Menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhoea refers to the pain a woman has before and during her menstrual cycle. In women’s reproductive life is one of the most common conditions proved to affect the quality of life. The condition usually occurs the days before and during menstruation. There are two types of dysmenorrhoea (menstrual cramps).
- It is occurring in the absence of uterine condition
- It is occurring due to a pathology of pelvic
Most common causes of menstrual cramps:
- high levels of prostaglandins (pain and inflammation hormone)
- nausea or dizziness, loose stools (diarrhoea)
- irritability, headaches and menstrual cramps without an endometriosis
- uterine fibroids
- pelvic inflammatory disease (underlying health condition) that mainly occurs during the first few days and just before a woman’s menstrual period
Risk factors:
- poor sleep, hygiene
- alcohol, cigarette smoking, caffeine consumption
- a family history of dysmenorrhoea
- lack of exercise, obesity, stressful lifestyle, dietary habits, and long menstrual cycles
Therapeutic use of herbs to reduce menstrual cramps symptoms:
1. Ginger
Ginger herb helps to soothe troubles in menstrual cycle and ease cramps by decreasing the levels of pain-causing prostaglandins (premenstrual syndrome).
Research suggests that:
- ginger capsule 250mg taken four times a day for three days helped to relieve menstrual cramps
- another study, conducted in 2012 published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that moderate or severe primary dysmenorrhoea can be eased with the use of ginger root powder. Specialists suggest that using ginger root powder in the form of tea before onset and first three days of menstrual periods provides a soothing effect and can short the duration of periods and menstrual pain.
2. Fennel
Fennel contains anethole (a compound with anti-spasm effects) that helps reduce menstrual cramps.
Research suggests that:
- Fennel can be more effective than mefenamic acid in treating menstrual pain. Mefenamic acid is in a class of medications called NSAIDs. It works by stopping the body’s production of substances that cause pain, such as: inflammation, fever. 41% of people taking the medication reported negative effects (source: www.drugs.com).
3. Cumin
Cumin is very helpful for the treatment of menstrual cramps, gastrointestinal diseases and delayed menstruation.
Research suggests that:
- 2 cumin capsules per day are as efficient as mefenamic capsule per 8 h.
3. Chamomile
Chamomile is a herbal drug that acts as antispasmodic, anti-anxiety, sedative and has anti-inflammatory effects.
Research suggests that:
- In three studies M. Chamomoilla showed improvement rate in dysmenorrhea than placebo.
4. Pineapple
- Pineapple fruit is also used as a meat tenderizer and remedy for inflammatory reactions. The fruit contains a mixture of compound ingredients, such as bromelain that acts as a protease inhibitor and helps in reducing irritation, cramps, bloating in menstruation, increase post-traumatic wound healing, immune modulator with anti-tumour and anti-cancer activity. Hence, bromelain in pineapple considered as potential phytomedicine and also relieves primary dysmenorrhea pain by acting as herbal remedies.
Source: here.
If you want to try something different to calm your menstrual cramps, read this article. Similarly, if you fancy essential oils, I wrote about this too! They are loaded with lots of health benefits.