If you’re anything like I was, the contents of your Ibuprofen bottle takes a major dive during that time of the month. Menstrual cramps are debilitating, and sometimes the only thing we think we can do to get the pain under control is to treat them with painkillers. But to get your period as often as every month, relying on painkillers — sometimes more than once a day — just isn’t healthy.
Luckily, you don’t have to choose between living with cramps or taking painkillers — you may just need to switch out parts of your normal period routine.
Let me tell you, raspberry leaf tea is a god-send for easing cramps. The properties within the tea are proven to strengthen the uterus and tighten the muscles in the pelvic region. When I first tried this tea from the brand Earth Mama, my cramps immediately began to dull down 30 minutes after my first cup. The relief lasted for several hours and my cramps were soothed once again after a second cup.
Another thing that has been particularly helpful to me was swapping out tampons for a menstrual cup. Tampons (unless specifically labelled as organic) are bleached. Although they are FDA approved, we would still prefer to keep chemicals away from our vaginas. Made out of medical grade silicone, menstrual cups collect the blood rather than absorb it. When I started using the Diva Cup in exchange for tampons, I noticed a change right away in the pain I had normally experienced during my period.
Often, we’re told that exercise and endorphins help relieve cramps. While movement is important during your period, I’ve found that less is more. Instead of doing a rigorous workout routine that would leave me more exhausted, nauseated and crampy than before, I’ve swapped this for low-intensity workouts such as yoga and walking. I’ve found that this kind of exercise helps to relieve my cramps, without compromising my energy levels.
Of course, painkillers will always have their place. Sometimes exercise or tea just isn’t enough, especially when you have to go to school or work and pretend you aren’t totally suffering on the inside. However, we definitely want to limit our intake when we can, as they can be harmful in large doses, especially to our kidneys.
These alternatives have been a game changer for me, and while my period is still dreaded, it’s much easier to manage now.