How to stop period cramps has been something that has always been on my mind since first getting my period in middle school. Not only were my periods painful, but I became incredibly sick during the first day of my cycle.
The first day of my menstrual cycle came with gut-wrenching pain and I would become severely nauseated to the point where I could hardly ingest anything. Vomiting spells would last all day.
I remember in my early 20’s, my period cramps had gotten so bad to the point where I had to leave my work and head straight to the emergency clinic because began vomiting blood.
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Throughout middle school and through my early 20’s nothing that the doctors prescribed seemed to work. I was prescribed 800mg of Ibuprofen and later on birth control pills.
My body built up a tolerance to the Ibuprofen and since I would go through serious nauseating spells my stomach wasn’t able to hold anything down anything, including water or pills.
Later on in life, I was prescribed different brands of birth control pills in hopes that they would ease my menstruation symptoms.
Unfortunately, I experiencing a number of negative side effects from birth control and decided to cease taking them. No matter what I was prescribed nothing seemed to help until I accidentally came across holistic methods to stop my period cramps naturally.
Methods To Ease Menstrual Cramps Naturally
If you’ve already researched how to stop your period cramps, then the information that you’ll read below will be things that you’ve probably never heard before. Many of the blogs/websites recommending you to exercise, drink more water, take birth control, or some over-the-counter medicine is crap.
When you suffer from excruciating period cramps, the last thing on your mind is exercising or drinking water. The below recommendations are methods that I have tried and am currently doing.
If you’re looking for an easy way out to relieve your period cramps without making any significant lifestyle changes, then you probably won’t find the mentioned information useful.
The methods listed below aren’t one-time fixes but are lifestyle changes that I have implemented in order to fix the root cause of my issue.
Below Are 4 Proven Methods For How To Stop Period Cramps Naturally
Foods to Avoid To Stop Painful Period Cramps
1. Avoid Dairy
Although dairy is a part of the Standard American Diet, it’s not a smart choice to consume it when your goal is to stop painful period cramps. Dairy contains A1 casein and arachidonic acid, which increases inflammation and intensifies period pain.
Being that dairy is a billion-dollar industry, there haven’t been many studies on how dairy affects menstrual health. However, once I lessened, and then eventually, stopped eating dairy, my painful period cramps became less frequent.
From my research, dairy products such as milk naturally contain over 60 different hormones. Dairy cows in the United States are injected with artificial growth hormones that cause them to produce milk at a faster rate.
In addition to this, many dairy cows are fed soy, feed containing GMO, and are treated with antibiotics. All of these factors are responsible for throwing off your natural production of estrogen, fertility, as well as your menstrual cycle.
2. Reduce eating pork & red meat
Before I became plant-based, I slowly started to ween off of pork and red meat. The most rewarding factor I noticed once I gave up pork and red meat was that my period cramps lessened even more.
Pork and red meat contain omega-6 fatty acids and high amounts of saturated fats. Also, just like the dairy industry in the United States, many of these animals are fed soy, and GMO feed, and are pumped with antibiotics so that they can grow at a much faster rate.
These have a pro-inflammatory effect on the body which intensifies period cramps.
The below items are a list of foods & beverages that you should lessen the amount that you consume, or get rid of them completely, in order to stop period cramps naturally.
- Fried foods
- refined grains
- processed foods
- coffee
- caffiene (except for green tea)
- processed sugar
What to take to stop painful period cramps naturally
I was never really a huge fan of the pharmaceutical industry and its medicines. Over time, this lessened even more.
I began researching using herbs and roots to heal and the best ways to implement them into my lifestyle. Implementing herbs and roots into my everyday lifestyle is a means of keeping my vessel healthy and acts as a preventative care instead of sick care.
Westernized medicine, big pharma, and pharmaceuticals are methods that you partake in once you become sick instead of preventing the sickness, to begin with. I like to compare Westernized medicine to putting a bandaid on a wound.
3. Herbs, Roots, Teas, & Tinctures To Take To Stop Period Cramps Naturally
Anti-spasmodic herbs & uterine tonics have the ability to decrease muscle spasms, alleviate pain, and increase proper blood circulation.
Making a liquid tincture or tea and consuming it a week to a few days before your menstrual cycle, along with consuming the proper foods, will be sure to naturally stop period cramps.
Although I enjoy making herbal tinctures, making herbal teas are more convenient for me. I drink warm tea first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
You can add a piece of ginger to your tea or liquid tincture to increase its benefits. Experiment with different herbs to see which combination is the most effective for your body.
Herbs & roots to take to stop period cramps naturally
- Angelica Sinesis
Nourishes and helps circulate the blood flow so that cramping can be prevented. It also helps to relax the uterus when it’s in a contracted state during your menstrual cycle. - White Peony
Nourishes the blood and helps to relax the uterus while menstruating. - Sichuan Lovage Rhizome
Stasis of blood flow during your menstruation is one of the biggest culprits of painful period cramps. Sichuan Lovage Rhizome is powerful in circulating blood flow. - Corydalis
Another powerful herb that invigorates and circulates the blood flow and helps in stopping cramps. It also combats inflammation by inhibiting the release of histamine. - Cramp bark
eases painful period cramps while relaxing the uterine muscles as well as other skeletal muscles. For mild cramps, cramp bark usually works rapidly. - Black Cohosh
is great to use for daily use. For someone that suffers from back pain, hormonal shifts, mood swings, and painful period cramps, this root is perfect to take. - Motherwort
This herb is perfect for soothing muscles, nerves, and anxiety, as well as reducing painful periods. It is also great for regulating mood swings. - Red Raspberry Leaf
Although this herb is popular to use during pregnancy, it makes for an excellent treatment in reducing cramps, strengthening the uterus, and circulating proper blood flow. - Red Clover
This plant contains Phytoestrogens which mimic estrogen. Phytoestrogens help in reducing period cramps.
4. Vegetables To Consume To Stop Painful Period Cramps Naturally
Although I’ve always enjoyed consuming lots of fruits and vegetables, upon fully being vegan/plant-based, I noticed not only did my body feel amazing, but my cramps were almost non-existent.
Dark leafy green vegetables such as collard greens, dandelion greens, and kale have high amounts of iron, magnesium, and calcium. All three helps in reducing painful period cramps naturally.
Although many people prefer to cook their vegetables, it’s best to eat them raw in order to reap the full benefits. Consuming your raw vegetables in a salad, wrap, or even as a juice will provide tremendous relief to your painful period cramps.
How to stop period cramps naturally: Conclusion
Even as someone whose plant-based, there are times when my periods are painful. This is due to what I’m consuming during the time when I’m not menstruating.
For my body, I notice a considerable difference in how my periods are when I’ve consumed fried food, lots of pasta & other refined carbs, and processed foods, as opposed to eating a clean diet where I’m incorporating lots of fresh vegetables and fruits.
The biggest factor for me in reducing and stopping painful period cramps was giving up meat & dairy while nursing my body to its optimal health with a variety of herbs & roots.
