Common pain relievers, such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen Sodium\n(both are NSAIDs) work well for cramps, especially if you start taking them\nearly, ideally prior to the start of your period. Acetaminophen can also help to ease\ndiscomfort and is said to be less likely to cause stomach upset. In severe\ncases, some doctors will prescribe birth control pills to deal with really bad\ncramps. So, if you experience severe\nmenstrual cramps month after month, you should see your health care\nprovider. They can evaluate your\nsymptoms and determine if there is a more serious underlying cause and can also\nprescribe medications you may need. But\nthere is more you can do than just popping some pills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Warmth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Try a heating pad or hot water bottle applied to your lower\nabdomen or back (but you do not want to get burned, so make sure it is not too\nhot and do not fall asleep with it still turned on). Some women also take a warm bath. There are heat patches on the market now for\nmenstrual pain. The patches are designed\nto conform to the lower abdomen, so the relief is right where you want it,\nsoothing and relaxing the uterine area. \nThere are some who prefer cold compresses to help lessen their\ndiscomfort, but heat is the more popular choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Herbal Remedies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You may also want to try some herbal remedies. Chamomile tea has long been recommended for\ncramp relief. Scientific studies are now\nbacking up the folk remedy, touting chamomile’s nerve relaxing properties. The National Centre for Complementary and\nAlternative Medicine of the National Institute of Health in Rockville, MD, also\nlists Bilberry (a relative of the blueberry, and also known as huckleberry) as\nan herbal remedy that has been used for cramps (although they also say that\nthere is not enough evidence to prove effectiveness). There are other common herbal remedies,\nincluding lemon Balm, raspberry and ginger. \nEating a balanced diet can keep your body stocked with nutrients, as\nsome believe that a lack of certain vitamins and minerals can bring on or\nworsen cramps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Massage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to alleviate the pain of menstrual cramps is\nmassage. Massage relaxes the body and\ncreates a sense of well-being. Abdominal\nmassage can relax muscles and increase general circulation (although the impact\nof massage on blood circulation is often overstated). A gentle massage of the lower back can also\nwork wonders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also specialized massage therapies available such as Mayan Abdominal Massage<\/a> although please be aware that those who advocate that massage can impact on fertility are likely to be exaggerating any benefits from massage.\u00a0 There is very little, if any, research that indicates that there is a direct positive relationship between abdominal massage and fertility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Menstrual](\"https:\/\/www.richardlanemassage.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Menstrual-Cramp-Massage.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n