Natural Remedies for Menstrual Issues
Menstrual issues range from mildly inconvenient to debilitating, so there is no “one cure fits all” remedy. However, there are certain things that can help many women experience an easier time of the month.
For a really informative explanation of how women’s moods and energy levels wax and wane throughout the month and how to learn to live in harmony with these cycles, check out Monthly Seasons of Our Menstrual Cycles.
Natural Remedies for Menstrual Issues
The following suggestions are meant to offer things for your to try in order to ease your discomfort. However, if you are experiencing debilitating and severe issues related to your period, please contact your primary care doctor.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is a natural, safe, and effective way to regulate menstrual cycles and manage painful symptoms. The central nervous system is essential in making sure all parts of the body are working properly. When menstrual cycles are irregular and very painful it is highly likely that spinal misalignment is causing interference with the nerve and is blocking communication between the spine and the reproductive or endocrine system, which is responsible for controlling hormones.
A spinal misalignment can cause a lot of symptoms like dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea (lack of a normal period). Chiropractors can adjust spinal misalignments, restore nerve communication, and improve the function of the hormonal systems. This will effectively reduce painful cramps and other premenstrual symptoms. It may even increase fertility during the reproductive years.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy can help with menstrual issues for both physical cramps and stress. The massage therapist will apply pressure to your abdomen, back, and thighs. As you start to relax, you may find that your stress and emotional state will become calmer and more serene. As your pain subsides, headaches and other discomforts should also decrease or disappear.
Calcium
One of the largest studies on calcium for PMS (American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology) examined women with moderate to severe premenstrual symptoms and their use of calcium supplements. Participants took either calcium or a placebo for three months. The women who took calcium had a 48% reduction in their total symptom scores.
If you want to add more calcium to your diet naturally, the following foods are high in calcium:
- Dairy products
- Sesame seeds
- Almonds
- Leafy green vegetables
Foods that naturally contain Vitamin D include:
- oily fish – such as salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel
- red meat
- liver
- egg yolks
- fortified foods – such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals
Exercise
A regular, moderate exercise may also help menstrual issues. Aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling releases endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin (chemical messengers that can boost mood). It might also have help with your energy level and sleep.
Although it is COMMON to experience menstrual issues, it is not NORMAL. When we ignore our body’s needs, our body talk often gets louder as a result and can manifest as extreme symptoms. This is why I highly encourage you all to really practice noticing how your body cycles. As you become more self-aware you can begin to unapologetically tend to the requests of your body.
To find out more about Dr. Ryan and Dr. Allyson and their chiropractic practice and philosophy visit The TEAM. Click here to make an appointment or please call (517) 781-4884.