Women suffer from two unique pains that men will never understand – period pain and breast pain. Add to that the effect of menopause and you have a recipe for some really painful periods in your life. Luckily, you don’t have to spend hundreds on expensive, complicated medications.
There are a lot of natural remedies that you can try which reduce breast and period pain and help limit the effect of menopause. Take a look at our 8 favorite remedies!
1. Period pain ( Tea )
Ask a Brit and they’ll tell you a cup of tea solves any problem in life. Though there is an actual scientific basis on this–particularly when it comes to period pains. A cup of raspberry leaf tea, for instance, is known for acting as a uterine tonic. These raspberry teas are delicious and you can drink them whenever you want, but keep them handy during your time of the month. This herbal tea reduces the pain around the uterine area and helps you relax after a long, stressful day.
Aside from herbal tea, any hot drink will help you feel comfortable and happy (as long as it doesn’t have caffeine in it). Hot chocolate or even a big mug of a milky English breakfast tea (decaf of course) will make you feel all warm inside and relaxed. It might not directly cure the pain of your period, but it certainly makes it easier to bear.
2. Leafy, dark green vegetables
This one requires a little preparation. If you start eating dark green, leafy vegetables when you feel the pain you won’t see any instant results. If you begin eating more cabbage and similar greens and wait a couple of months, however, you should see that the pain in your muscles decreases while you are menstruating. This is because these greens are a fantastic source of calcium and magnesium which are both essential for healthy muscle growth. The Chinese have been using dark green vegetables in their medicines for countless generations, and they are absolutely right. The more nutrients your muscles have, the less pain you’ll feel when they contract.
You can also use these greens in the same way that the Chinese did–try making teas to produce a diuretic effect. This increases the amount that you go to the toilet and reduces the effect of bloating which is definitely welcome for most women during menstruation.
3. Exercise regularly
Okay, so exercise is probably the last thing you want to do when your stomach hurts, but it’s really good for reducing menstrual pain. When you get up and move your heart rate increases, you sweat more, and your blood pumps through your body quicker. This releases endorphins in the brain which makes you feel better and the more you exercise, the more you’ll realize you’re not focusing on the pain at all!
Over a matter of months, you’ll also see that the pain decreases. The fitter you are, the less pain you suffer when your muscles ache.
4. Breast pain/tenderness (Eat fewer hydrogenated oils)
These are the oils that you’ll find in a lot of snack products, baked goods, and even regular margarine.
These oils can cause havoc in your body by stopping you from being able to convert fatty acids that are essential for good health. These fatty acids need to be converted into gamma-linolenic acid which is necessary for breast tissue to grow and regenerating throughout your life. The more of these hydrogenated oils you eat, the more likely it is that you will experience breast pain and tenderness. Cut back by swapping snack products for vegetables and fruits.
5. Eat less salt
When you consume sodium (salt), water retention in the body is increased. This means that your tissue holds more water, including your breast tissue. Water retention can cause aches and pains, especially in areas with a lot of nerves. Your breasts will swell and feel tender and sore.
So, if you’re coming up to your period, it makes sense to reduce the amount of salt you eat. You should consider the two weeks after your period to be the time when you can eat salt regularly without worry and the two weeks before your period the time you should cut back
6. Menopause symptoms (Avoid alcohol and caffeine)
Getting hot flashes? It’s time to start avoiding coffee, alcohol, and other caffeinated drinks. Caffeine and alcohol are triggers for hot flashes and the more you drink, the more frequent they’ll become. It’s not ideal but it’s something you’ll have to live with, at least for the time being!
As the years go by you’ll find that the effects that alcohol and caffeine have gradually decrease or fade into insignificance; so while you may not be able to enjoy the drinks you love right now, you certainly don’t have to stop drinking them forever
7. Herbal remedies
It’s really quite astonishing how much herbs can do for you. There are countless herbal remedies that you can create at home that counteract some of the symptoms caused by your hormones. Whether you’re making a tea, enjoying aromatherapy, or using oils to ease pains and aches, the following herbs are some of the most effective in easing menopause symptoms:
– Passionflower
– Chasteberry
– Wild yam
– Ashwagandha
– Black cohosh
8. Find emotional wellness
Women that suffer the most from menopausal symptoms are generally tired, sad, or stressed. In fact, diagnosed depression can significantly increase the impact that menopause has, along with stress and general worry. If you want to limit the effects that menopause has on you, it’s essential that you find emotional wellness. This is a natural remedy that doesn’t involve taking medication or pills prescribed by your doctor.
It’s time to do the things you’ve always wanted to do–see your friends more, arrange spontaneous trips, think about what things make you happiest in life and use your retirement, or freedom from raising a family, to do everything you’ve always wanted. You’ll soon forget about menopause.