Did you know that menstrual cramps can hurt more than a heart attack? According to gynaecologist Jen Gunter, 40% of women have no pain with heart attacks, and the symptoms produced are mostly vague with mild pain. On the other hand, primary dysmenorrhea, or as we know it — painful periods, causes pain 100% of the time!

If you were curious, the reason that period pain occurs is because of hormones called prostaglandins that are released from the uterine lining, causing the uterus to contract. The pressure on the uterus during these contractions can be just as high as it is during the “pushing” stage of labour. So, according to Dr Gunter, period pain is better likened to labour pains or cutting your finger off without an anaesthetic.

It’s time we talked about period pain, how you can deal with cramps and all the other downsides during that time of the month.

Your Guide to Relieving Period Cramps

1. Curl up in your bed and manifest the pain away

Just kidding, but if only menstrual cramps would go away that easily! Although, while you are on your period and experiencing discomfort, don’t hesitate or feel guilty for resting and not being productive. Remember that your personal care should always be prioritized!

However, if eating and snacking on unhealthy food is a source of comfort for you, it would be good to avoid those during your period

Dietary changes

2. Healthy alternatives to period food cravings

Every time I notice myself craving that extra dessert, or running off to McDonalds for supper, somehow, I’m either on my period or it magically arrives within a few days of my binge-eating episodes. While this is great for temporary pleasure, it would be much more helpful to avoid refined food (white bread, carbs etc), trans-fatty acids (from oily and sugary foods), alcohol, and caffeine. All these substances increase inflammation in the body, which encourages period pain.

Instead, here are some healthy alternatives you could try for your next cycle:

Sugary foods → Foods with natural sweeteners like fruits, yoghurt, or juices

Sugar is inflammatory in nature and can increase cramping. Refined sugar also causes your body to retain sodium and water, which leads to bloating and mood swings. To help with your sugar cravings, naturally sweet foods such as fruits, yoghurt, and juices would be great substitutes, and they would even provide your body with other healthy nutrients and minerals.

Chocolates → Dark Chocolate

Compared to the other types of chocolate, dark chocolate is high in antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, and iron, which all work well as mood boosters.

Oily/Salty foods → Nuts for snacking, baked version of deep-fried foods

Craving oily or salty foods could be a symptom of lower moods or stress, as fatty foods help to release serotonin (mood-boosting hormone) and people with higher levels of sodium in their body have lower levels of cortisol (stress hormone).

For a healthier alternative, lightly salted, roasted nuts such as cashews, pistachios, almonds, and walnuts could help satisfy salty cravings while giving your body some healthy fats. You could also opt for food that is baked and not deep-fried, such as baked sweet potato fries.

Another reason that salt should be avoided is that it further contributes to bloating. Salt — and alcohol, both dehydrate the body and when this happens, the body holds on to whatever water it has left to counter the effects of dehydration, resulting in a very bloated belly.

Carbs → Complex carbohydrates

Simple, refined carbohydrates help to release serotonin in the short term and its effects are very temporary. Having too much carbs might even worsen your mood, putting you back in square one. Switching to complex carbs like whole grains, starchy vegetables and beans would be better since they help to boost serotonin for longer periods of time.

3. You could also include these herbs as supplements in your diet

Ginger

Ginger has anti-inflammatory effects, so it can help to soothe cramps, and it also helps to reduce nausea. Additionally, A study published in Phytotherapy Research found that the regular consumption of ginger for three months can result in reduced bleeding, so this could be a good hack if you have very heavy flows.

Cinnamon

Similarly, cinnamon also reduces inflammation, providing a good relief from cramps. Cinnamon is also able to divert blood flow away from the uterus, and usage of cinnamon during and before your period can help to reduce menstrual flow naturally.

TCM Tea

In general, there is the common assumption that tea should be avoided during your period, but that is under the generalisation that all tea has caffeine, when it is only black tea that is caffeine-heavy and the one that should be avoided. In fact, some types of tea would even be good for you, such as ginger tea (as mentioned for the benefits above), floral, and herbal teas.

Homegrown brand YY Wellness has even developed a tea subscription that is meant to take you through the different stages of the menstrual cycle. A total of 21 teas created, each type is designed to optimise your health and comfort through each stage of the cycle. Some ingredients used in their tea bags include Chinese angelica (for improved blood circulation), dwarf lilyturf tuber (nourishes yin and anti-inflammation), and liquorice root (to harmonize the nature of other herbs and medicinals). Extremely inclusive, they have subscription boxes for people with 4, 5, and 6 week cycles.

Physical changes

4. Have more sex

There is actually anecdotal evidence that sex and orgasms help with menstrual cramp relief. When you have an orgasm, the muscles of your uterus will contract and release, and the act of releasing provides relief from the cramps. This also makes your periods shorter! Muscle contractions help to push the contents of the uterine faster, helping you to clear the contents of your period for the month. Sex also releases endorphins in the body, hence helping to boost your mood.

We know that the mess and the smell of blood could be a big turn-off, so here’s a product that works really well: the Ziggy Cup from Initimina. A flat-fit design made of petal-thin silicone and is the only menstrual cup in the market that can be worn during sex. No more messy, covering the bed with a towel type of days!

Quote SHY25 at the checkout for 25% off on all non-discounted items! From now till 31 Dec 2021 (promo code is subject to pause during major on-site promotional events).

5. Try out acupuncture

*Acupressure points (Credits to wikihow)*

The way acupuncture works is that it stimulates certain trigger points on the skin to produce desired effects in the body. For menstrual cramps, apply pressure (on your own), or go to a professional for needles to key points on the back, abdomen, feet, and the fleshy part between your index finger and thumb.

These are all ways people have tried to relieve cramps over the years, but of course, what works for you can be very different from what works for others. Like the classic advice of avoiding cold food and drinks during your period, I don’t find myself experiencing more or less painful cramps after eating ice cream or drinking an ice cold cup of Milo, although the cramps I experienced after drinking almost 2 litres of green tea one day was absolutely unbearable. Feel free to test out these different methods of cramps-relief and see which one works best for you. However, if you have been experiencing severe menstrual cramps that makes it hard for you to go about your daily life whenever you are on your period, do consult your doctor as it may be a sign of Endometriosis or other underlying health issues.

Home Remedies for Period Cramps