Cramp Free: Naturally Stop Severe Period Pain

Period Pains are as intense as heart attacks.

Menstrual cramp (dysmenorrhea) is a problem many women experience during their periods.

These period pains can feel like being punched in the gut, or like your uterus is trying to start a brawl inside your body. For some, it’s as intense as a heart attack.

Period pain stops you from experiencing and engaging in life.

You will also face many problems like:

• Lethargy
• Irritability
• Severe pain
• Shallow Sleep
• Poor concentration

Do Periods have to be painful?

No. While periods are a natural occurrence, extreme pain is not.

Periods will happen every month, but you don’t need to experience intense pain.

Period pain should feel like a dull ache, sore muscle or a feeling after an ab workout.

To understand why you feel like you are getting punched in the stomach.

You need to know the 2 types of period pains.

 2 Types of Period Pain

1. Primary dysmenorrhea- This pain is due to the natural  contractions that happen during the period.

2. Secondary dysmenorrhea- This pain is caused when there is a deeper disease within the body rather than the natural process of menstruation. Common causes include:

• Endometriosis – The tissue similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus and causes pain.
• Fibroids – They are non- cancerous tumours that grow inside or around the uterus. They can be small or large but  they cause heavy bleeding and period pain.
• Adenomyosis – When the endometrial tissue (tissues that lines the uterus) grows into the muscular walls of the uterus.
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – It’s a bacterial infection originating from STIs (sexually transmitted diseases) and it can cause irregular periods,chronic pain.
• Cervical Stenosis – When the cervical opening is too narrow or completely closed, it restricts the blood flow. This leads to more pressure and pain in the uterus.

The secondary type of period pains have characteristics like:

• Heavy bleeding
• Irregular Cycles
• Pain during intercourse or bowel movements

Why does severe period pain happen?

Most women experience extreme period pain due to the primary reason – contractions of the uterine wall. Contractions are a natural part of periods. However, extreme pain is caused due to the over- release of Prostaglandin.

Prostaglandins are hormone-like chemicals that are made by the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus. Prostaglandins are involved in causing period pain by triggering uterine muscle contractions, which can lead to cramping and severe pain during menstruation.

The prostaglandins control pain and inflammation.Over release of prostaglandins makes menstrual cramps painful, to reduce your pain, you need to stop the over release of prostaglandins.

3 immediate ways to stop period pain

1)   Activate Your Rest and Digest state

Your body has a parasympathetic system (rest and digest state) which helps you relax.

This state also helps you with regulating your mood by reducing stress, immune response, digestion, heart rate and blood pressure.

Methods to activate your rest and digest state:

Belly Breathing: Breathing through your belly increases oxygen intake and it’s the natural way to breathe -if you notice babies and animals all take deep breaths by expanding their belly whereas adults are taking shallow breath from the chest.

Meditation :  Meditation calms your nervous system and helps you get into the rest and digest state. A 10 min meditation system is enough to get you to relax.

2)   Massage your Abdomen

During periods the uterus contracts to shed the inner lining. The poor circulation in the pelvic area makes the contractions more painful but, abdominal massage can reduce period because the massage:

• Relaxes muscle spasms
• Increases blood flow and to the uterus
• Relieves congestion in the pelvic region

You can use oils such as- castor oil, Lavender oil and CBD oil for the massage.

3)   Ginger Tea

Ginger tea can help you get relief from period pain

Ginger has compounds like gingerol, shogaol and Zingerone that lower the production of prostaglandins

Your pain will be reduced because- less prostaglandins = less period pain.

3 ways to Prevent Period Pain in the Long run

1.   Consume CBD

But what is CBD?

CBD (Cannabidiol) is an extract from the cannabis plant which has healing properties to reduce your period pain.

It  has properties like:

• Anxiolytic -Reduces anxiety
• Analgesic – Reduces chronic and acute pain
• Antiemetic – Reduces nausea and vomiting
• Skin Healing – Regulates sebum production
• Antispasmodic – Reduces muscle spasms and cramps
• Antidepressant – Helps to stabilise your emotions and mood
• Neuroprotective – Protects brain and nerves from cell  damage
• Anti- Inflammatory – Reduces prostaglandins responsible for pain and swelling

How does CBD work – Cannabinoids and Endo-cannabinoids and

CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) present in the body. This system helps to connect CBD to the nervous system to provide relaxation.

The (ECS) is a cannabis-like system present in your body. The ECS handles your:

• Mood
• Memory
• Metabolism

And a lot more important functions in your body.

According to Dr. Dani Gordon- author of “The CBD Bible”,  The ECS play an important role in female reproductive health and bone health.

When your ECS is dysfunctioning, it creates a lot of problems from depression to chronic pain.

How to use CBD oil for Period Cramps?

Main methods for taking CBD for Period pain

1. Massage CBD oil
2. Consume orally under the tongue
3. Mix it in your tea or smoothie

2) Focus on the Pillars of Health

Sound Sleep

Sleep is the first and main pillar of your health. When you don’t sleep you’re destroying the time when your body repairs, rejuvenates and gets ready for the next day.

If you don’t get quality sleep:

• You can’t think straight
• Every moment becomes irritable
• Your movement starts to hamper
• Your hormones start to dysfunction
• Your skin become dull and dry and acne prone

Make sure to get sound sleep every night as sleep helps to balance your hormones

Organic Nutrition

Nutrition is the second pillar of your health. Nutrition decides how your body is going to look and feel. Be it your:

• Energy
• Skin texture
• Pain Tolerance

All things go back to what you eat. Organic. Fresh. Seasonal foods should be 80% of your food intake. Avoid junk food as much as possible.

Movement

Movement is the third and final pillar of your health.

Your body needs movement.

You might have heard sitting is the new smoking but it’s worse than smoking.

When you sit for long hours your blood circulation slows down and a lot of risks are around the corner:

• Cancer
• Obesity
• Depression
• Hypertension
• Low cognitive function
• Cardiovascular diseases

Move your body. Walk. Play. Run. and jog but don’t stay still for too long.

3) Balance Your Hormones through Your Lifestyle

Hormones are messengers. They tell what will happen inside your body, slight deficiency or excess of one hormone can affect your well being and period pain.

Remember the effects of high prostaglandin?

Most women have experienced hormonal changes due to PMS. A study suggests that 90% of women experience PMS symptoms. These symptoms are:

• Bloating
• Mood Swings
• Breast Tenderness
• Food Cravings

While other women can experience PCOS  symptoms like:

• Acne
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Depression
• Weight gain

To avoid these problems you need to balance your hormone

Stress. Sleep. Smoking and alcohol consumption. Everything matters. Make sure to do the following:

Reduce stress levels

Make a habit to meditate everyday for at least 10 to 15 mins.

Don’t consume alcohol or smoke

Alcohol can alter hormones in a negative way which makes period pain worse. Whereas smoking causes constriction of the blood vessels.This results in more pain when the constriction happens in the uterus.

Avoid Plastics

If you overuse plastic- eat in a plastic lunch box, drink from plastic bottles then your hormones are crying for help. Plastics have endocrine-disrupting effects. The overuse of plastic can affect your hormonal health. That’s why replace plastic lunch boxes with steel boxes and water bottles with steel, glass or copper bottles.

Remember

Your Period doesn’t  have to be too painful.

It should feel like a dull ache or sore muscle not like a heart attack.

There are many reasons why you can experience intense pain.

However, you can activate the rest and digest state, focus on the 3 pillars of health, balance your hormones and consume CBD to reduce intense period pain and eventually become pain free.