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Period pain causes and effective home remedies for menstrual problems
Help with pain during the period
Regular pain (dysmenorrhea) is one of the most common menstrual symptoms and almost every woman has experienced it before. They may be of varying intensity, often spasmodic pain in the abdomen and back, accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea or circulatory failure. Although the menstrual cramps are often very distressing for the women involved, in most cases they are not caused by any disease but by certain hormones (prostaglandins) that control the menstrual cycle.
contents
- Help with pain during the period
- symptoms
- Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome - PMS
- Regular pain due to the body's own messenger substances
- Causes of secondary menstrual pain
- endometriosis
- Pain due to hormonal spiral
- Mental causes
- Treatment with drugs
- Home remedies for regular complaints
- The right diet for menstrual pain
- Naturopathy in menstrual pain
- Hot role in pain during menstrual bleeding
In more rare cases, there is a pathological cause such as the widespread female disease endometriosis or uterine inflammation. Accordingly, persistent or severe pain during the period should always be clarified by a physician. Naturopathy offers many valuable home remedies and procedures that can help alleviate the problem.
symptoms
Complaints during menstruation are manifested in most cases by cramping, pulling or dull pain in the abdomen. In some cases, these can become so strong that those affected literally "writhe in pain" and are therefore severely restricted in their everyday lives.
Almost every woman has suffered pain in the abdomen and cramps during her period. (Image: rock_the_stock / fotolia.com) The convulsions arise as a result of increased contractions of the uterine musculature, which repel the uterine lining (endometrium) that has been built up and is no longer needed in the event of a lack of fertilization. The contractions of the muscles can be irregular and sometimes last for several minutes, accordingly, the symptoms can show in very different intensity, severity and duration.
In addition to the abdominal cramps, a number of other symptoms can occur. Possible, for example, headaches or migraines, sensitive breasts, leg pain, back pain, diarrhea, chronic fatigue, nausea and vomiting.
Often, affected women report a general malady, weakness, dizziness, or flushing. Partly it leads to insomnia, increased nervousness and irritability, in more severe cases can even develop as a result of menstrual disorders, a depression.
If the symptoms are not based on a disease (primary dysmenorrhea), they usually occur when ovulation has taken place during a menstrual cycle and it has not been suppressed (for example, by birth control pills). In most cases, the pain is just before the onset of bleeding and is most pronounced on the first two days of the menstrual period.
Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome - PMS
In contrast, if they occur up to 14 days before the period, the term "premenstrual syndrome" (PMS) is used. In the course of this complex symptoms, in addition to the above-mentioned symptoms, further physical and / or mental-emotional complaints may show. Examples include skin changes, hot flashes, water in the legs, fat feet, constipation, circulatory weakness, mood swings, aggressiveness, listlessness or anxiety.
The convulsive menstrual pain in the abdomen are very uncomfortable - but have in most cases no pathological cause. (Image: pathdoc / fotolia.com) Regular pain due to the body's own messenger substances
Pain during the period can be extremely uncomfortable, but from a medical perspective, there is no reason to worry in most cases. A distinction is generally made between two forms, each of which is due to very different causes. The so-called primary menstrual pain occurs in most women in the course of the very first period (menarche) and have no disease value.
Instead, they are caused by special hormones ("prostaglandins"), which are formed during the menstrual period in an increased form in the uterine lining. The prostaglandins cause a contraction of the uterine musculature, whereby the excess mucous membrane can be repelled. If the muscles contract over a longer period due to the increased formation of hormones, however, the blood flow in the tissue is reduced. As a result, acidic metabolites from the uterus can no longer be transported away unhindered, resulting in cramping abdominal pains.
The primary menstrual pain usually occurs in cycles in which an ovulation has taken place, since in this case the endometrium becomes thicker and thicker in order to be able to offer a "nourishing nest" to a fertilized egg cell. However, if ovulation is suppressed, for example by the contraceptive pill, the mucous membrane is not built up so strongly, which leads to a correspondingly weaker menstruation and therefore causes much less discomfort.
In rare cases, organic causes are responsible for primary menstrual pain, especially if they occur very early or from puberty. It is possible, for example, malformations of the uterus (uterine anomalies) such as a missing (uterus didelphys) or only partial (uterine bicornis) fusion of the two "Müller-Gänge". This is the embryonic genital system from which the fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina are produced in women.
