Kill those cramps

Stop resorting to painkillers to treat those dreaded menstrual cramps. Instead, give these tried and tested cures a go. Suggested by our experts, they work like miracles... minus the side effects. By Trupti

Drink up!
The benefits of herbal tea have never been questionable but did you know that it relieves menstrual cramps as well? “The warmth and goodness of herbal tea will relax your muscles, which is especially important for your cramped and congested pelvic area,” says nutritionist Naini Setalvad.

Even a glass of red wine is considered to be great to beat the pains as it alleviates the mood and relaxes your mind and body! Otherwise, opt for juices of parsley and beet root. They are effective home remedies with satisfying results.

Go for Omega
Avoid salty and oily food that can lead to body bloating and cause indigestion and gas, which can aggravate menstrual cramps. “Instead, have 1-2 tsp of flaxseeds or include fish in your diet regularly. Both these contain Omega 3 fatty acids which slow down the release of prostaglandins which aggravate menstrual pains,” says nutritionist and personal trainer Samreedhi Goel.

Get to the root of health
Ginger is a magical root when it comes to curing cramps. “As ginger is anti-spasmodic, it also has properties that relieve pain. A piece of fresh ginger should be pounded and boiled in a cupful of water and should be taken thrice a day after meals. This is the best menstruation cure,” says Naini Setalvad.

Create your own spa
What can be more relaxing than a spa-like bath to relax your muscles and relieve your cramps? In fact, a hip bath is a common cure for menstrual cure in naturopathy. Just add 1 cup of sea salt and 1 cup of baking soda to a warm bath and soak in it for 20 minutes. As the sea salt dissolves, your cramped muscles you will get immense relief…plus the warm water will seem euphoric!

Make love
After the spa treatment, making love is a great idea. Sex with orgasm is great for relieving cramps, say doctors. It is believed that the vigorous muscle action moves blood and other fluids away from congested organs, relieving the pain of the cramps!

Increase fibre frequency
“Include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains for increased fibre intake and avoid eating large quantities of meat and dairy products. Foods rich in arachidonic acids elevate the levels of prostaglandins,” suggests Samreedhi Goel. Also, eat 4-5 small meals instead of fewer huge meals to prevent feeling lethargic all day.

Reap the benefits of seeds
Sesame seeds and coriander seeds are grandmothers’ recipes to treat menstrual cramps and related problems. Boil them in water and drink twice daily. “Sesame seeds are high in calcium, therefore their intake in the long run reduces cramps while coriander seeds prevent inflation,” says Naini Setalvad.

Release those feel good endorphins
That you cannot exercise during periods is a misconception. Indeed, you can go in for a regular light workout. Walking on the treadmill at a slightly slower speed than normal or doing slightly lighter weights than usual if you are tired is ideal. “Certain exercises can actually reduce cramps. Exercising releases endorphins in the blood stream and with exercise the pain tolerance of the body increases, as a result of which the intensity of the cramps also lessens over time, “suggests Samreedhi Goel.

That’s great news! Wave those cramps good bye and live your best life…even in those special 5 days!