When you’re looking for the best way to ease period cramps, the best approach is to learn anywhere from 5 to 10 ways to do it. Then start methodically trying each one of them and find which one works for you. 

Many doctors want you to think that cramping during your period or cramps before your period is a medical condition. Yes, they are part of PMS, we already know that. But no, they are not some medical condition that will never go away until menopause. They are largely controllable – and you can be the one who knows how to soothe period cramps and then never have them again. Of course, it will take a little time to learn this skill…

5 Ways to Ease Period Cramps

Here are five natural ways that you can ease period cramps without medicine: 

1. Eat healthy foods that ease period cramps such as dark green, leafy vegetables.

These foods are loaded with magnesium and B vitamins, which are essential for the cramping to stop. Also consider dairy products like plain yogurt or kefir milk, which contains calcium as well as probiotic bacteria. The bacteria in your gut control a lot more things in the body – one of them being pain – than what’s happening in your gut. 

2. Vitamins and Minerals to Take for Period Cramps

The chance that your cramps are due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency is high. Calcium or magnesium are the first ones to address. 

For calcium, take 250 to 500 mg daily, but take it with 125 to 250 mg magnesium. Note that the dosage of magnesium is half the dosage of the calcium; this way you preserve the correct nutritional ratios. If you want to be extra diligent, then make sure the magnesium content is equal to the phosphorus content. Not many supplement companies remember to put in the phosphorus. 

Both calcium and magnesium are excellent for the ease of menstrual cramps. 

As an alternative, you could start with magnesium chloride oil that you rub into your belly. It’s the easiest way to get the magnesium levels increased. But don’t overdo it, as too much magnesium is not a good thing. It will alter your body’s pH.  Orally, the dosage of magnesium to stay under is 1000 mg; for calcium it’s 1200 mg.

3. Period Vitamin

A Period Vitamin is a way to get all the essential vitamins and minerals and herbs that support your body for your cycles without having to think much about it. It’s a one a day kind of supplement and contains calcium and magnesium.

4. Essential Oil Treatment for Quick Relief

If you have lavender essential oil on your health supplement shelf at home, then by all means add a few drops to olive oil (about ¼ cup) and rub it into your belly where the cramps are. Lavender works fast to soothe cramps. 

5. Herbals to Take for Quick Relief

When considering how to ease menstrual cramps, always consider herbs. A cup of an herb tea can do wonders to give you quick relief. Which ones will you focus on? Start out with Ginger tea. Cut up ginger root into thin slices, and then dice. You’ll need about a tablespoon of it. Then add to a coffee cup and pour boiling water over it. Let steep for about 3 minutes and then sip. Sip away your cramps. 

Another option is black cohosh or a combination of herbs already put together for menstrual cramps. Often these are sold as PMS tea or Cramp Tea. Simply place one tea bag in a coffee cup, and add hot boiling water. Let it steep for 3-5 minutes. Then drink. 

Easing menstrual cramps is easy. It actually gets to be fun to try to figure out your body! And when you think about it, how better could you invest your time? You’re going to have your body with you for the rest of your life and the more you know about it, what it likes, what it doesn’t like, and what to do when different health issues come up, the happier you’re going to be. Plus you will have the chance to influence others around you and put in good seeds in their lives.