by Alexandra Nicole Nuralam

4 Alternative Ways to Ease Period Pain

Period pain sucks, let no one tell you otherwise. As soon as you feel that first twinge across your abdomen, you know it’s just a downward spiral from there. At best, it will leave you a little bloated, lethargic and feeling a little low. At worst, you’ll be experiencing cramps so bad you don’t want to get off your bed and go to work.

If you’ve been resorting to taking a couple of painkillers to banish period cramps, you’ll be happy to hear that that isn’t your only option. We’ve got some period pain cures for you to try by the time your next period rolls around.

Apply warm compresses

This age-old method is in fact, quite effective in easing period pain. Placing a hot water bottle or heating pad against the abdomen can relax the muscles and relieve cramps; heat helps the uterine muscle and those around it relax, which may ease cramping and discomfort.

Another option is to soak in a warm bath, which can help relax the muscles in the abdomen, back, and legs.

This herbal warmer from wellness brand Ying Yi Wellness is carefully formulated with a blend of traditional Chinese medicine herbs like Chinese Mugwort, Star Anise, and Costus to relieve pain and improve blood circulation. These warm-acrid herbs help penetrate through the skin, soothing your cramps and backaches.

Boost endorphins

If you’ve got a bad case of cramps, you’d probably want to curl up in bed and not move until your period is over. But it turns out that movement could help ease the cramping.

Exercise has been proven to be a natural reliever for period pain, as the increased blood flow and the endorphins released help to counteract the pain induced by your period. Of course, we’re not talking doing a 5-km run here (unless you really want to) but low-impact exercises, like yoga or a brisk walk outside, can do wonders for easing the pain.

Massage

We all know what we need when we have sore muscles — a good, relaxing massage. This applies too if you have a cramping abdomen. Try massaging your stomach at least five minutes a day to promote circulation while easing the tension in your muscles.

You can also throw in an essential oil or two for optimal relaxation; we like lavender for its ability to calm and relax, and eucalyptus for its cooling effect on muscles, which can help reduce pain and inflammation.

Drink herbal tea

There is something very soothing about sipping a warm cup of tea when you are suffering from period pains. Herbal teas are warm and soothing, and in some cases, the herbs themselves can provide relief from menstrual cramps as well.

These wellness teas from Ying Yi Wellness are simple and fuss-free, helping to minimise discomfort during your period. Pre-packed into 21 individual tea bags (to be consumed throughout your cycle), these teas are formulated with a blend of traditional Chinese medicine herbs like Chinese Angelica, Dwarf Lilyturf Tuber and White Peony Root to help you rebuild and restore your body through each cycle.