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Alternative Treatments for Severe Menstrual Cycles

A few symptoms associated with severe menstrual cycles are painful menstrual cramps accompanied by heavy bleeding, which may last up to seven days. While these symptoms may only come once a month, they wreak havoc on the lives of women who deal with these feminine abnormalities. Not only are severe menstrual symptoms disruptive to everyday life, but they can interfere with a woman's mobility and ability to work. This is why it is imperative to find alternative treatments to help alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with severe menstrual cycles.

  1. Vitamins and Minerals

    • Replenish the body with plenty of foods and supplements with potassium, calcium and magnesium. These vitamins and minerals help to alleviate the painful symptoms of menstrual cramps. One way to ensure that the body is getting enough of these essential vitamins and minerals is by taking a multivitamin with potassium, calcium and magnesium before and during the menstrual cycle.

    Diet

    • Eat plenty of foods rich in iron, such as dark leafy green vegetables, lean red meats, beans, and raisins. Iron is important for women who have unusually high blood flow because they are prone to becoming anemic. Eating foods with plenty of iron helps prevent anemia. A diet with plenty of iron also provides the body with a solid amount of energy; therefore, even when a woman is dealing with heavy menstruation, her body will have plenty of iron to give her the fuel she needs to keep up with a busy schedule.

    Exercise

    • Daily exercise does more than just give a person a toned body. A regular exercise routine should be the first line of defense against painful menstrual cramps. Since exercise increases endorphins produced within the body, which helps improve moods, it can give a person a more productive outlook on life. This change in outlook may help the person deal with painful periods and decrease the severity of menstrual cramps. In order for an individual to reap continuous benefits from exercise, it is recommended that 30 minutes of exercise be incorporated into the daily regime at least five days a week.

    Heat

    • Applying a source of heat helps to ease painful menstrual cramps. This is because muscles in the pelvic area are tight and tense. This occurs when the lining of the uterus contracts, sheds and produces the blood flow for menstruation. The heat helps relax the pelvic muscles and the pain caused from uterus contractions. Women can purchase an electrical heating pad or buy the portable magnetic heating pads in stores and wear them to work underneath clothing.

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