We are in a decidedly “woke” time when it comes to the subject of periods, are we not? Like, we are now living in the era of fancy period underwear and being more open about your period with your significant other. And, for every out-of-touch politician who tries to tax menstrual products, we’ve got a badass girl who uses free-bleeding as a form of protest.
Still, no matter how period-woke you are, and no matter what your exact approach is for handling your period–free-bleeding, escaping to an isolated red tent somewhere in the desert, or, most likely, somewhere in between those two extremes–you have to admit that, a lot of the time, having your period isn’t exactly fun. In most cases, you’ll endure some weird bodily cocktail of cramps, bloating, and uncontrollable mood swings and cravings, plus the fact that, you know–you are literally bleeding out of your actual vagina. Not exactly a riot.
Like most people, I have a love-hate relationship with my period. For the most part, I kinda hate it, for all of the reasons mentioned above (I just don’t love stabbing pains in my uterus, having a post-Chipotle food baby without even having eaten Chipotle, and just feeling like my body is, in general, betraying me–go figure!). Still, though, there are some ways to manage this overall suckiness. While it might not ever be, like, a party, check out these easy, natural ways to make your menses more manageable:
Use A Hot Water Bottle
If you've got serious cramps that pain-relieving pills can't seem to get rid of, you can try out a hot water bottle--you know, like what your grandma uses. This works because heat treatment can actually block pain signals to the brain, as well as relaxing your abdominal muscles and providing general comfort. Of course, this is only a temporary treatment, not an all-out cure--once you remove the hot water bottle, the cramps will come back--but it's a great alternative to just, like, lying around in pain, you know? Image source:iStockWash Your Face
There's no better time to invest in a good face wash than when you're on your period--your face gets oilier when it's that time of the month, which can make you break out more. You shouldn't, like, go absolutely insane with washing your face--over-washing is another cause of oily skin--but some dermatologists recommend exfoliating with a salicylic acid or benzoyl-peroxide-based cleanser with extra care during your period. Image source:iStockDrink Chamomile Tea
Since hot water soothes period cramps, it makes sense that hot tea would do the same, right? This is especially true for chamomile tea--chamomile has mild sedative properties as well as properties that relax smooth muscles, like as the ones that line your uterine wall. So, drink two or three cups of chamomile tea a day during your period to feel less crampy and more relaxed. Image source:iStockDrink Water
Other than tea, the only thing you should be drinking to help out with your period is water. And lots of it. Doctors recommend drinking two or three liters of water a day when you're on your period, since this can prevent bloating and reduce cramping. Image source:iStockDo Yoga
I know, I know--if you've got heavy cramps due to the shedding of your uterine walls, the absolute last thing you want to do is contort your body into a bunch of logic-defying vinyasas. I get it. But some yoga poses can actually relieve your cramps by massaging your abdominal muscles and relaxing your body overall. To take advantage of this, try to go to a slow-flow class (not a super-intense Vinyasa or Bikram class) or try out some of these poses on your own. Image source:iStockEat Protein
During your period, the urge you have is probably to eat, like, grilled cheese. And french fries. And ice cream. And, while you definitely can eat all of those things (being on your period is a great excuse for anything), you'll be better served (literally) by eating some lean protein. Sure, it's not as exciting as the DIY deep-fried Oreo recipe you found on Pinterest, but protein will help keep you focused and awake, rather than the groggy, brain-fogged period monster we all have been known to become. Try some salmon, chicken breast, or tofu. (And follow it up with ice cream, if you so desire.)Image source:iStockEat Dark Chocolate
You don't have to fight every craving you have during your period, though--if you want chocolate, by all means, you eat your chocolate. Just make sure it's dark (and very dark, like over 70% cocoa). This helps relax your muscles (making your cramps easier to deal with) and boost your mood (making your mood swings less violent).Image source:iStockUse Lavender Oil
When you're on your period, you need to sleeeeeeeep--but your period can negatively impact any attempt you make to get into REM state, whether you're camping up or worried about your pad slipping up during the night . To deal with this, drop some lavender essential oil on your pillow before you go to bed at night, since lavender aromatherapy has been proven to help people sleep more soundly and feel more alert the following day. Image source:iStockHow do you deal with period cramps? Did I forget any good ways to deal on this list? Let us know in the comments!
You can reach the author, Sara Hendricks, on Twitter and Instagram.
7 Weird Ways You Didn’t Know You Should Be Taking Care Of Your Vagina
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