Natural Ways to Regulate Your Period and Control Menstrual Cramping

Many women have menstrual cycles that vary from month to month. Most women do not have cycles that last exactly 28 days every month. The length of your cycle, your menstrual symptoms, the cramping and pain can be controlled by natural methods in most cases. When I was at Columbia University in NYC a friend would be in bed for 7-9 days out of the month due to severe cramping. She missed classes, she was always tired. We did not know then what we know now. Her breakfast was always cereal with milk, then for lunch a sandwich with cheese, and for dinner some big piece of carb/bread with milk or meat. Rarely did I see her eat any veggies. We just thought it was her genes as her mom had similarly terrible cramping during her menstruation. 

1. 1. Reduce body fat through diet and exercise. The more fat you have on your body, the more you will be a slave to hormonal issues as fat produces excess estrogen. Recommendations that work: 
1. Eat a low carb diet, 
2. Avoid gluten at all costs
3. Follow an anti-inflammatory diet. 
4. Avoid all dairy when your period is about to begin and through your period. 
5. Most women note the pain really decreases with just a change in diet. 

1. 2. Electric Massager for belly: My secret weapon agains terrible pain. Consider buying a inexpensive electric massager helps with pain and helps avoid need for ibuprofen, tylenol and pain meds. I have posted before how this simple device applied to my belly and back (I had 2 with extension cords in the hospital) helped me have 6 natural child births. I love this device. I never take pain meds and never give pain meds to my kids. We always try this first. 

1. 3. Manage stress. Go for a walk, climb stairs to relieve stress. Stress can add to pain. Pray and meditate to avoid extra stress. Breathing exercise will help with pain. 

1. Consider vitex or black cohosh supplements. Or, if you prefer an Eastern approach, consult an acupuncturist for treatment, which may include traditional Chinese “blood-moving” herbs.

1. Apply warm castor oil. To stabilize flow, moisten a flannel pack (available at natural products stores; a folded, old T-shirt will do in a pinch) with warmed castor oil; place oil-side down on your lower abdomen with a hot-water bottle on top; cover with a towel. Do this daily for an hour (but not during your period) for a few months; then gradually reduce frequency to twice a month. Your period might initially become heavier or more painful, but that’s just stagnation clearing from the uterus, says Claudia Welch, author of Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life (Da Capo, 2011).

1. Try More Exercise. Before your period, do supported versions of standing poses like triangle and half-moon to create space and ease in the pelvic region, suggests Clennell. During your period, restorative yoga postures such as reclining bound-ankle pose can restore energy and relax abdominal organs. The rest of the month, practice seated postures, such as seated wide- angle pose, to tone reproductive organs and relieve abdominal tension; and inversions, such as standing forward bends and supported head or shoulder stand, to stabilize hormonal output and regulate flow.

If your period comes infrequently, gets very light, or seems to stop altogether—and you’re not yet menopausal—stress of some sort is likely a primary factor.


Common culprits

1. Low hormone levels. Intense exercisers often have very low body fat, which can diminish hormone levels and prevent the uterus from building up a lining, Stanton says. Chronic or extreme stress can worsen the problem by reducing effectiveness of the brain’s hypothalamus, which signals the ovaries to produce hormones. Women may not be aware of “invisible” stressors such as food allergies, toxins, and unstable blood sugar, she adds. Stress can also lead to PCOS, says Pick. Although the syndrome can create very heavy periods, it sometimes has the opposite effect, she explains.

1. Insufficient nourishment. When nutrition and sleep levels are chronically low, the body prioritizes survival over reproduction, Welch says. The most common stress-related nutrient deficiencies include essential fatty acids (such as omega-3s), B vitamins (especially B6), and minerals (especially magnesium and zinc).

1. Early menopause. “If you’re in your 30s and suddenly have low or scanty periods, get your hormone levels checked,” Stanton says. Family history, illness, and certain medical procedures can cause some women to go through menopause well before age 51, the average for U.S. women.

Restore balance

1. Eat a healthy diet. Cut out empty calories from processed and sugary foods, and aim to eat lean protein (along with vegetables and whole grains) every two to three hours. It’ll help stabilize your blood sugar and reduce cortisol demand.

1. Sleep well. Aim for at least 7 1⁄2 hours nightly. Supplement with a high- quality multivitamin and fish oil. You may want to look for a multi that targets stress, or take additional supplements of B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc. Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs such as shatavari, vidari, and dong quai may also help.

1. Do forward bends. During your period, Clennell recommends practicing forward bends, which reduce tension in the abdomen, boost circulation in the pelvis, strengthen the internal reproductive organs, and help glands function properly during menstruation. Save back bends, lateral twists, and inversions for the rest of the month.

1. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). About 1 in 15 women has PCOS, a hormone-imbalance condition associated with insulin resistance. In PCOS, egg follicles form but they don’t release, leading to insufficient progesterone and sometimes heavy bleeding, Stanton explains. Even if you don’t have PCOS or insulin resistance, it’s important to shed excess weight. “Women who have a lot of belly fat have a lot of estrogen,” she says.