Click one of the buttons above, or cut and paste the following link to share this page with your network.
This link will automatically track your referrals:
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:
Master Personalized Wellness with these Diet, Lifestyle & Herbs Certification Courses
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!
Food is medicine, and well-designed recipes function as gentle herbal formulas.
The recipes below highlight biocharacteristics and ingredients that may support Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps
from a Classical Metabolic Theory perspective*.
Because every person is unique, certain recipes may support your body more effectively than others.
Choose according to your constitution.
Suggestions are not strict, reflecting the real world need for variety and balance in diet.
As always, please consult your medical doctor before making any changes to your diet or wellness plan.
Augment your diet with these specially chosen ingredients below which may be useful for 'Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps'.
Individual results vary depending on 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In Ayurveda, oily refers to anything moistening. More specifically, oily refers to building substances that increases fat, or are themselves fatty. For example, sugar is Oily.
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.
The term "bland taste" refers, in Chinese medicine, to food containing few macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy. These may be compared to negative calorie foods.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In Ayurveda, oily refers to anything moistening. More specifically, oily refers to building substances that increases fat, or are themselves fatty. For example, sugar is Oily.
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.
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.
Balance Your Body with Diet, Herbs, & Lifestyles Having These Virtues (Biocharacteristics)
Everything you eat has an effect on your body, which Personalized Medicine Systems (Ayurveda & Greek Medicine)
categorize in a simple and easy way, using biocharacteristics.
Biocharacteristics are vital qualities (like cold and hot) that describe the metabolic 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', consider foods with the following biocharacteristics.
Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance.
BIOCHARACTERISTIC
FOODS TO FAVOR
MATCH WITH YOUR WELLNESS PROFILE
CLEAR
ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC
Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
AVOID DIETS, LIFESTYLES & HERBS THAT AGGRAVATE THESE BIOCHARACTERISTICS
According to Personalized Medicine Systems (Ayurveda and Greek medicine), aggravation of any of these
body types
and biocharacteristics may lead to 'Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps'.
Reduce the foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate these qualities (when dystempered).
Click on the biocharacteristic to learn what foods and
lifestyle habits should be reduced.
Symptoms Tell A Story
The first step to healing is learning patterns from your symptoms.
Symptoms are clues that reveal underlying imbalances.
Symptoms show you where your body is weakened.
Ultimately, all disease has a root in tissues too weak to defend itself.
Ayurveda describes these patterns of weakness using doshas & biocharacteristics.
If you notice a biocharacteristic or dosha appears next to many of your symptoms,
it helps you establish a pattern that may be systemic.
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:
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.
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps.
Risk Factor: 140% more often Complication: +1.4 times as often
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Acne - general.
Biocharacteristics of 13,471 People Reporting Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps
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:
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Dry.
35.9% avg client level
26.7% (3,595) of cases
9,009 have Dry constitution
Risk Factors of Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps
Below you will see general risk factors as well as the greatest risk factors, i.e. those who were also more likely to report Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps.
Overall, 21.59% of people surveyed reported Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps.
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Nipple Fissures / Candida / Skin Problems.
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Bladder / Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Illegal Drugs (marijuana, cocaine, etc).
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Hirsutism / Female Facial Hair on Chin.
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Body dysmorphia / Distorted self-image.
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Hunched / Rounded shoulders / Excessive upper back curve.
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Prolonged bleeding when cut (Poor clotting).
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Nipple Fissures / Candida / Skin Problems.
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Hirsutism / Female Facial Hair on Chin.
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Hunched / Rounded shoulders / Excessive upper back curve.
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Stool entirely liquid, no solid pieces.
Please login or create a free account to see statistics filtered on Painful menstruation & menstrual cramps and Illegal Drugs (marijuana, cocaine, etc).
1898 cases with both
+1.4 times more likely
14% of cases
10.18% (3,536 cases)
DISCOVER YOUR BODY WITH YOUR FREE INDIVIDUALIZED BODY MAP
Find ideal foods, herbs and lifestyle tips.
See your imbalances, and locate intervention points.
Your body map contains a complete analysis of your Ayurvedic imbalances, organ by organ.
Give your chart to your functional medical doctor or any alternative health practitioner.
Ayurveda strengthens the body while opposing disorders. It takes a holistic,
systemic approach that looks at the whole body. Ayurveda
shows how to interpret signs and symptoms of imbalance, and how to address them
using diet, lifestyle adjustments, and herbs. It shows a person how to optimize their health on a continual basis. You can't
take the doctor home with you, but you can take Ayurveda home with you.
Ayurveda is the most advanced and easy to use home system for self healing.
HOW DOES AYURVEDA WORK?
Ayurveda starts by identifying your body type,
which identifies certain tendencies in your body to get sick (as well as identifying your strengths).
It uses body type to determine the likely root causes of your disorders.
Next, Ayurveda analyzes the nature of your disorder.
It fits all your signs and symptoms into a pattern, expressed as a combination of biocharacteristics (gunas).
For example, you may have a heat disorder, a cold disorder, or an oily disorder, etc.
This simple categorical approach shows you how to correct systemic imbalances and strengthen your body as a whole.
On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalanced biocharacteristics.
By eating an optimal diet that balances your biocharacteristics, your whole body is strengthened
and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease
are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies -
such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance
your healing.
GET STARTED
To get started on your Ayurvedic journey, we first recommend that your find your body
type by taking our free quiz. In Ayurveda, every solution is based on your unique body type, so
by taking this quiz, you’ll get the best results.
5 WAYS TO HEAL YOUR BODY WITH AYURVEDA - FREE REPORT!
New to Ayurveda? Not sure how Ayurveda can help you?
This free report shows you 5 simple ways you can heal your body with Ayurveda.
It shows you simple, practical ways manage your health.
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, offers
professional clinical training
in personalized diet, lifestyle and herbs through Classical Metabolic Theory (Ayurveda & Greek Medicine).
His approach is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful.
John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders,
classical Christian philosophy for mental wellness, languages (French, Arabic, Bengali), cooking & botany.
He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John, his wife Natalie, and their 8 kids live in Asheville, NC.
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’
Comments & Questions
How does 'painful menstruation & menstrual cramps' affect your quality of life?
What aggravates it? What has helped you? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'painful menstruation & menstrual cramps'?
Want our natural Metabolic recipes and health tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter!
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.
On MeWe
On Pinterest
On Facebook
On Twitter
On WhatsApp
On Email
Ayurvedic Perspective on Painful Menstruation &...
Related Symptoms
Stage of Imbalance (Samprapti)
Live Report: Biocharacteristics
Diet Remedies by Dosha, Biocharacteristics, Action, etc.
Live Report: Risk Factors
Herb Remedies by Dosha, Guna, Action, etc.
Live Report: Complications
Biocharacteristics & Herb Actions to Favor
Comments and reviews
Biocharacteristics to Avoid
