End Your Menstrual Misery: 5 Natural Secrets to a Regular, Crampless, Happy Period

 

Periods are the absolute worse. Who’s with me?

Thank you, Jessica Day, for  putting into words my feelings exactly. #ilovenewgirl #sept17newseason #cantwait #toomanyhashtags #thisisnottwitter #okayimdone

My Story

For the past 10 years, each month would come, and Aunt Flow would visit, and I would be in absolutely excruciating, unbearable, insanely intense pain. I kid you not when I say I spent hours laying on the floor or my bed in the fetal position earnestly praying for relief.

The pain I experienced was so intense that I would shake and cry and be unable to eat or sleep. If you’ve experienced anything similar then you know I’m not being dramatic…period cramps are no joke. I have sought relief in every possible form and have finally found a few legitimate solutions to dealing with my monthly misery.

Oh, and before you read on–You won’t find any “take an Advil or Midol”  or “take a warm bath” or “use a heating pad” advice round these parts–we all know that already. This advice is real–it goes beyond reacting to the World War III that is taking part in your uterus and helps you to find actual relief.

5 Natural Secrets to a Regular, Crampless, Happy Period

1. Take Vitex and Evening Primrose Oil supplements daily.

I am all for vitamins and supplements as a way to promote health, but I was extremely skeptical when I heard that Vitex and Evening Primrose Oil actually alleviated menstrual cramps when taken daily over time. I was desperate, though, so I bought both supplements on Amazon and hoped for the best.

Y’all–I am not lying when I say that I just had the easiest, happiest period of the past ten years last week. To be totally honest, I still dealt with cramps. But they were nothing compared to the monsters I’ve had to wrangle in the past. I really believe that these supplements work….in fact, I believe they could be the secret to crampless periods!

I took them each morning for the past month, and if they’ve already helped me this much, I look forward to seeing what they can do after I’ve taken them consistently for several months.

(If you want to be convinced, just read the reviews when you click on the links below!)

Interested? Purchase Vitex here and Purchase Evening Primrose Oil here.

2. Ensure that you’re getting enough calcium & magnesium.

Calcium and magnesium work together to help your muscles relax. If you are experiencing really bag cramping, perhaps you should supplement with supplements of the two. According to my research, it takes several months of taking calcium and magnesium supplements before you will notice any major relief! So stick to it!

If you’d like more information on calcium and magnesium’s positive effect on menstrual misery, check out this article.

Interested? Purchase Calcium supplements here and Purchase Magnesium supplements here.

3. Eat clean as much as you can.

As I wrote about, I have been making strides in eating more natural, real food. In the past month or so, I’ve made especially large changes–switching out chemically processed foods for their whole, organic counterparts.

I have read that cutting out processed foods can help cramps, but I didn’t fully believe it until my last cycle, when I had the least painful period that I’ve had in years. I am starting to really get on board the eat-clean-feel-clean train. If every monthly “gift” for the rest of my life is as easy as my last one, and it’s because I’m eating clean–heck! I’ll never eat a Cheez-It again. ((Don’t quote me on that :)))

If you can’t commit to a super clean diet all the time (no judgement, it’s extremely difficult!), try eliminating caffeine, soy, and grains for the days leading up to your period–see how you feel!

Another way to help your cramping and bloating is to drink Raspberry Leaf Tea (not black tea flavored with raspberries, raspberry leaf herbal tea!). It’s an easy way to find some all natural relief that’s been proven to lessen your period pains. Again, if you don’t believe me–read these reviews!

4. Visit a chiropractor.

I blogged a few months ago about my amazing chiropractic journey, and I could write another 17 posts on how wonderful the chiropractor is. When my body is in alignment and nerves are firing correctly and oxygen is circulating correctly, it’s amazing how much better I feel.

My menstrual cramps have definitely lessened since I began my chiropractic journey, while my overall health and well-being have increased significantly. I highly recommend getting an adjustment or two around the time of your cycle to see if you can benefit!

5. Try acupuncture.

I have not yet tried acupuncture, but there are always several great Living Social or Groupon acupuncture deals, and I’m interested in snapping one up in the next month or so for the sole purpose of easing my monthly woes. Here’s why:

1. Specific acupuncture points can help increase blood flow to the abdominal area, which relaxes the nervous system and eases cramping
2. Many believe that acupuncture can be just as effective (if not more effective) as over-the-counter medications
3. Acupuncture can increase endorphin levels which combats the pain associated with our periods

Sounds like a fantastic idea to me. Stay tuned, I’ll definitely blog about my acupuncture experience in the near future. I’m really looking forward to trying it out! 🙂

 

There you have it–5 natural secrets to ending your menstrual misery & having a happier period! Have you taken to any natural period pain-solving remedies? What do you do?

This post has been featured on Thank Your Body Thursday & Party Wave Wednesday.