Period Survival Hacks: Help with Cramps!
I don’t know about you, but I DREAD my period every month. Sometimes my cramps are so bad I think a raccoon is trying to dig its way outside of my body to burst forth from my abdomen like that scene in Alien.
Now that my cramps have calmed down a bit, I have more severe mood swings, headaches, fatigue and dizziness. So I’ve got the whole crying at YouTube commercials thing going on, but at least my cramps are more managable.
Now, I am definitely no doctor, I am a mere hypochondriac with Google- so please seek professional medical advice if you are worried your cramps are too bad or are experiencing irregular menstrual cycles or PMS symptoms that seem intense, if you can. But I want to tell you about some things that have worked for me and hopefully they can help one of you!
Help with Cramps:
Pain Relievers:
I had bad cramps starting in high school. They’d be so bad, I’d have to leave school because I never thought ahead well enough to bring ibuprofen to school just in case! That used to be my only reprieve from my cramps. My mom would pick me up from school and run to the store and buy me Motrin because I was afraid of swallowing pills. That taste is just horrendous & is embedded in my consciousness in the worst way! Now that I know I have a gluten sensitivity, I have to be sure my medications are gluten free. A few of my trusted brands of ibuprofen are: Advil, Equate and Kroger brand. The last two are preferred because they are labeled gluten free and are flatter and easier for me to swallow.
Some people cannot take NSAIDs and may prefer to take acetaminophen which is easier on the stomach. I personally may need to switch at some point because I do get acid reflux or stomach pain from ibuprofen if I do not eat enough when I take it. I usually take ibuprofen with some bready food, like toast, crackers or a donut to help prevent stomach pain. (Of course many conditions of factors may limit which medications you can take & consulting your physician about which over the counter medication is best for you can be the best call.)
Heat:
This was the first real game changer in cramp relief! I learned heat relaxes your muscles and can ease cramps. It sped up my recovery from bad cramps immensely while I was waiting for medication to work. Here are things I tried and ideas you may be able to use:
ThermaCare patches:
These things have saved me in so many situations. As glad as I am now to use them rarely, (foreshadowing: I found a reusable alternative!) ThermaCare heating patches were a life saver for me. They are good to have on hand, even to store in the car in the winter, as I once broke down in a snowstorm and used them to stay warm!
Basically, you unwrap them and the exposure to the air causes a chemical reaction which creates the heat. They heat up quickly. I prefer the 16 hour type for your neck as opposed to the 8 hour or the type made for menstrual cramps.
I was looking for an alternative that created less waste and saved me money- because as far as I am concerned, these things are expensive with how many I could need in a month! But I think they are still worth mentioning, because of the limitations of the alternatives and these may still be useful to someone!
Rechargeable Heating Pad:
When I found the Comfier Cordless Heating Pad (linked below) I was so excited, knowing that this would quickly save me money on the ThermaCare patches as well as help me with my goals of producing less trash. I have the exact kind I purchased linked below! I was waiting for a cordless, reusable heating pad to be developed! And I have been so happy with this piece of technology! I was afraid it wouldn’t be hot enough to make a dent in cramps like mine, as I have burned my belly in the past trying to get relief by doubling up on the ThermaCare patch and an electrical heating pad (do not do this!) But this heating pad is hot enough on the lowest setting! It definitely could burn you, so be careful.
The main drawback is that it needs charged about every 3 hours. It charges by USB and it takes awhile to charge, in my experience. So I have been lucky, and been able to use my electric heating pad between charges, and only use the rechargeable one when I am on the go, but I understand this drawback could be very limiting for you if you can’t be tied to a wall outlet!
I am considering looking into getting an extra battery pack, and this is part of why I mentioned the ThermaCare patches, as this may not work for everyone in every situation.
Standard Electrical Heating Pad:
This one is pretty basic, and I get so much use out of mine. It helps with menstrual pain as well as a stiff back.
The Hot Towel Trick:
If you need heat NOW and you don’t have time to wait for a heating pad to be delivered or the strength to go into a store, this is a trick a friend taught me:
-Take a bath towel or hand towel, you put a bit of water in the middle and fold it
-Microwave it for 30 seconds (or again until warm, but stay by the microwave, especially if dry, some fabrics will catch fire or melt in the microwave!)
-Carefully remove the towel (it may be VERY hot, especially where the water is- it could burn you) and you set it carefully on your belly. Ideally not the wet spot, because it usually is too hot at first.
Although it may need reheated, this trick is wonderful in a pinch.
Essential Oils:
Surprisingly, I have found that when I have waited too long to take my medicine and am now trapped with horrid cramps, possibly feeling very sick, essential oils can take the edge off for me. I didn’t expect this to work, but I have been pleasantly surprised. I usually rub them on my lower belly where it hurts under my heating pad and the combination seems to help at least a little bit. I am not sure if it is due to these oils being used to relax muscles by drawing circulation to the area (engorged muscles are loose, sore muscles are often sore because they are tight, so drawing circulation to the area is often helpful for the relief of muscular pain) or if these particular scents are calming to me when I am distressed from feeling unwell, but I wanted to let you know this is something that helps me, as it may help some of you.
Peppermint oil:
This is one of my favorite scents of all time, and one of my favorite oils. It is just immensely useful for so many purposes: I use it to help repel bugs, in my muscle relief salve, in my sunburn relief cream, to help moisturize my feet and to help me calm down on a tough day. I’ve heard people say that peppermint reduces anxiety; the scent does for me, perhaps because I enjoy the smell so much! But if you are looking to reduce anxiety, or even to hydrate, I would recommend peppermint tea instead.
