Pycnogenol is a plant extract derived from maritime pine found in southwestern France. The extract contains several powerful antioxidant compounds. In a study of women aged 18 to 48, those who suffered from dysmenorrhea who took a supplement containing 60 milligrams of pycnogenol during their periods had significantly less pain and needed fewer painkillers than when they did not take the supplement. They also needed painkillers for fewer days when they took the Pycnogenol supplement. Surprisingly, women still needed fewer painkillers during their periods, even after they stopped taking Pycnogenol. However, women who had minor menstrual pain were not helped by the supplement. Ask your doctor if pycnogenol can help relieve the severe pain associated with your period. In one study, about 80% of young women who took capsules containing 30 milligrams of fennel extract 4 times a day for 3 days before the start of their menstruation had less pain than those who took a placebo. Researchers believe that fennel inhibits uterine contractions stimulated by prostaglandins. Fennel extract may be a good option for about 10% of women who cannot perform their normal activities during their period for 1-3 days due to severe menstrual cramps.

Your eating and lifestyle habits can help or hinder menstrual cramps. If you have monthly menstrual cramps, some women find it helpful to avoid certain foods. Avoid white and refined foods like sugar, bread and pasta. Avoid trans fats, which are most often found in commercially prepared foods, such as French fries, cookies, onion rings, crackers and margarine. Avoid alcohol, tobacco and caffeine. All of these things increase inflammation and can promote menstrual pain. There is evidence that reducing harmful fat intake can also help relieve painful periods. Track your menstruation, when it starts, and how severe your cramps are. Also make a list of: A simple home remedy for menstrual pain is to do light exercises that appeal to the core.

Breathe deeply as you lie on your back with your knees bent. Yoga is another type of exercise that can help women with primary dysmenorrhea. In one study, young women who practiced yoga for 60 minutes once a week for 12 weeks experienced fewer menstrual cramps and menstrual pain than those who did not do yoga. Some of the best poses that help women feel better during menstruation are the bridge, the rod pose, and the attached angel. Ask a qualified yoga teacher to show you these positions. You may crave fatty, sweet, or salty foods when you`re menstruating, but these foods aren`t your friends. Skip the donuts and chips. Some women find that eating the right types of foods can help relieve menstrual pain. Anti-inflammatory foods such as cherries, blueberries, pumpkin, tomatoes and peppers are good choices. Cold-water fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, are also a healthy choice. Eat more calcium-rich beans, almonds, and dark leafy greens. These foods contain compounds that fight inflammation.

Some women report that eating this way can help relieve menstrual pain and improve health. It`s best to eat a healthy, balanced diet all year round, not just a few days a month during your period. In a study of young women, those who took capsules containing 420 milligrams of cinnamon 3 times a day during the first 3 days of their menstrual cycle had less menstrual bleeding, less pain, and a reduction in nausea and frequency of vomiting compared to those who took a placebo. Women have not reported any side effects associated with taking cinnamon pills. Try a pinch of cinnamon on your cereal or a cup of warm cocoa. It can`t hurt and it could help your cramps and other menstrual symptoms. You may have cramps as soon as you have your first period. Your periods may become more or less painful during your lifetime. For many people, cramps become less painful with age. Some doctors may prescribe hormonal birth control pills or patches for women who suffer from painful menstrual cramps. The drug can help regulate the menstrual cycle and relieve pain.

Hormonal contraception helps protect against pregnancy and can help relieve discomfort related to the uterus such as endometriosis, if any. Endometriosis and other diseases associated with a woman`s reproductive organs can cause secondary dysmenorrhea. This type tends to start earlier in the monthly cycle and lasts longer than typical cramps. Make sure your doctor knows all your medical history and medical conditions, as the pill may not be suitable for all women. This type of birth control prevents ovulation. It also prevents the lining of the uterus from becoming as thick as it normally would with normal monthly hormonal fluctuations. Many women who take the pill do not suffer from menstrual bleeding or menstruation, which is much lighter than usual. Avoid watching TV, your smartphone, computer and other screens before bed to relax.

You may feel more comfortable during your period if you sleep in different positions. Pay special attention to sleep hygiene in the days leading up to your period. Menstrual cramps can be very uncomfortable and painful, but they do occur for a reason. During your period, your uterus contracts, which means it compresses or has cramps. As a result, the mucosa detaches from the walls of your uterus and leaves your body. When your uterus cramps, it helps menstrual blood flow out of your vagina. Menstrual pain is due to uterine contractions. For severe menstrual pain, over-the-counter remedies such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen sodium can reduce menstrual cramps. Keep your painkillers of your choice at home, at work and in the car so you can have them on hand when you need them. Beware of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) if you have certain health problems. These medications can trigger gastrointestinal ulcers or worsen bleeding. The researchers tested the effectiveness of dill powder against mefenamic acid, an NSAID, to treat menstrual cramps in a group of young female students.

The women were divided into 3 groups: the dill group, the mefenamic acid group and the placebo group. The women started 5 days of treatment from 2 days before the start of their menstruation. Researchers found that dill powder relieved menstrual pain as well as over-the-counter painkillers. If you want to try a non-drug treatment for menstrual pain, dill may be a candidate. Curcumin, a component of the root tropics, can help relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Women who took 2 curcumin capsules daily 7 days before menstruation and 3 days after starting their period experienced a reduction in PMS symptoms compared to women who took placebo pills. Scientists believe that curcumin`s beneficial compounds fight inflammation and alter levels of neurotransmitters, all of which may be responsible for reducing PMS symptoms. Women treated with curcumin reported improvements in behavior, mood, and physical symptoms due to PREMENStrual syndrome.

Curcumin may also have benefits for people with inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, IBS, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disease, and other conditions. Most people have cramps at some point in their lives during their periods. They usually feel like a throbbing pain in the lower abdomen. They can start a few days before your period starts and sometimes continue throughout your period. Cramps are usually worse in the first few days of your period, when your flow is strongest. The cramps caused by these conditions can start when you are older. And they could get worse over time. They can also last longer than other cramps or last longer than the last day of your period.

Some people get PREMENSTRUAL syndrome every time they menstruate. Others only contract PMS once in a while. You may have all or only some of the most common symptoms of PMS. And some people don`t have PREMENSTRUAL syndrome at all. One study in young women found that ginger capsules relieved symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea, including painful periods, as well as NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and mefenamic acid. The women in the ginger group took 250 milligrams of ginger capsules 4 times a day for the first 3 days of their period. Women in the mefanamic acid group took 250 milligrams of capsules 4 times a day, while those in the ibuprofen group took 400 milligrams a day 4 times a day. Women in each of the 3 treatment groups reported similar pain relief, satisfaction with treatment, and reduced severity of dysmenorrhea regardless of the treatment they were taking. None of the women in the study reported any serious side effects with treatment. Try a little ginger if you want a drug-free alternative to relieve menstrual pain. Many women find that exercise helps relieve menstrual cramps.

Exercise releases endorphins, brain chemicals that promote well-being. Whether you like to walk, run or swim, it is safe to participate in all of these activities during your menstruation. .

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