Understanding Period Pains

Natural Solutions for Menstrual Problems

Explore natural health remedies to get your hormones back in balance, and relieve your menstrual symptoms. Find out more....

Every woman knows only too well the pain and inconvenience of a period. But it is just a natural part of being a woman…

All About Periods

• As well as being a troublesome inconvenience, your period may also come with symptoms such as:
  • period pains and cramps
  • backache
  • fatigue
  • dizziness and faintness
  • headaches or migraines
  • anemia




• To make matters worse, some women also experience symptoms in the week before their period starts:
  • bloating
  • breast tenderness
  • cramps
  • fatigue
  • depression
  • irritability
• This is commonly known as PMS (Pre Menstrual Syndrome) or PMT (Pre Menstrual Tension).
• This potentially means that for 2 out of every 4 weeks a woman is feeling under the weather…!
• When I was a teenager, I used to get terrible period pains, and health problems with my period. I felt dizzy, sick and got migraines.
• Such problems are actually quite common for teenagers and young women. They usually clear up and lessen as you get older – I know that my symptoms have certainly improved with time!
• Of course, I do still get some symptoms with my period, but do find natural remedies for menstrual pain relief help a good deal.




• One of the main problems for lots of women, is that the body and immune system are under greater stress in the few days before the period begins.

  (This is due to all the extra functions that your body is performing ‘behind the scenes’).

• This makes you more vulnerable to:
  • colds
  • flu
  • allergy symptoms
  • flare ups of cold sores, or other herpes infections
• Illnesses like rheumatism and arthritis may also feel worse in these few days.
• I know that I get much worse pain in my joints, and other ME symptoms in these few days....

  Aahh …. The trials of being a woman!

• Symptoms and the severity of symptoms, and period pains vary widely between individual women.
• Make sure that you always consult a doctor if there is any sudden change in the menstrual symptoms that are normal for you …. Or if anything about your period makes your everyday life unworkable.

Getting Treatment for your Period Pains

• Of course, there are conventional treatments for menstrual problems. These often have unpleasant side effects, that go along with the ‘cures’.
• Ordinary painkillers (such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen) can all be very effective against period pains – but can cause damage to the stomach lining and to the liver.
• Other conventional treatments tend to work on the level of hormones in the body, to relieve symptoms, and provide menstrual pain relief.
• They can cause:
  • weight gain
  • hot flashes
  • increased facial and body hair
  • bloating
  • skin problems
  • depression
  • nausea and vomiting
  • dizziness
  • low blood pressure
  • problems with appetite
• Do take care if your doctor prescribes oral or injectable contraceptives to control your period pains and menstrual problems.




• ’The pill’ can regulate your periods, but I believe it does still mess about with your hormone levels, in an unacceptable way.

  Side effects may cause:

  • depression
  • weight gain
  • bloating
  • skin problems
  • lowering of sex drive
  • increase of appetite
  • increased risk of osteoporosis
  • possible links with cancer
• After experiencing a large proportion of these unlucky side effects first hand, I came off such contraceptives, and allowed my body to get back into its natural rhythms.

  It is only in hindsight that I realise how much I had messed about with the way my body should be – and I wouldn’t do it again, in retrospect!

• If you are having regular (or even occasional) sex, you should make sure that you have your contraception sorted. Discuss your options and concerns with your healthcare provider…
• Do try to open your eyes to all possibilities and side effects. Make an informed decision, that is right for you.
• The same applies to any medicines that you take for period pains, and other menstrual problems.
• If you aren’t keen on taking the route of conventional treatments for period pains, there are still lots of natural health remedies you can try…

Dietary and Lifestyle Changes

• As well as herbal treatments you can get much benefit from dietary and lifestyle changes…
• Avoid:
  • sugar
  • caffeine
  • chocolate
  • coffee
  • tea
  • hydrogenated or saturated fats (such as in margarine, crisps or chips)
  • refined carbohydrates – such as baked goods, biscuits, pastries
  • red meats
  • processed meats
  • food allergies and intolerances
• Avoid:
  • cigarettes
  • excessive alcohol
• Eat more:
  • Omega 3 Fatty Acids:
    • mackerel
    • salmon
    • sardine
    • walnut
    • flaxseed
  • Seaweed:
    • especially wakame, nori and kombu seaweeds
    • this contains a lot of iodine, which helps to relieve symptoms
  • Before your period, eat more wholegrains (brown rice wholemeal bread, oats)
  • During your period reduce the amount of wholegrains you eat
  • After your period, eat more protein, such as fish or chicken

These simple dietary and lifestyle changes, can actually do a great deal on their own, to help with period pains and menstrual problems.

Boost their effectiveness with some herbal remedies for menstrual pain relief, and other effective holistic remedies and treatments for period pains.

What works for you?

Do you have any tips and experiences in treating your period pains, to share? Tell us about your experiences...

Return to the main page for holistic remedies for women’s problems.

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