Menstrual Problems

It comes once a month, like the phone bill and the mortgage payment-and for some women, it's about as welcome. For them, the menstrual period can be an endurance contest. While their more fortunate sisters barely notice their periods or get by with the occasional mild cramp, others suffer with headaches, heavy bleeding and cramps severe enough to cause them to miss work or school. Add up all of the days a woman has her period, month after month, year after year, and you'll find that she spends a lot of time menstruating. The natural remedies in this chapter, used with your doctor's approval, may help relieve the symptoms of menstruation, according to some health professionals.

See Your Medical Doctor When...
· You are an adult and you experience severe menstrual cramps for the first time or start passing clots for the first time.
· You are on birth control pills and have severe cramps.
· You experience nausea, headaches, diarrhea and vomiting as well as cramps.
· You have severe cramps and very heavy bleeding for more than one day.
· Your cramps interfere with normal activity and aren't relieved by aspirin or ibuprofen.
· You experience heavy bleeding and feel weak and light-headed during your period or you bleed between periods.
· You have a heavy menstrual flow and your periods are more than 45 days apart.

Acupressure

Retreat to a quiet, comfortable room so you can get the most out of these cramp-relieving acupressure points, says Acharyaji. He suggests pressing points Sp 12 and Sp 13, which are situated in the pelvic area, in the middle of the crease where the leg joins the trunk of the body. Sp 12 is slightly lower and a little more toward center than Sp 13., Acharyaji says you can stimulate all of these points at one time by positioning your left fist over points Sp 12 and Sp 13 on your left side and your right fist over the points on your right side. Lie on your stomach with your fists in place, using the weight of your body to apply gentle pressure. Find a comfortable position and relax for at least two minutes, says Acharyaji.

Ayurveda

To ease menstrual problems, take one tablespoon of aloe vera gel with one pinch of black pepper, suggests Acharyaji. He says to start taking this mixture after every meal one week before your period begins. You should continue taking it during your period if you have cramps, he adds, one dose every half-hour until your symptoms are relieved.
Aloe vera gel is available in most health food stores. Be sure to purchase the kind that's intended for internal use; ask your Ayurvedic practitioner or herbalist to recommend a brand that won't have a laxative side effect.

Flower Remedy/Essence Therapy

In some women, very painful periods are the result of anxiety about their sexuality says Acharyaji. To these women, Acharyaji ecommends.
Pomegranate balances the female organs and helps women accept their sexuality, which can make a huge difference in their experience of menstruation says Acharyaji. This essence is also helpful for women with premenstrual syndrome, she says. These remedies should be taken every day, not just when you're menstruating.

Herbal Therapy

Drink cramp bark tea for painful menstrual cramps, says Acharyaji, for Women and other books about herbs. To make the tea, Acharyaji says, place four tablespoons of cramp bark, one tablespoon of pennyroyal and one to two teaspoons of freshly grated ginger in a pot and add a quart of cold water. Slowly bring the water to a simmer. Cover the pot and allow it to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Then remove it from the heat, steep for 30 minutes and strain. Drink ¼ cup every 15 minutes until cramping stops, says Acharyaji. Cramp bark and pennyroyal are available in most health food stores.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is very effective for relieving menstrual cramps says Acharyaji. Most cramps are caused by muscle contractions in the pelvic area. A hot pack on the abdomen for 5 to 30 minutes relaxes the muscles and makes you feel better fast.
In some women, cramps are caused by congestion of blood in the pelvis, says Acharyaji. In such cases, she recommends applying an ice pack to the lower abdomen for 5 to 30 minutes while sitting in a hot bath. He says this draws blood to the extremities, away from the pelvis, and does a super job of taking away the pain. She advises patients to try both treatments to see which works better for them.

Juice Therapy

To ease menstrual cramps, try this blend of apple, celery and fennel juices, suggests Acharyaji : Juice two apples, two celery ribs and one small bulb of fennel. According to Acharyaji, both celery and fennel are rich in phytoestrogens, which mimic the effects of the female hormone estrogen and may reduce menstrual discomfort. He recommends two eight-ounce glasses of this juice every day, along with proper medical treatment.
Women who suffer cramps may also benefit from drinking fresh pineapple juice, according to Acharyaji . Pineapples are rich in the enzyme bromelain, which is believed to be a muscle relaxant says Acharyaji.

Massage

The following two massages can help relieve menstrual cramps, according to Acharyaji,. First, lie on your back with your legs bent. Press your palms gently over the pubic area. Then begin to make small circles with your fingertips, going in a clockwise direction over the uterus. Continue for three to five minutes.
Next, lie on your side, with a pillow under your neck and one between your knees. Reach behind your back, and with the palm of your hand, massage the sacrum, the triangle-shaped bone at the base of your spine, in a clockwise direction. Spiral out from the sacrum in a clockwise manner until you have massaged the entire lower back. Continue for five to seven minutes.

Reflexology

To help relieve cramps and other menstrual problems, focus on these reflex points on your hands or feet: reproductive system, pancreas, thyroid and pituitary gland, spine and lymphatic system, says, Acharyaji a. He says this will help relax key points in your body and ease menstrual symptoms.