"Menstrual Cramps -  Solutions For This Painful Condition"

By Kearney Adams

For Laurel Brown, menstrual cramps are an unpleasant part of her monthly cycle. For her, the pain varies from month to month, leaving her uncertain on what to expect.

In her words, she says that it feels as if she is being repeatedly stabbed with knives. To her, it is "sometimes more painful than childbirth.

Menstrual cramps can be a very painful and unpleasant experience for some women. In addition to pain, some experience other symptoms including nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, backache, and a headache

What Are Menstrual Cramps?

Menstrual cramps are pain that is felt in a woman's abdominal and pelvic regions because of her monthly menstrual period. The medical term for these cramps is dysmenorrhea.

They can range from mild to quite severe. If the pain is severe, it can interfere with a woman's ability to perform activities of daily living.

There are two types of menstrual cramps, primary and secondary dysmenorrhea.

Primary dysmenorrhea usually occurs within a few years after a woman's first menstrual period. This type of cramp is considered a normal part of her cycle, and is a response to hormonal changes and her body.

On the other hand, secondary dysmenorrhea has some underlying physical cause such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease or uterine fibroids. If you suspect you have secondary dysmenorrhea, you should discuss this with your physician.

What Causes Menstrual Cramps?

After the woman ovulates, if the egg is not fertilized by a sperm, the body realizes that she is not pregnant and, thus, the endometrium is no longer needed.

Next, the levels of two sexual hormones, estrogen and progesterone, decline, and the lining of the uterus become swollen and die. It is then shed, and is replaced by a new lining starting with her next monthly cycle.

At this point, her body will release certain compounds called prostaglandins, which cause the uterine muscles to contract. These compounds are responsible for the pain a woman feels at this point in her menstrual cycle.

What Home Remedies Work for Treating Menstrual Cramps?

Here are some remedies you can try that may help with this painful condition.

Glycine functions to relieve muscle spasms and relaxes the uterus, which explains why it is an effective treatment for menstrual cramps.

The beneficial effects from drinking chamomile tea may linger for several weeks after you stop drinking it, which indicates that it has long-term healing effects.

2. Black cohosh
Black cohosh is another home remedy that may provide relief from menstrual cramps.

Black cohosh is thought to have estrogenic qualities, as its components bind to estrogen receptors in a woman's body. Women taking extracts of black cohosh can receive estrogen like benefits, without any of the side effects.

In case histories zinc, when given in 1 to 3, 30 mg. doses daily, taken one to four days before the start of a woman's period, prevented the onset of cramping.

One theory for its pain relieving action is that zinc may improve circulation in the tiny blood vessels in the uterine wall. Another theory is it has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect on the uterus.

5. Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines, are also thought to relieve pain from menstrual cramps.

There have been at least eight studies involving over 1000 women, demonstrating that fish oil capsules, which contain omega-3 fatty acid, had a positive effect on these cramps.

Additional Remedies

• Yoga  - Yoga exercises may help relieve pain
• Honey - Honey has natural pain-relieving capabilities
• Red Raspberry Leaf - Red raspberry leaf strengthens the uterine walls, while helping to regulate menstrual flow
• Ginger Root - A tea made from ginger root can help relieve painful cramps
• Amaranth  - Amaranth is a nutritious dish that is similar to spinach that inhibits bleeding, and also provides energy

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