Furthermore, a delayed development of the uterus or the genitals and disturbed hormone balance can lead to severe pain. The same applies to a Lageanomalie, in which the uterus, for example, bent backwards (retroflexion).
In primary menstrual disorders, the psyche can play an important role, for example, in that it is difficult for young women to identify with "becoming a woman" and to find their place in the new role during puberty. Accordingly, the menstrual bleeding can be very disturbing and unpleasant, which manifests itself in the form of pain and possible concomitant symptoms such as chronic fatigue, irritability, strong inner restlessness or mood swings.
Stress, tension or anxiety can increase the symptoms. An increased risk of problems during the rule exists in young women who have had their first period very early (i.e., at the age of about 12 years) or whose cycle is generally very long. Other favorable factors include a comparatively low body weight and an unhealthy lifestyle (alcohol, unhealthy diet, smoking).
Causes of secondary menstrual pain
The secondary ("acquired") menstrual pain, however, occur only in the course of life and are in most cases due to an organic or psychological cause. Accordingly, in cases of severe as well as frequent or recurring symptoms, women should in any case speak with their gynecologist in order to explain the reasons and, if necessary, initiate further treatment steps.
For example, inflammation of the uterus or a fibroid is possible, which are benign growths that occur in the muscular layer of the uterus (myometrium) and represent the most common benign tumors of the female genital tract.
Inflammatory diseases of the genital organs, such as ovarian and ovarian inflammation (adnexitis), which in most cases is caused by bacteria and mainly affects women between the ages of 20 and 35, are possible. Significant here are especially sudden severe abdominal pain, as well as fever, bleeding, purulent discharge from the vagina, pain during sex and nausea and vomiting can show.
If left untreated, inflammation over time increases the risk of chronic illness and associated back pain and menstrual problems, as well as an irregular cycle. In serious cases, complications such as Intestinal breakthrough and long-term consequences such as permanent infertility or chronic pain conditions possible.
Endometriosis often causes severe menstrual pain. (Image: fancytapis / fotolia.com) endometriosis
It is possible that women experience unbearable menstrual pain due to endometriosis. It is a benign condition that is relatively common but in many cases remains undetected for a long time. Characteristic is a "wild" uterine lining (endometrium) that settles beyond the uterine cavity (cavum uteri) in neighboring organs. In principle, every area can be affected, but often endometrial foci are formed in the lower abdominal or pelvic area, on the ovaries and fallopian tubes, in the peritoneum and in the wall of the uterus (adenomyosis)..
The foci emerge parallel to the uterine lining during the menstrual cycle, causing cramping pain, often accompanied by severe abdominal and back pain. If endometriosis occurs in the bladder or intestine, in rare cases, blood in the urine, blood in the stool or discomfort when urinating are possible.
Since the displaced or "scattered" uterine lining bleeds during menstruation, but the blood can not drain accordingly, cysts often form in endometriosis. In addition, some women have pain during sexual intercourse and nonspecific complaints such as headache, dizziness and stomach problems. It is typical that the symptoms become more and more intense as the cycle progresses and then decrease with the onset of menstruation, with most affected women experiencing the greatest problems one to three days before the onset of the period.
Depending on where the endometrium settles, the disease can be very differently pronounced. The deposits can only be pinhead size, in other cases, larger cysts develop, which are blood-filled and occur in this form mostly on the ovaries.
The exact cause of the disease has not been clarified despite intensive research, but it is suspected, among other things, that possibly the so-called "retrograde" (reverse) menstruation could be the trigger. In this case, part of the bleeding does not go through the cervix into the vagina, but instead is "sucked" back from the uterus towards the fallopian tube so that diseased tissue can reach the abdomen and spread further.
Other theories, for example, go from changes in the immune system or a disturbed interaction of hormones, a genetic predisposition, some experts consider possible because some familial accumulation is observed.
In addition to the symptoms mentioned, damage to the affected organs can lead to further massive effects from endometriosis, ranging from adhesions and scars to infertility. Here it is even assumed that every other case is due to an untreated endometriosis, which is why a clarification in the absence of pregnancy is definitely recommended.
