The Bodycare Journal: Cramps lose, I win!

Fair warning, this is for my ladies! — We all have that time of the month when we just want to crawl in a ball, in a room full of darkest, and stay there between 4-7 days. Unless you’ve surpass the age or just don’t receive a menstrual cycle then you still know what I’m talking about.

On top of the tiredness we deal with when trying to conquer the world, we have to endure pain. A pain that can be bearable for some or unimaginable for some. In my opinion, this is the worst part!

Suffering from menstrual cramps while still having to continue on with the day is something only we understand. I always laugh when I see those videos of the cramp simulator. The men think it’s all fun and games lol. No, we are just strong beings and honestly this needs to be discussed more in our younger ages.

I remember growing up, a friend of mine would literally become immobile every time it was her time of the month. She literally would crawl in a ball on the bathroom floor and cry. I remember thinking, “she’s being so dramatic, they do not hurt that bad!” Boy was I wrong!

My excruciating cramps didn’t start until I got older. For some reason, I went from barely feeling a thing to crawling up in that ball! I’ve tried a number of things to help with the pain. Some worked and some, didn’t even budge. 

Don’t worry, I’m here to list the ones that work the best. You can combine all of these body care treatments or just try a few.

1. Portable heating pad: These are sold in patches or an actual device that can be reused. I’ve gotten the patches from Target. The portable bands, can be found on amazon. That way you can continue moving around and knocking off daily goals!
2. Castor oil: Castor oil has so many benefits for the female reproductive system. In this case, the oil is going to relax the uterine muscles, reduce inflammation, and increase blood circulation. You can either rub the oil on your lower abdomen or you can wear a castor oil wrap. The wrap is basically a piece of cloth that is secured around your lower abdomen. It can stay on for 60min+. 
3. Herbal Tea: There are many herbal teas that can help with cramps but my favorites are Raspberry leaf and Cramp bark. Red raspberry leaf tea is commonly used to support women’s reproductive health. It helps tone the muscles of the uterus, reducing the intensity of cramps and easing menstrual flow. Cramp bark is specifically used to relieve menstrual cramps. It works as a uterine relaxant, helping to ease muscle spasms and reduce pain.
4. Yoga: Here me out— I know the last thing you may want to do is exercise however along with walking or light exercise, yoga poses that focus on stretching and relaxing the pelvic area can reduce cramping. Poses like Child’s Pose, Cat-Cow Stretch, Cobra Pose, and Reclining Bound Angle Pose help stretch and relax the lower abdomen, easing tension and pain.
5. Icing: Ice, or cold therapy, can help alleviate menstrual cramps by reducing inflammation, numbing the pain, and constricting blood vessels in the affected area. Wrap an ice pack or a cold compress in a towel and apply it to your lower abdomen for 15–20 minutes at a time. Take breaks between applications to avoid overexposure to cold.

My hopes are to help spread some alternative ways to help with menstrual cramps. This is something we have to experience for years and taking a pain reliever doesn’t always have to be the first response.

If I knew this information at the very beginning, I think my younger self would’ve been more relieved and able to educate friends. 

Tag us if you try or currently use any of these methods! We love connecting and giving personalized tips.

Xoxo, 

Jazmine Jamal

Founder of @521wellness

You Start Dying When You Stop Dreaming