Menstral Freedom

If your menstrual cycle is dictating your schedule, you’re not alone! Many women experience such cramping and discomfort during their cycle that they feel they need to shut themselves indoors until it passes. But considering the fact that some of us experience over seven days of flow, is this really how we should be living? I think not! Aside from reaching for the ibuprofen, there are some natural remedies that can relieve menstrual cramps.

Cramping is caused by the uterus contracting in order to shed the uterine lining. When the uterus contracts, oxygen has a pretty hard time reaching our muscles, which is what causes the pain that we experience. So how can we increase blood flow to our muscles? Here are a few helpful tips on how you can relax your muscles, bring oxygen to them, and increase blood flow:

  • Heating pad/hot water bottle
  • Acupuncture
  • Exercise (especially yoga)
  • Warm baths
  • Vaginal steaming (yoni steaming)

Aside from these helpful remedies, there are some dietary changes you can make in order to relieve menstrual cramping. For instance, taking calcium and magnesium supplements, eating good fats such as coconut oil, avocado, and fatty fish that contains Omega 3 fatty acids, and eliminating things like caffeine, phytoestrogens (soy), and processed foods!

Making healthy changes and creating healthy habits can not only relieve pain and stress during our menstrual cycles, but it can also help us feel rejuvenated and in control of our lives!

 

One Response to Menstrual Shackles: Taking Control of Our Cycles
  1. I’ve tried all of these and the only thing that works at all is a hefty dose of an honest-to-goodness NSAID. That is *MY* empowered choice.


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