Profuse flow with dizziness and weakness. It is indicated for menorrhagia and uterine

Fraxinus Americanus

Painful menstruation from uterine tumours, fibroids, uterine enlargements. Violent cramps in feet with bearing down sensation in the abdomen.

Aletris Farinosa

Painful menstruation with labour-like pains. Menses scanty and delayed. Prolapse of the uterus. The sensation of weight in the uterus.

Some of the best homeopathic speciality products available in the market for painful menstruation are Schwabe India’s, Agnus Castus Pentarkan*, Biocombination No. 15, Hertone, Klimaktolan, Magnesium Phosphoricum Pentarkan, etc.