10 Tips for Dealing with Period Pain

Those familiar cramps have started again and you'd like to bury yourself under the covers and not leave the house at all? We know exactly how you feel.

That's why we created our Organic Period Pain Massage Oil to support you during those difficult days of the month. Follow our 10 tips for coping with period pain and that dreaded week will be over before you know it!

10 tips for dealing with period pain

1. Vitamins & comfort food

A magnesium- and calcium-rich diet can help relieve abdominal cramps and mood swings. Try to push aside those cravings and stick to light food. Avoid bloating foods, such as salty snacks, however tempting that packet of crisps might be.

Try and give your body a good supply of minerals and vitamins by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables! Our favourite foods at this time of the month include bananas, oatmeal, but also nuts, sunflower seeds, and spinach.

Stay away from alcohol, sugar, and nicotine - this also has added benefits for your skin. Acne is often caused by premenstrual cravings that make us eat things we otherwise wouldn't.

Unfortunately, caffeine makes period pains worse so it's best to avoid coffee as well. Cola is doubly bad because it also contains a lot of sugar...

Instead treat yourself to a soothing herbal tea with yarrow, lemon balm, or St. John's wort.

If you do get an attack of hunger cravings, reach for warming comfort food, such as a hearty, warming curry with sweet potatoes, cashews and rice, combined with soothing spices like cinnamon, cardamom and ginger. But our favourite thing is probably snuggling up in a cosy blanket and spooning a warm, spicy soup.

2. Aromatherapy & essential oils

You can also drip essential oils like lavender, vanilla or clary sage oil into your fragrance lamp or apply them to your temples and wrists. They have a balancing effect on the mind and help you to relax. Clary sage is particularly well known for helping with cramps and mood swings.

3. Massages

Before and during their period, many women suffer from symptoms such as increased water retention, abdominal pain, and pain in the thighs. The special blend of essential oils in our Moon Oil with clary sage and cinnamon invites you to relax and is specially developed to support you during your period.

Directions for use: Gently massage into the skin on the abdomen, lower back, and thighs (inner sides) using stroking and circular motions and leave to act. This helps you to relax and to relieve cramps. Use several times a day if necessary.

Just like our other body oils, the Moon Oil, is made of high-quality, nourishing plant oils so you can of course use it for everyday body care throughout the month.

4. Heat

Warmth helps to relieve cramps - your mum has got it just right when she fills up the hot water bottle in winter. When we warm our body from the outside, it does not have to produce the warmth itself, saving energy. And energy is scarce during your period...

Be sure to warm up the massage oil in your palms before using it. There's nothing worse than cold massage oil! After the massage, how about cuddling up with a blanket, hot water bottle, or cherry stone pillow for that ultimate level of cosiness.

5. Prevent

If you regularly suffer from severe pain during your period, you can start massages in the second half of your cycle or a few days before your period starts.

6. Exercise

Muscle contractions in the abdomen lead to poorer blood flow to the uterus. Exercise helps to relieve cramps. Do whatever makes you feel good - bike, swim, or just go for a walk.

7. Balancing yoga exercises

Our favourite way to get your body moving during menstruation is yoga. There are specific exercises that relax you without causing additional pain. And there's not even any need to leave the house ;)

There are targeted exercises that relax the pelvic floor and the muscles in the lower abdomen and around the hips. Try to do yoga for at least a few minutes before bed - even if you are struggling with motivation.

These 4 asanas are a great way to end a long day so you can relax and leave all the stress behind you.

Balasana - Child Pose:
A calm position that does not require strength. It helps with headaches and back pain and allows you to breathe deeply in and out.

Ustrasana - Camel Pose:
The camel pose is a bit more challenging, but it is also a very effective stretching pose that helps to relieve cramps and has a positive effect on the abdominal and pelvic muscles. It helps with lower back pain, but also with anxiety and stress!

Paschimottanasana - Seated Forward Bend:
This position also helps you to relax and creates space for deep and calm breaths. In Yin Yoga you hold postures for several minutes at a time. This makes them particularly meditative.

Supta Baddha Konasana - Butterfly Pose:
This asana is perfect for calming down and relaxing, making it ideal before bedtime. It strengthens and opens the groin and stimulates the reproductive organs. You can do it as a conclusion in savasana or simply in bed with a hot water bottle on your belly.

8. Relaxation & meditation

As mentioned earlier, rest helps tame the red dragon. Allow yourself a moment to yourself, listen to what you need and what does you good right now. Sometimes just 5-10 minutes of meditation is enough to briefly turn your focus inward and find out what your body currently needs.

9. Acupressure

Acupressure follows the same principle as acupuncture. Instead of needles, you simply stimulate certain pressure points with your fingers.

A good point for period pain is on the inside of your lower legs. Use 2 or 3 fingers to exert pressure a hand's width below your knee on the inside of your leg for about 5 minutes. This should soon help you feel better. Repeat several times a day as needed.

10. Acceptance & release

Accept the rollercoaster ride of emotions during this time and take everything as it comes. Did you arrange to meet up with friends when you were still feeling fine and now you don't fancy it at all? Then accept that! Stress only makes pain worse, so keep calm and dare to say "no" sometimes! Real friends will understand!

Try out what does you good and what relieves your pain. Each individual has a different combination of things that help them the most. If your friend, mum, or sister also gets period pain, we recommend our Moon Oil as a gift for soothing self-care moments even on days when relaxing doesn't come quite so easily!