Menstruation is a time of cleansing and rejuvenation in a women's reproductive cycle. However, for many women, menstruation comes with fatigue, cramping, and irritability.

Type of Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps before your period may be due to restricted blood flow to the uterus as hormone levels drop, a Vata condition, causing lactic acid buildup in the muscle. In this case, nurturing, sweet foods and those that promote increase of female sex hormones can mitigate cramps.

Once your period begins, the release of inflammatory prostaglandins stimulate contractions of the uterus, which can be intense and painful. This type of menstrual cramp is associated with aggravated Pitta dosha. You may have a squeezing, vice-grip like sensation in the lower abdomen. The flow of menses may be heavy. In this case avoid all caffeine, alcohol, and other inflammatory foods. Alteratives and liver support may help normalize the blood in this case.

Kapha type menstrual cramps may be due to menstrual clots passing through the narrow opening of the cervix, causing scraping or abrasive pain. In this case warming up the uterus, thinning the blood, and increasing blood flow with herbs like turmeric, manjistha and asafoetida can reduce clotting. Start these herbs the day before your period begins.

Colic, or asynchronous contractions of the uterus, may occur if Toxins (ama) is present. This type of pain will be characterized by spasms. Anxiety, indigestion, constipation, bloating, and the presence of Candida or other pathogens that irritate the uterus lining can also create colic and confusion of the uterus. Antispasmodic herbs like cramp bark or asafoetida can help in this case.

Productive cramps may simply be too strong. These will feel similar to labor, with a bearing down sensation.

Back pain, hip pain, and pain from other organs may be exacerbated during menstruation, making it difficult to assess the exact cause or nature of the discomfort.

Tips for Healthy Menstruation

Generally, antispasmodics may ease cramping, and analgesics reduce pain.

Regardless of the cause, a cleansing yet nourishing diet should be followed during menses. Include foods that rebuild blood and restore electrolytes, including iron rich foods such as red meat, kale, or raisins, depending on you dosha. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and refined flours during your menses.

A combination of triphala, turmeric, and black pepper in aloe vera juice is commonly recommended as it encourages cleansing and flushing of blood throughout the uterus. However, this formula is not appropriate for heavier menses, where an astringent hemostatic may be necessary. Check with your doctor before changing your health and wellness routine.

Belly breathing, and gentle contraction and release of pelvic floor muscles will assist menstruation. Child's pose and pigeon pose are ideal yoga postures. Rest and reduce activities during this important time of your reproductive cycle. You'll soon emerge renewed!

Disclaimer: 'Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps' could be serious and should be checked by a medical doctor.

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Augment your diet with these specially chosen ingredients below which may be useful for 'Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps'. Individual results vary depending the cause of your imbalance and by constitution. Please research the ingredients below to find which are most helpful for you, and check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine. Please check with your medical doctor before making any changes to your health & wellness routine, and for the proper use of these products.

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH TIPS

DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.

Everything you eat has an effect on your body, which Ayurveda categorizes in a simple and easy way, using biocharacteristics (gunas). Biocharacteristics are qualities (like cold and hot) that describe the effect a food or herb has on your body. Cooling foods like cucumber, decrease metabolism. Heating foods like chili pepper, stimulate your body and increase metabolism. For 'Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps', you should select foods with the following biocharacteristics. Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance.

Cleanse & Detox:

Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:

Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Rebuild Electrolytes

REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES

Substances that increase your electrolyte balance. Electrolytes help you retain water, keep your palate moist, and truly quench your thirst.

SEE ALL 'REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES' FOODS / HERBS

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Rebuilds Fluids

REBUILDS-FLUIDS

Herbs or substances that create moisture in the body and increase fluids.

SEE ALL 'REBUILDS-FLUIDS' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:

Uterine Tonic

UTERINE-TONIC

An herb that tonifies and strengthens the uterus. Helpful for menstrual difficulties and fertility. Often herbs that increase ojas, but also circulation to reproductive system.

SEE ALL 'UTERINE-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Strength, Muscle Health:

Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

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Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Ojas

OJAS

Ojas is the essence of healthy tissue, immunity, stable energy and happiness. Substances that improve ojas are recommended after long-term illness, debility, emotional and physical trauma, and even sadness.

SEE ALL 'OJAS' FOODS / HERBS

Other:

Reproductive Health

Subtaste:

Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

HOW TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE #2

PAINFUL MENSTRUATION & MENSTRUAL CRAMPS IS IN STAGE OF DISEASE #2 - AFFECTING BLOOD & EMOTIONS

Affecting Blood: Initially, imbalances are localized, often in the digestive tract. As an imbalance grows, it starts to affect your body systemically, via the blood. If you have symptoms in this category it means that your imbalances are starting to spread, have entered the bloodstream, and are now systemic. Pay particular attention to the biocharacteristics, tastes, and doshas out of balance systemically, so you know how to strengthen your body as a whole, and reduce physical stress on your organs. At this stage of imbalance you will begin to experience generalized discomfort, imbalanced emotions, and may develop sensitivities to temperature. It may take several weeks of strict adherence to a specific remedial diet to clear blood level imbalances. Blood cleansing herbs may reduce symptoms. A several day cleanse may shorten the recovery time. (See all disease stages on JB)

GET MY FREE AYURVEDA BODY MAP According to Ayurveda, one or more of the following doshas and biocharacteristics may aggravate 'Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps'. If you have an excess of one of these doshas or biocharacteristics below, Ayurveda recommends reducing foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate them. Click on the biocharacteristic to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be reduced.

Are you prone to a problem with 'Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps'? Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Reproductive System by taking the free reproductive health quiz:

TAKE THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH QUIZ

The following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them. On average the biocharacteristics of people reporting Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps were less aggravated than 66% of other symptoms. From the 13,471 people who reported Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps average deviation in biocharacteristic levels were the following:

Risk Factors of Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps

Complications of Those Reporting Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps

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