Pain due to hormonal spiral
If the symptoms occur later in life or after years of painless menstrual bleeding, it can be a side effect of the hormone spiral, which is inserted into the uterus and releases the hormone progestin there. In addition, as with all hormonal contraceptives, this can lead to further undesirable effects. For example, headaches, weight changes, depressive moods or skin problems are possible.
Symptoms can also be triggered by mental stress or problems in the partnership. (Image: luckybusiness / fotolia.com) Mental causes
Mental factors can cause women to experience (for the first time) pain during their period later in life. Here, among other things, an increased burden or overload in the private and / or professional field in question, because the mental balance is disturbed by stress and tension here, this can already be the pain trigger. In addition to an unfulfilled desire to have children as well as problems with their own sexuality or partnership conflicts may be the cause.
Treatment with drugs
If the onset of pain occurs again and again during the period, medications can be used to reach an improvement after medical consultation. In particular, analgesics from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, diclofenac or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin, etc.) may be considered. These help, inter alia, by preventing prostaglandin formation in the fact that the uterus less contracted and thus significantly less discomfort.
Danger: The funds are partly available for free in the pharmacy, but should not be taken without medical consultation and above all never permanently because of the many possible side effects.
In addition to the NSAIDs, spasmolytics (anticonvulsants) such as butylscopolamine can also be used in severe cramps, as these reduce the tension of the muscles and thus also have an anticonvulsant effect. Because primary regimen problems are most commonly associated with ovulation, oral contraceptives ("the pill") may be prescribed in women who currently have no desire to have children. This suppresses ovulation and counteracts the ovulation pain. In general, therefore, can also help a hormone spiral, but from the perspective of many experts should not be used in very young women.
If it is a secondary dysmenorrhea, which was caused by a certain disease, this decides on the respective treatment measures. For example, if there is an endometriosis, there is the possibility of drug treatment. On the other hand, an operation can be performed in which - depending on the location and size - the endometrial implants are either cut directly over the vagina (excision) or ablated as part of a laparoscopy by laser. In some cases, an open abdominal surgery may be necessary, for example, where uterine lining colonies are otherwise inaccessible or generally very severe.
Home remedies for regular complaints
If organic diseases can be excluded as a cause gynecological, various home remedies for abdominal pain and cramps offer to alleviate the pain. For example, heat therapeutic applications such as baths, granules, mud packs (e.g., fango, peat), or sauna have proven useful. Through this, the spasms in the uterine muscles can be resolved and thus the pain can be alleviated.
Soothing and anticonvulsant heat "from the inside" can provide a healing tea, which is prepared for example from the leaves of mugwort. Other suitable plants for a healing tea are lady's mantle, goose fingerwort, yarrow, chamomile and lemon balm.
A proven remedy in the field of herbal medicine (phytopharmaceuticals) is the "chaste tree" (Vitex agnus castus). The ingredients of the medicinal plant can help to keep the hormone balance stable, relieve tension and chest pain and promote a regular cycle.
Chasteberry is considered a proven natural remedy for pain and cramping during the menstrual period. (Image: emuck / fotolia.com) For women whose periods are very strong and long lasting, shepherd's purse is a good choice. The plant of the Kreuzblütengewächse acts contracting on the veins of the uterine musculature and can thereby reduce the bleeding and pain.
Shepherd's purse - Dosage and preparation:
Tip: To counteract the symptoms, drink a cup of shepherd's purse tea up to four times a day before the onset of bleeding. |
In general, abdominal pain helps to move to boost pelvic blood circulation and thereby relieve cramping. Accordingly, women should remain physically active during the period and tackle menstrual problems with exercise.
Especially recommended are walks and gentle sports such as swimming, cycling or Nordic walking. Activities that increase the spasmodic feeling in the uterus, however, should be avoided. These include in particular power-intensive sports such as gymnastics, martial arts, aerobics or bodybuilding.
Because the pain is often increased by stress, anxiety or conflict, relaxation techniques and stress reduction exercises can be very beneficial and relieving. Here, various techniques such as yoga, autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation or Tai Chi are considered. Every affected person should therefore find out for themselves what they personally enjoy and do well.
