Only girls and women know what they have to go through when they are on their periods. Whether the flow is heavy, light or moderate, menstrual bleeding is normal but annoying and uncomfortable. On top of it, major mood swings and hormonal imbalances make it even worse. And the painful Period cramps or Menstrual cramps make it tougher for them to pass through the discomforting cycle.
In medical terminology, period cramps are known as Dysmenorrhea, which is often observed as throbbing pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, and thighs. Many women prefer taking painkillers and other pills to relieve the agonizing pain but experts say that these pills might cause harm in the long run.
Did you know that the most effective natural remedies for period cramps are hidden just right in your kitchen? Look for these four most common herbs in your kitchen to get rid of the distressing period cramps instantly!
Ginger
Ginger is like a savior for us. Be it sore throat, indigestion, high blood sugar or even inflammatory diseases like osteoarthritis, ginger helps in curing a plethora of such common illnesses. Ginger has many medicinal properties and can also help in relieving period cramps. Ginger is a warming herb that can help ease menstrual cramps by lowering the levels of pain-causing prostaglandins. Ginger also helps fight the fatigue commonly associated with premenstrual syndrome, aka, PMS.
During periods, you can take hot ginger tea on a frequent basis. You can also consume it by boiling 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger in water 5 minutes, adding a little sugar in the mixture. Drink it three times a day after your meals and you're good to go! You can also use ginger powder instead of fresh ginger.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon, also known as 'Dalchini' is also a very good inhibitor when it comes to menstrual cramp. In a study, it has been revealed that those women who took 3 grams of cinnamon each day for the first 3 days of periods experienced significantly less pain as compared to those who took the same amount of placebo. Another study revealed that women who took cinnamon in any form three times a day for first 3 days of their menstrual cycle experienced less bleeding, less pain, and other symptoms of period cramps.
Sprinkling a pinch of cinnamon powder in your tea, coffee or sweet dishes can help you in getting rid of the cramps.
Turmeric
Almost every Indian dish consists of the spice named turmeric. Often known for enhancing the flavor and color of Indian dishes, turmeric has many medicinal benefits too. Consuming turmeric in periods can help you to fight irregular periods as well as the insufferable pain.
You can use turmeric for periods by taking a tablespoon of it in your regular glass of milk. Caution is advised if you are on medication for diabetes.
Fennel Seeds
Fennel Seeds are often used as a mouth freshener, but not many people know that it has medicinal properties too! Fennel seeds have anti-inflammatory properties and can help in reducing bloating and cramps while menstruation.
To use fennel seeds for periods, one can prepare fennel tea which is very simple to cook at home. To make fennel tea, you must not boil the fennel seeds in water, but place the seeds in a teapot infuser and pour a cup of boiling hot water over them. You must let it steep for five minutes and strain the tea in the big cup. Drinking this twice a day can do wonders for period cramps easily.
