logo
flag   
Responsive Navigation
Keyword Search: in
Treating Menstrual Cramps Naturally
View article disclaimer and terms
Tags: Treating Menstrual Cramps Naturally, Treating Cramps Naturally, Treating Hormonal Imbalances, treating stress cramps, hormonal stress

This article has been viewed 6469 times.
Ask us a Question
Name
Email Address
Comments
Code ^
Women's health expert Dr. Daemon Jones, ND talks about how you can treat menstrual cramps that result from female hormonal imbalances in a natural, painless way 

and live a happier, healthier life.  

Whenever one of my patients is in pain, I always create a short-term approach and a long-term approach to address their problem. In the short-term I want to help them alleviate their pain as quickly as possible and in the long-term, I want to resolve the hormonal problem associated with the pain on a more permanent basis. 

Pain from cramps is often due to cramping in the muscles of the uterus as it is shedding the inner lining called endometrium. The muscles in the uterus are used to shed the endometrium each month that there is no fertilized egg and this is what produces a period. 

To naturally relieve and reduce muscle contractions and pain associated with PMS I recommend nutritional magnesium. As a short-term plan, I suggest supplements and foods that are high in magnesium and I have patients start on these a couple of weeks before their period.  

Foods that are high in magnesium include Swiss chard, spinach, summer squash, pumpkin seeds, broccoli and other green, leafy vegetables. Although organically grown vegetables are best, due to the depletion of nutrients in our soils over the last 50 years, I also recommend magnesium supplementation in divided doses during the day. Not all forms of supplements are bio-available. For example, magnesium citrate in a powder form that dissolves in water is extremely absorbable whereas magnesium oxide is

only about 4% absorbable. 

After I focus on the short-term goal of reducing the menstrual pain during the first menstrual cycle the patient has under my care, I then focus on the long-term goal of treating any hormonal imbalances that are occurring during her menstrual cycle. 

Treating Hormonal Imbalances and Stress 

As I work with patients that have come in with a complaint of menstrual distress I look at solutions that include eating foods rich in essential fatty acids and fiber. Essential fatty acids omega 3, 6, and 9 are required for a women's body to create our estrogens and progesterone. These hormones are also the precursor to our cortisol hormone known as one of our stress hormones.  

When women do not have an adequate supply of essential fatty acids our stress management system and our menstrual system compete for the essential fatty acids that are available. Our stress management system will win every time leaving our menstrual

system off balance which can cause pain and cramping among other PMS symptoms. If we eat foods high in essential fatty acids then we have an adequate supply for both our stress management system and our female hormonal system. Foods that are high in essential fatty acids are salmon, scallops, sardines, avocados, legumes (phytoestrogens act like weak estrogens) flax seeds, walnuts, cauliflower and cabbage. 

One last note with regards to stress. According to Dr. Carolyn Dean, author of "The Magnesium Miracle", "Stress can cause magnesium depletion and lack of magnesium magnifies stress. Magnesium is necessary to support our adrenals, which are overworked by stress  It is very significant if a woman has a magnesium deficiency because of the many vital enzyme systems that require this mineral. They include carbohydrate metabolism, blood sugar control and energy production. A strain on the adrenal glands puts a strain on the magnesium dependent energy system of the body, which further promotes energy depletion and leads to a vicious circle of decreased ability to manage stress. Magnesium is the anti-stress mineral and is known to alleviate stress, cramping from PMS, muscle tension, depression, anxiety and insomnia." 

Fiber and Hormonal Imbalances 

The next part of my long-term strategy for treating menstrual cramps (and most menstrual irregularities) is to look at how fiber foods impact your hormonal balance. 

Why is fiber important in the hormonal balance process? Fiber foods act as a natural broom for our digestive system and help us to eliminate waste products from our body. Once our estrogen and progesterone have been used by the reproductive system, they are processed by the liver and deposited in our bowels to be removed when we have a bowel movement. If we are not having daily bowel movements, then those hormones can and do get reabsorbed into the body and begin to recirculate and act on our ovaries, uterus and hypothalamus (in the brain). This throws off the ratio or balance that our body is trying to maintain, causing menstrual imbalance. 

This is where the fiber comes into play. Eating high-fiber foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, beans, nuts and seeds allows the body to eliminate the estrogen and progesterone before it has time to be reabsorbed. You can only get fiber from foods that come from plants. Foods that come from animals do not contain any fiber. 

Additionally, according to Dr. Dean, "PMS is considered to worsen with constipation and toxicity. If the bowel doesn't empty once a day, toxins can be reabsorbed back into the blood stream from the colon. The longer debris sits in the colon, the more fluid is reabsorbed, making stools more solid and difficult to pass. Magnesium is a natural detoxifier and muscle relaxer and helps alleviate constipation and painful cramps."  

The message I want to convey is there is a process to naturally treat menstrual irregularities that will take some time, but will completely be worth the effort. What you eat and how you live can affect the level of pain and suffering of your menstrual cycles and can even potentially make them painless.

Medical Disclaimer: 

The ideas, procedures and suggestions contained in this article are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician.  All matters regarding your physical health require medical supervision. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss, injury or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this article. The opinions expressed in this article represent the personal views of the author and not the publisher.



By Daemon Jones ND
All rights reserved. Any reproducing of this article must have the author name and all the links intact.

Daemon Jones ND

Author:

Biography: Women's health expert, Daemon Jones, ND is the author of "Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living" and "The Healthydaes Newsletter" She is a faculty member of Smith Farms Center for Healing and the Arts and Food As Medicine Professional Training program and is a member of the non-profit, Nutritional Magnesium Association, www.nutritionalmagnesium.org As a naturopathic physician, Dr. Jones is living her life’s passion and life's mission – the pursuit of vibrant health for others. She uses private consultations, cooking demonstrations, lectures and workshops as a hands-on way to help people enjoy learning about improving their health.

ALSO VIEW OUR
Articles
(Total : 2)
  Title
Sort by Title A-Z
Sort by Title Z-A
Green Living and Prenatal Care: 10 Things You Need to Know To Ensure Your Baby Arrives Healthy Despite the Toxic World Around Us
Treating Menstrual Cramps Naturally


Contact Form

Please use this form to contact Daemon Jones
** This form is intended for those with genuine enquiries/questions.
 

Name
Company (if any)
Comments
Email
Phone
  To avoid misuse and spamming, please enter the verification code, shown below, to send your message. Thank you
 
if you can't read the image text to load another one.
Enter Code
 

Disclaimer and Terms. This article is the opinion of the author. WorldwideHealth.com makes no claims regarding this information. WorldwideHealth.com recommends that all medical conditions should be treated by a physician competent in treating that particular condition. WorldwideHealth.com takes no responsibility for customers choosing to treat themselves. Your use of this information is at your own risk. Your use of this information is governed by WWH terms and conditions.