The right diet for menstrual pain
Nutrition plays an important role in our well-being, so especially in case of regular complaints should be paid much attention to what is eaten and drunk. In many cases, the omission of caffeinated drinks such as coffee or black tea relieves the symptoms significantly, in other women helps to avoid dairy products to fight abdominal pain and to develop a better body feeling.
Therefore, it is advisable to listen closely to problems during the period and to try out which foods do the body good or harm, in order to support it as much as possible in its self-healing. In general, a healthy and balanced diet with plenty of magnesium (nuts, legumes, brown rice, etc.) is recommended, which has a relaxing effect on the muscles and soothing the nerves.
An increased iron intake a few days before and during the period can be very helpful, as iron is crucial for blood formation and thus can counteract anemia, fatigue and weakness in menstrual pain. Women who are affected should therefore be prevented from iron deficiency by, for example, regularly adding veal, seafood, lentils, spinach, white beans, chanterelles and dried apricots to the diet. If necessary, proven home remedies for iron deficiency such as nettle tea or herbal blood juice can be taken from the health food store.
The healing "miracle" ginger helps according to a study in menstrual pain. Scientists from the University of Asan in South Korea and the entrepreneur As part of a meta-analysis of four controlled trials, James Daily had studied how effectively ginger powder counteracts menstrual cramps. The evaluation of data from a total of 494 women over the age of 18 showed evidence of significant pain relief with ginger powder and comparable efficacy to traditional analgesics (eg, ibuprofen or acetylsalicylic acid)..
Researchers were able to show in a recent study that ginger has an analgesic effect in menstrual pain. (Image: baibaz / fotolia.com) Naturopathy in menstrual pain
Aromatherapy is also a very popular alternative treatment for menstrual pain. It follows the principles of naturopathy by activating the self-healing powers of the patient. Especially recommended are chamomile, fennel or juniper, whose essential oils can be used effectively, for example, for a soothing massage of the abdomen. For this purpose, a few drops are mixed with a neutral oil. Then massage gently and without pressure clockwise around the belly button for about five minutes.
In many cases, naturopathy can provide relief for menstrual pain using homeopathy. Here a whole range of different products come into consideration, which is why before the self-treatment a conversation on the means of choice, duration of application and potency should be made with the naturopath or naturopathic doctor. Lachesis, for example, can be used, especially if headaches and migraines occur before the period, as well as dizziness and nosebleeds.
This remedy may also be indicated in potencies D6 or D12 if you experience low back pain and uterine spasms, which worsen with the onset of bleeding. Pulsatilla may be the right remedy for women suffering from painful breasts before or during the period, a pulling in the uterus and headaches. Other proven homeopathic remedies for menstrual disorders include Nux vomica, Lycopodium, Calcarea and Magnesium phosphoricum.
Schuessler's salts can also improve painful cramps during menstrual bleeding. Salts no. 1 (calcium fluoratum), no. 13 (potassium arsenicosum) and no. 17 (manganum sulfuricum) may be considered here. In this case too, advice should be given on the right remedy and dosage with an expert , Generally, if necessary, the salts are taken 3 to 6 times daily in the form of one to three tablets.
Schüssler salts can help in a natural way to alleviate the pain in the abdomen. (Image: Björn Wylezich / fotolia.com) Hot role in pain during menstrual bleeding
A very effective process in the field of heat or hydrotherapy represents the "hot role" as it combines the targeted use of heat with a simultaneous massage effect. For the application, the therapist uses a towel made of terry cloth, which he rolls up in a funnel shape and then fills two-thirds with very hot or boiling water. It should be noted, however, that the role from the outside is not completely soaked and also down no water can flow out, otherwise it can quickly come to burns.
Subsequently, the hot roll is slowly but forcefully on the affected body parts and unrolled, whereby the moist heat from the towels evenly applied and distributed. The movements at the beginning should rather be dabbing, but then merge into a stroke and finally into a kind of circular massage.
At the end of the treatment, the towel is rolled out completely on the painful area and only removed when it has cooled down. Since the heat in this application has a strong circulation-promoting effect, can relax spasms and relax the muscles. Accordingly, the hot role generally as a home remedy for convulsions and other disorders such as neck tension, intestinal problems (hard bowel movements, constipation) or nervous-mental tension conditions represent a beneficial treatment method. (nr, last updated on February 14, 2017)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)