Natural relief for period pain
Many women suffer from period pain. Whether as a result of endometriosis, fibroids, cysts, a thick uterine lining, or just an overenthusiastic muscle response, there are lots you can do to help relieve your own pain.
One of the first things I do for women who come to me with severe period pain is to assess their pelvic alignment with their spine and hips. Sometimes, your uterine wall contracts as it should, but because your back or pelvis aren’t working together well, your muscles have to work hard to support the uterine wall contractions, leading to back, abdominal, hip or thigh pain.
The muscles that contract to help you have a period are just like any other muscle. They need great blood supply, nerve supply, and uninterrupted drainage of waste from the muscle cells. These muscles need great nutrition - a magnesium or iron deficiency can make period pain an awful lot worse, as muscle contractions become cramps. If you are experiencing period pain and have had children, sometimes pregnancy and childbirth can alter the mechanics of the organs and muscles of your pelvis, compressing them or stretching them so that they can’t get everything they need to do their job perfectly.
You can aid your muscles at home with some simple exercises. A cat-cow stretch, psoas stretch or gentle side stretches can certainly help regulate blood and nerve supply in your lower abdomen and pelvis. Cardio exercise helps all your muscles receive what they need, including in your uterus. It doesn’t even have to be strenuous, just something that gets your heart rate slightly increased for twenty minutes or so is perfectly adequate to help get everything moving.
In an osteo treatment, I can work with aligning your hips and spine, use techniques to help lift the fascia along your abdomen, and pump your pelvis. Some techniques are designed for more immediate pain relief, while some are more for addressing the underlying cause of the pain and helping your body to cope better in the long term. With several years’ experience in Women’s Health, I can also assess your pelvic floor muscles in a non-invasive way, and check that your bladder or other organs aren’t getting in the way of a pain-free period.
Sometimes, the cause of a “wonky” pelvis or distressed muscles in the uterus is not as simple as the local region. Because the body compensates, it may be something as unrelated as an old neck injury, that has caused postural changes over the years and led to compression in the pelvis. I look for all this in my case history and assessment.
I may give you some exercises that are very specific to your body’s needs, and I’m likely to recommend that you use a heat pack, drink warm drinks, and use magnesium oil on your lower abdomen. I have been known to officially prescribe a hot chocolate and cosy blanket on occasion.
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Please note: If your period pain is extreme, or you experience flooding episodes or other excessive bleeding, clots, or very dark blood, I am likely to refer for specialist consultation before commencing treatment, if you have not already seen your GP.
Treatment for period pain warrnambool
Period pain relief
Why period pain?
Exercises for period pain
Pelvis alignment
Women’s health
Pelvic floor
Health care for women
Post-natal care
Fertility
