Easy Home Tips for Period Relief
Do you struggle with a painful period every month?
If you’re dealing with abdominal cramping, headaches, bloating, and fatigue, there are things you can do at home to reduce your symptoms and have a more comfortable period.
In this post, I’ll share simple, effective ways to care for your body during your cycle—so you can feel more balanced and supported every month.
At-Home Remedies:
Warm Foods and Drinks: Prioritize warm foods and warm beverages to support the body's Qi and blood circulation. Avoid cold and raw foods, especially during your period.
Ginger: Add ginger into your diet to warm the body and alleviate pain. Ginger tea can be particularly soothing.
Red Dates (Jujube): Known for their blood-nourishing properties, red dates can help replenish blood and energy. They can be added to teas, soups, or eaten as a snack. Shop now!
Black Sesame Seeds: Rich in nutrients and known for their blood-nourishing properties, black sesame seeds can be added to meals or eaten as a snack. Shop now!
Warm Compress: Put a warm compress or heating pad on your lower abdomen to help relax muscles and reduce cramps.
Rest When You Need To: Maintain a balance between rest and activity, and avoid overexertion. Make sure you get plenty of sleep and relaxation to support the body's natural rhythms.
And a Few Other Helpful Dietary Recommendations:
Magnesium-Rich Foods: Magnesium helps regulate muscle and nerve function and may reduce menstrual cramps. Include foods like nuts, seeds, whole grains, and dark chocolate.
Complex Carbohydrates: Choose complex carbohydrates such as whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat), fruits, and vegetables instead of simple carbs like cookies, cakes, brownies, etc. Complex carbs can help stabilize blood sugar levels and improve mood swings and fatigue.
As tempting as it is to consume a half a tray of gooey brownies before your period (no judgement – we’ve all been there), this almost inevitably makes my patients feel worse afterwards. If you’re having carb cravings, try one or two servings of high-quality very dark chocolate and avoid the sugar crash of refined carbs like brownies, cake or cookies. You’ll feel much better for the rest of your period, trust me.
Hydration: Drink plenty of room-temp or warm water and hot herbal teas to stay hydrated and help reduce bloating and water retention. No iced beverages during your period.
Limit Caffeine and Alcohol: Caffeine and alcohol can cause dehydration, poor sleep, and can exacerbate PMS symptoms like irritability and breast tenderness. Limit intake before and during your menstrual cycle.
I hope these tips help! Remember, you don’t have to do them all at once. Introduce one new thing each month and monitor how you feel.
The goal isn’t to overwhelm you with too many changes, but to give you options so you can take your time and optimize how your body feels during your period!
And of course, acupuncture can also help regulate the period and reduce discomfort.
I’d love to help! If you’re ready, you can make an appointment here.