When on my period experiencing cramps I mix the peppermint oil with a carrier oil. I’ve used almond oil, shea butter and coconut oil. Coconut oil is my favorite for muscle creams like this. Then I rub it on my lower belly. A little peppermint oil goes a long way. Usually I would mix something like ¼ cup oil with 4 drops of peppermint oil and see how strong that is. Never apply peppermint oil directly to the skin, because it is very strong!
Clove oil:
Clove oil is also wonderfully multi-purpose. I mostly use it in massage and muscle pain relief creams, but I have also used it for a toothache. I also love the smell because it reminds me of Christmas and Chai Lattes!
I mix it the same way I do peppermint oil, and clove oil is also very strong, so use sparingly and always mix with a carrier oil!
You may also mix the carrier oil, and peppermint oil & clove oil in the same mix. This is my go-to muscle relief mix, and what I usually use on my stomach to ease the cramps faster.
Rocky Mtn Oils:
My mom gifted me two of Rocky Mountain Oils products, as I tend to have many stomach troubles. These oils have been most helpful to me on my period! There is one called Tummy Rub, which is an oil blend already mixed with a carrier oil, so you can use it directly on your skin from the bottle. The other is a roll on blend called Tummy Time, which smells pleasantly of fennel. I have used both on my stomach for cramps and for some reason they do help me feel better. They seem to take the edge off and help with nausea a bit.
Of course, I wouldn’t recommend this to someone who is often hypersensitive to scents while menstruating! The strong smells from these oils could make nausea worse for someone who has a heightened sense of smell due to hormones.
Ginger Candy or Tea:
I love ginger candy, it is also a lifesaver for those who struggle with nausea or stomach ailments (although, not recommended for those who have ulcers.) Ginger has gotten me through many tough moments!
Gin Gins are one of my favorite brands of ginger candy. I love to keep a few on hand just in case I ever get a stomach ache or feel nauseated, which I often do before or during my period. They help immensely! Chimes ginger candies are sweeter and smaller and sometimes I prefer them.
The Turmeric Ginger Gin Gins are less spicy and I think they taste the best! Turmeric is amazing on my stomach in general, but I am not partial to the flavor, except in these candies!
If you prefer a hydrating herbal tea, Republic of Teamakes my favorite ginger tea, called "Organic Biodynamic Ginger". It is very soothing. But, if brewed for a long time, it can certainly taste like you are drinking fire! If you need it to be more palatable, as some people (my grandma) don’t like straight ginger tea, I’d recommend adding honey and a little of your milk of choice. I use soymilk, myself.
Period Products:
We have reached the final frontier, your actual period products. I had always used pads and could never use tampons without mishaps (I got one stuck inside me and never tried again!)
So I was definitely intimidated by the thought of using a menstrual cup. They look a lot bigger than they feel, it turns out. And apparently, they can help ease cramps in many women! It seems that I am one of them! I have been using my cup for almost 2 years now, and I don’t use it every day or every cycle, but my cramps have been greatly reduced. My goal was to reduce waste and be more eco-friendly, but I ended up enjoying additional benefits, life fewer cramps, fewer leaks- which were a very big problem right before I got the cup- and to my surprise, I couldn’t feel it almost at all when it was in! It felt like I wasn’t on my period at all! It felt so much cleaner, and it was amazing not having to worry about changing anything for 12 hours.
However, it is worth saying that it is tedious to learn how to do this if you already do not feel well, and they can be a little tricky to insert and remove. While I said it felt cleaner earlier, when you have to take it out, dump it and wash it- that is not a moment which feels clean. There is nothing wrong with it, the blood is something perfectly natural, but it honestly makes me a bit uncomfortable at times, and I could see some people who may have a weak stomach not being able to do this very happily. But for me, the benefits are worth the disadvantages… but only when I honestly have the energy for it. Sometimes when one is on their period, they feel too sick to do all of that, and that’s completely understandable.
That’s where Reusable pads come in! I made my first reusable pads out of an old work shirt and an organic cotton dinner napkin I had. They worked extremely well for me for a while, but then they began to fray from being washed.
I definitely recommend reusable pads, and if you cannot make them, many brands are available and many etsy sellers sew them. Natural fibers are usually recommended.
The drawback with these is washing them! I would always wash them in the sink or in a bucket, soaking them in some hydrogen peroxide over and over and scrubbing out the stains, and then throwing them in the laundry. Hydrogen peroxide is very effective for getting blood stains out, which is good news for our bed sheets! However, the pads, especially if light in color, will absolutely stain! Getting a darker color is recommended to avoid unsightly staining.
If this is too much work sometimes, cotton pads are helpful in a pinch. Some of these brands are at least more biodegradable and less harmful to have on a sensitive part of our body. Some people seem to think switching to all natural period products like these which are free of the usual additives helped with their cramps. I cannot verify this, but would love to see studies on it- I know that my cramps are a lot better since I have switched, but that is just anecdotal evidence and I am not certain why my cramps tend to be less intense.
In conclusion, I hope that some of my hacks are helpful to you and that your periods may improve! Again, if you have access or can go to a clinic, if anything is abnormal or impacting your life severely, seeing a doctor and seeking professional medical advice is always best! (Although, yes I understand sometimes the search for the right doctor or diagnosis can be frustrating.)
**I have listed Amazon Affiliate links below for many of the items and products mentioned, I do earn commission if you buy from these links, but I invite you only to buy what will be truly useful to you and no more. Thank you very much if you choose to support my site by using the links!
Comfier Rechargable Heating Pad
Rocky Mtn Oil Tummy Time Roller
Republic of Tea Biodynamic Organic Ginger Tea
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