How to Care for Your Womb During Your Menstrual Cycle

What comes to mind when you think of your monthly moon-time (menstrual cycle)? Increased creativity and intimacy or discomfort/pain and difficulty? Unfortunately, most women imply the ladder.

Dysmenorrhea, also known as the painful uterine contractions during your period is a woman's most prevalent source of cyclic pain. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and dizziness. Because factors such as diet, hormone imbalance, stress, and the environment contribute to why women suffer from painful menstrual cycles, it's not always easy to determine what exactly is causing the imbalance.

To migrate inward and build the intimacy with our bodies that helps us identify these factors and stressors, we have to decolonize the ways Western society has programmed us to view bodily autonomy/sovereignty and restructure what it means to us. The importance lies in being in tune with our bodies and calling on ancient/natural wisdom to guide us along the way.

We shouldn't be wallowing in pain during our most high and creative times of the month. We should be pain-free and fully present to dive deeper into the magic of our moon time and focus on what matters.

5 Helpful Tips for Painful Menstrual Cycles

Magnesium

In addition to magnesium's various benefits, it is a very effective muscle relaxant, hormone balancer, and mental/mood stabilizer. Taking magnesium can help to relax and tone the uterine muscles, relieve some of the pain associated with cramping, alleviate PMS mood changes, and support/balance hormone function. Depending on the deficit level, it can take a couple of months for magnesium deficiency to balance out, so it's best taken daily – increasing your dosage during your cycle and ovulation.

Black Seed Oil

Like magnesium, black seed (Nigella sativa) oil is best taken regularly and has many different benefits for the body. In the case of menstrual cramps, black seed oil, over time, decreases levels of prostaglandins – a necessary hormone that, when it occurs in excess, can cause painful menstruation, heavy bleeding, and other forms of chronic pain and inflammation. Black seed oil has anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain-relieving), and relaxation properties that directly impact the smooth muscles of the uterus, decreasing the cramping pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea. It can be taken internally and used locally as a massage to help block increased prostaglandin production.

Menstrual Cups/Panties

Opting for natural/organic feminine products avoids exposure to toxins in conventional pads and tampons that commonly cause reproductive issues. With menstrual cups and period panties, you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with your anatomy. You can gain a lot of bodily insight from the constituents of your menstrual blood – its color, scent, consistency, etc. You will also find that you may or may not bleed as heavy as you thought.

Free bleeding into reusable underwear and cups is empowering and an easygoing alternative to disposable methods. It also keeps your usual vaginal fluid and healthy bacteria inside of your vagina, instead of absorbed into tampons and pads. Quite a few reports of women mention fewer or less painful menstrual cramps while using a cup/panty.

You can also go as deep as giving your blood back to nature by adding it to your indoor plant soil or the soil surrounding a nearby tree. The possibilities to foster a better relationship with your cycle are endless.

Herbs

There are several possible underlying causes for dysmenorrhea, and everyone's body is different and requires different attention for successful healing. While there aren't any one-size-fits-all herbs, plants have numerous healing properties and actions with affinities to specific bodily systems. I will list a few herbs that may help ease painful menstruations by soothing uterine muscles, attracting warmth/heat towards the womb, normalizing hormones, and alleviating symptoms. Learning the plants that mesh well and work best for your body can help you manage your painful menstrual cycles.

It's always best to start with one herb at a time when trying new herbs. Please be sure to do your research if interested in learning more about the following herbs and consult your holistic/healthcare practitioner when using new remedies. Please also note that I am only scraping the surface of the numerous ways these medicinal herbs serve the reproductive system—as they also have many other benefits.

Ginger – Heats internally, inhibits prostaglandin production, and contains six pain-relieving and anti-cramping compounds.

Fennel – Aids in digestion and reduces bloating and pain.

Cramp Bark – Uterine antispasmodic that relaxes spasms of the uterine muscles.

Vitex (Chaste berry) – Hormone normalizer that contributes to hormonal imbalance.

Red Raspberry Leaf – Overall reproductive system tonic that soothes uterine cramping (also significant for pregnancy). 

If you struggle with painful periods, my mindfully curated Menstrual Relief tea blend is very popular and effective. You can read about it here, and testimonies from satisfied customers here.

Diet

Diet plays a crucial role in how our bodies function/perform and manage pain, stress, fluid retention, imbalances, etc. Eating plenty of leafy greens, trace minerals, omega-3-rich foods, and certain spices (cayenne, turmeric, black pepper, ginger, cinnamon) can help prevent/improve painful menstrual cycles. Things are also best when eaten in moderation/reduced, such as sugar, meat, dairy, caffeine, liquor, and fried/saturated/high cholesterol foods. A balanced diet is always ideal, so it's best to be diligent about what we put into our bodies at all times – especially when it's working overtime, like during our monthly moon cycles.

Using herbs and natural remedies is just one way to help keep hormones balanced, but visiting the gynecologist may also be an excellent first step in case concerns arise. While dysmenorrhea is common, extreme symptoms could signify something more detrimental. Pay attention to your body's messages and seek professional guidance when and if needed. You only get one vessel. Honor it.

Oh. And please get outside and exercise. Mouvement is healing.

Cheers to bleeding with ease!