Calming the cramps

Photo: Kazi Tahsin Agaz Apurbo

It's 'that time of the month' and you are not looking forward to the regular menstrual cramps. The cramps definitely get worse during an important exam or a meeting that could be life-changing for your career. No – holding on to your stomach, writhing in pain and dreading the first few days every month cannot be the solution. These strategies can help bring relief.

Take a hot shower. It helps you relax, opens vessels, improves blood flow and pain dissipates. If you don't feel like taking a shower every few hours, you can also place a heating pad or a hot bottle on your lower belly. What really helps is the deshi way – take a scarf, orna or a towel. Fold it into a long strip and then iron it with the iron. Place it below your lower belly. You can also ask someone at home to help you with the ironing and folding. Turn up the heat.

Go slow on the caffeine. Doctors actually advise patients to avoid tea or coffee who have lots of menstrual cramps. According to medical reports, caffeine can constrict blood vessels, which can cause cramps.

The best drink would be water and green tea. Going herbal would definitely reduce cramps. Drinking at least 10-12 glasses of water through out the day, helps in flushing out the toxins from inside the body. According to medical reports, going herbal may decrease bleeding and hence reduce the cramps. One can have a cup of green tea or tulsi tea with breakfast early in the morning or before going to bed in the evening.

Walk around, get moving. Doctors recommend regular aerobic exercise that gets your heart rate up and makes you break out in a sweat. The better shape you're in and the more physically active you are, the less likely you are to suffer from chronic aches and pains, including menstrual cramps. Exercise also releases feel-good hormones known as endorphins. The pain will not disappear completely, unfortunately. However, they make you stronger so that you stop caring about the pain!

In fact, many doctors advice women suffering from menstrual cramps, to bend and stretch with yoga. Yoga is high on every doctor's list of remedies that provide relief from cramps. Poses that target the pelvis and lumbar region, where period pain is the worst, may be the most helpful. Experiment with different yoga poses for pain relief, and talk with a yoga instructor about what might work best for you.

Information source: Internet