What Are Menstrual Cramps?
Menstrual cramps occur before and during a woman’s period. This period symptom can be merely uncomfortable or downright painful. Anyone who has experienced severe menstrual cramps knows they can be debilitating. But even minor cramps can keep you from being a fully functional member of society.
So, what are menstrual cramps anyway? These types of cramps are known medically as dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea is defined by the Mayo Clinic as “cramps and pelvic pain with menstruation.” Cramps are caused by your uterus contracting. It does this in order to shed its lining. Menstrual cramps can be worsened by endometriosis, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and cervical stenosis.
Symptoms of menstrual cramps include pain in your lower abdomen that usually starts one to three days before your period. The peak of period cramps is generally about 24 hours after your period starts. Menstrual pain can be described as throbbing or dull and pain may radiate down your lower back and even thighs. Menstrual cramps are often accompanied by other annoying period symptoms like nausea, vomiting, gas, diarrhea, headaches, lack of energy and the blahs! You know what I mean!
What Are Some Natural Remedies for Menstrual Cramps?
While you may decide to use CBD for menstrual cramps, it may not completely remove your discomfort. Coupling natural remedies with these daily activities may provide stronger, more long lasting results.
Exercise – Exercise is probably the last thing you want to do during your cycle, but some light activity like walking, jogging, swimming and even yoga during the days leading up to your period and the beginning days of menstruation may relieve cramping and increase your energy. Exercising releases endorphins which boost your mood to potentially ease your period symptoms. Some women even enjoy a serious workout during their period to relieve discomfort and other symptoms. Just do what feels best for you.
Give Yourself a Massage – Massaging the area below your belly button but above your pubic bone with essential oils like lavender and clary sage or CBD Pain Freeze may encourage your muscles to relax and lessen cramping.
Orgasm – Yes, you heard me right! Move that massage on down a bit farther (although skip the essential oils). Orgasm can actually help relieve menstrual cramps. You are welcome to get your partner in on the action.
Apply Heat – For some women, applying a heating pad, hot water bottle or warm rag to the lower back or abdomen helps relax their muscles and reduce pain equally or even better than ibuprofen. Furthermore, taking a warm bath may have similar effects and encourage better sleep.
Get More Sleep – Getting restful sleep allows your body time to heal and relax. When you’re sleeping, you’re less likely to feel discomfort, and you may wake up with less severe symptoms. Our CBD Gummies for Sleep contain 15mg of CBD and 5mg of melatonin to support deeper, more restful sleep.
Eat Healthy – Avoid fatty foods, processed foods, caffeine, carbonated drinks, salty foods, sugary foods and alcohol. I know. I know. That is all you want when you have your period! But sticking to healthier foods will help you feel better. Go for some dark chocolate to deal with those PMS and period cravings.
What Natural Remedies Can You Take for Menstrual Cramps?
If you can anticipate your cycle, you may be able to stock up on certain products, including CBD for menstrual cramps, that may help make your period more manageable. To ease some of your discomforts, try incorporating these ingredients throughout your period:
Cinnamon Tea – This tasty beverage can help reduce menstrual bleeding (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4443385/) and help with cramp discomfort (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30396627/). 1.4 to 4 grams of dried cinnamon bark can be used daily (doses can be broken up) according to the first study cited.
Chamomile Tea – Drinking a cup of tea each day may help alleviate inflammation and reduce the effects of prostaglandins (hormones released by the uterine lining that stimulate cramps, swelling, pain and contractions during labor). Increased prostaglandin levels are responsible for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and more.
CBD – More women are turning to CBD for menstrual cramps and other PMS and period symptoms because of its potential to boost comfort and relaxation in the mind and body. CBD works with your Endocannabinoid System, or ECS, to bring about its wellness effects. The ECS is responsible for regulating pain, sleep, memory, mood and more, but more research is needed to know exactly how CBD for PMS could potentially impact these processes.
What we do know is that Hemp Bombs CBD Edibles like CBD Gummies and CBD Capsules may help you relax, while topical products like our CBD Pain Freeze can be applied to temporarily soothe aches and pains. CBD Oil is another great Hemp Bombs CBD product. In fact, many of our customers think it is the best CBD Oil! Use it sublingually (under the tongue) and hold for one minute before swallowing for fast relief.
Ginger – One popular natural remedy for PMS is ginger. Many women report taking ginger capsules to relieve the nausea that accompanies their cycle. There is also data to show ginger may help with cramps. (https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/acm.2008.0311)
Water – Dehydration leads to more severe symptoms, so making sure your body is well hydrated at the start of and throughout menstruation may help reduce pain, headaches and cramps.
Every woman experiences period and PMS or PMDD symptoms differently, so the natural remedies for menstrual cramps are dependent on your own body. It can’t hurt to try different combinations of natural home remedies for menstrual cramps along with any of our CBD products to find what gives you the best relief. Tracking your cycle can help you be better prepared for your symptoms and possibly curb them before they begin. Shop our selection of CBD Oil, Gummies with CBD and other premium CBD products for sale to encourage relaxation and comfort all month long.
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