Women: herbal remedies to relieve cramps?

[Maddy McCall]

Just curious...not seeking medical advice.

[nini]

1. the only herb I can think of is illegal

which means it probably works the best. :D


Exercise always helped me or I just suffered through it.


I don't miss those days at all!



:hug:

[LynneSin]

2. Long, super-hot bubble bath with J&J Lavander Baby Bath

It's either that or I have to kill someone. The bath has been doing the trick for now!

[azmouse]

3. Advil and a heating pad have helped me.

The cramps do seem to be less severe as I've gotten older.
I'm looking forward to being done with the whole mess in a few years.

[Fleshdancer]

4. Here are a few ideas....

http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/womenshealth/a/PMS_2.htm

Evening Primrose oil (EPO) is often recommended for headache, cramping, bloating, breast pain, depression, and irritability. EPO contains gamma-linolenic acid, which is involved in the metabolism of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins that regulate pain and inflammation in the body. EPO is available in capsule or oil form and should always be refrigerated. Borage oil or black currant oil have similar effects and may be substituted. If used long-term, twice as much flax seed oil should be used to maintain the optimal balance of oils. Stomach discomfort and loose stools may occur if the initial dose is too high. EPO can interact with certain drugs for schizophrenia.

Magnesium
The mineral magnesium appears to benefit women with cramps, mood swings, depression, fatigue, breast tenderness, and water retention. Magnesium may work by promoting dopamine production and indirectly inhibiting activity of the hormone prolactin. It is involved in prostaglandin metabolism and vitamin B6 activity.

Research studies show that although women with PMS do not differ in their serum levels of magnesium, levels of magnesium inside red blood cells are significantly lower in women with PMS.

Click on the link for more ideas and good luck. :)

[u4ic]

14. Evening Primrose Oil

worked wonders for me. :-)

[ceile]

5. My PA recommended rose hips.

But I can't remember if it was for PMS or cramps (it was a couple of years ago).

[bleedingheart]

6. Vodka...and lots of it

it may not get rid of the cramps but it makes it more bearable...

[Ariana Celeste]

11. i do whiskey, myself

:D

[FedUpWithIt All]

7. raspberry leaf tea

:hi:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

8. Motherwort.

Smells and tastes like shit, but it works really well.

It doesn't taste bad if you put it in OJ, but the smell still sucks. Anyway, it works better than OTC painkillers.

[cwydro]

9. Mine seem to be getting better as I get older

but damn, I cannot WAIT for menopause!

Anyway, looking for suggestions too, so thanks for the thread and women, let's keep those suggestions coming in.

[graywarrior]

10. Stop all dairy a week before your period.

See an herbalist for an evaluation. They can give you what is right for you. Using the wrong herb can mess you up.

[MISSDem]

12. Cell salts

either Ferr. Phos or Mag. Phos or maybe both.

[astral]

13. STop the meat, take B-Complex vitamins, eat salads for meals

drink lotsa water and if you want chocolate, eat it! I used to always crawl into a hot tub if my schedule allowed, and in my 20's would occasionally leave work due to cramps(!) They were pretty bad. I'm not in menopause yet but somewhere along the line the cramps disappeared . . . . I don't think I noticed when!

Brewers yeast and raw wheat germ are excellent supplements to your diet. Just sprinkle them on everything, I used put the wheat germ in my cereal / oatmeal, even on top my salads. Someone had to tell me about these things when I was 18 or so and prone to severe cramps. It was a roommate who had a salad mandala poster on the wall and was a super stict vegetarian.

These are all the pointers I remember off the top of my head, but I do remember being surprised that when I would put them into practice -- they worked!

[Jean Louise Finch]

15. Exercise really helps

Especially yoga-esque things (though I gather you're not supposed to do any of the inverted poses while in the first couple of days of ye olde period).

One thing I always do when I have really bad cramps; lie on my back, bend my knees and press my lower back and feet hard into the ground, then tilt my pelvis up and hold it for a few seconds, then lower it back down. I do it maybe a dozen times; it really helps a lot though is sort of weird if someone walks into your office and you're wearing a skirt! :blush:

Jean Louise

[MissMillie]

19. sure does

but I have to add that I found relief even when I wasn't doing yoga-esque things. Exercise helps... frankly, I can't think of much it DOESN'T help.

[huskerlaw]

16. Vicodin.

aka Vitamin V. :evilgrin:

[KitchenWitch]

17. Geez

That is like setting off a nuke to kill a mosquito!

:rofl:

[huskerlaw]

20. Alas

I've been "blessed" with nuclear grade cramps. x(

[ET Awful]

18. I'm not a woman, but my GF swears by powdered ginger added to tea

She will either add powdered ginger to whatever tea she happens to be drinking or buy the Celestial Seasonings Gingerbread tea (available only at this time of year). Both seem to help her quite a bit.

[mzteris]

21. Grapes. . .

squeezed and fermented! :rofl:

Red wine always helped my cramps. (Not white or anything else, just red wine.)

Also ditto on the Evening Primrose Oil and the B-complex (especially B-6).

I've also heard that Dong Quai helps (but I'm allergic so don't know first hand). Then there's Black Cohosh and, of course, crampbark.