When you’re in the midst of your period, do you ever wonder what causes period cramps?

Probably if you have severe menstrual cramps, you have wondered this a lot.

Menstrual cramps basically occur because there are contractions that are happening in the uterus to slough off the endometrial wall.

The contractions can cut off oxygen to the uterus, and then you have pain and cramping. 

Causes of Cramps During Period

Some questions regarding the cramps, especially severe menstrual cramps, that you might be asking yourself or your friends include the following:

1. Can stress cause menstrual like cramping?

Stress will aggravate every possible medical condition. And though it isn’t a cause of menstrual cramps, when you are feeling a high level of stress, it means that your cramps will tend to be worse. This is something you can check for yourself by rating your cramps and your stress every month for about six months. Then at the end of the time frame, look for patterns. 

2. Can period cramps cause nausea?

Nausea may indeed be related to period cramps. They can get so severe that you don’t feel like eating or drinking anything at all.  

3. Can constipation cause period like cramps?

Medical doctors will tell you that constipation is not related to cramps. However, think about it for a moment. When you’re constipated, there are a lot more toxins trapped in the abdomen that can’t get out. 

These toxins are initially contained in the intestines but they try to escape the area. They may easily diffuse into the reproductive tract since anatomically it’s very close. When you have your period, your body is trying to discard the toxins from the endometrial lining that didn’t get the opportunity to support a baby. But with constipation, you are multiplying the toxins. Thus, constipation can increase the cramping. 

4. What foods cause cramps?  

The only foods that cause cramps are ones that you are sensitive to. Perhaps your body doesn’t like dairy products. If you are lactose intolerant or sensitive to the proteins in milk, it’s common to have cramps when you eat foods that are high in milk proteins or contain a lot of lactose. 

Dairy products aren’t the only ones that can potentially cause cramps. Any food you are sensitive to will be a culprit. You can always do an ALCAT test to see what foods you are sensitive to. Check it out online. 

5. What hormone causes menstrual cramps?

Hormones won’t cause menstrual cramps unless your body is having a miscarriage. 

6. Does milk cause cramps?

Milk may cause cramps for reasons mentioned in #4. 

7. Is caffeine a cause of cramps?

Caffeine may also be a cause of cramps if you are drinking too much coffee. The mechanism may be the depletion of magnesium and potassium in the body since coffee (caffeine) is a diuretic. 

8 Remedies for Period Cramps

This list of natural remedies, including home remedies for menstrual cramps, will include 3 fast relief solutions and 5 long term solutions. 

1. Herbal Remedies
   One of the best herbal remedies for menstrual cramps is red raspberry leaf tea. It’s high in potassium and B vitamins as well as magnesium. Simply make up a few cups of tea by adding a teaspoon of the herb to the boiling hot water. Then drink it down over the next several hours. It helps normalize your periods.
2. Period Vitamin
   Included in a Period Vitamin are vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. One of them is magnesium, which relaxes the contractions that are occurring in the uterus. Another one would be the antioxidant vitamin E. Vitamin E will ease menstrual cramps. When you take a period vitamin, you take it once daily.
3. Specific Vitamins and Minerals to Take
   Magnesium is the easiest supplement to take for menstrual cramps. Take 300-500 mg magnesium once daily and wait about an hour for it to work. One capsule is needed per day. Extra won’t help.
4. Home Remedy 
   Take a warm bath and relax in the tub. Put on some nice music and add some bubbles, rose petals, and add some essential oils to the water. (Remember that you only need 2-3 drops of any essential oil in a bathtub; you don’t need a lot.) 
5. Exercise/Stretches
   The reason why exercise works so well when you have menstrual cramps is because exercise oxygenates the tissues. And since the lack of oxygen caused the cramps to begin with, you have a way of correcting the situation. Stretches are also in this category and they can provide relief. Focus on ones that will stretch out your lower back and abdominal region.
6. Foods that Calm Down Period Cramps
   Foods that calm down cramps would be ones that are higher in fiber, and thus move out waste matter from the intestinal tract. On the other hand, stay away from alcohol or tobacco when you have menstrual cramps, as they will worsen with these two.
7. Essential Oils for Period Cramps
   The most likely essential oils that will relieve period cramps are lavender, clary sage and marjoram essential oil. The first two have anti-inflammatory actions and have been found to relieve pain in women. They also inhibit the prostaglandins that cause the inflammation in the first place. Marjoram also inhibits the prostaglandin pathways and is known for its pain-relief as well.
8. Water
   Water is the universal solvent in the body and it’s known for its ability to decrease pain. This was made known by an Indian doctor who wrote a book called, Your Body’s Many Cries for Water. 

How to get rid of period cramps is an easy thing to do when you have a list of solutions! Check out our ebook on the topic for all the details.