Periods are an inevitable truth of every woman’s life. It is that time of the month that leaves every woman with pain, but the absence of which fills her with fear and anxiety. We guess it wouldn’t be wrong to say that every woman shares a love-hate relationship with her periods. Can’t do with them, can’t do without them! What’s even worse is that while periods are themselves a hassle to get through, menstrual pain adds to it.
Every month, before your period, the premenstrual symptoms start. From then on begins the actual menstrual pain, which will go on for a week at least. This menstrual pain manifests in different ways – cramps, nausea, back pain, mood swings and lots more – making life more challenging for the woman. In fact, menstrual pain can sometimes get so bad that it’s been given a name – dysmenorrhea. If your periods take an immense toll on you every month and leave you with debilitating pain, then it’s time to do something about it. Here are some home remedies for period pain that might help you.
- Home Remedies For Period Pain
- 1. Use heating pad
- 2. Give yourself an essential oil massage
- 3. Do some light exercises
- 4. Try some herbal teas
- 5. Improve your diet
- 6. Go for herbs
- 7. Drink more water
- 8. The Big O
- 9. Take enough rest
- 10. Pop a painkiller
- When To See A Doctor For Period Pain
Home Remedies For Period Pain

Since period pain is as common and as old as the phenomenon itself, there are various ways to deal with it. You don’t have to lie on the bed clutching your tummy all day. Here are some home remedies for period pain that will definitely provide you respite and allow you some much-needed rest:
1. Use heating pad

This one’s a prevalent home remedy for period pain and for all the right reasons. Whether you’re suffering from cramps or your back is giving you a hard time, using heat is always a good solution. Heat can relax the muscle walls, which improves your blood flow. This, in turn, reduces the pain. You can use heat in the form of a heat pad on your abdomen or by going for a hot water bath.
If you don’t have a heating pad, make a DIY one by using a towel soaked in hot water. Place this towel on your abdomen and relax for some time. The heat will soothe your muscles, thus reducing the pain.
2. Give yourself an essential oil massage

Essential oils are magical for a reason! They work amazingly well to soothe you and additionally, target any problem you might have. No wonder they are everyone’s favourite! Did you know, aromatic essential oils work as an excellent home remedy for period pain as well? Even research has proved that using essential oils for massage helps soothe period pain.
Use a drop or two of any essential oil you have and mix it with a carrier oil. Massage on areas where you experience pain for at least 20 minutes. This home remedy is proven to be effective for the pain and is mentally soothing.
3. Do some light exercises

We know that when you’re chumming, the last thing you’d want to do is work out. However, hear us out. Exercising releases endorphins, and we all know they make us feel better. We’re not even telling you to do strenuous exercise. Just indulge in moderate to light activities such as walking or practising yoga poses.
This home remedy for period pain works effectively, reducing the need for any pain relief medication. Some yoga poses that significantly reduce menstrual pain are the cobra pose, cat pose and fish pose.
4. Try some herbal teas

If you’re a fan of coffee, then you must try out herbal teas when menstruating to reduce the pain. Herbal teas are known to have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce muscle pain and cramps.
Moreover, herbal teas are also stress-relieving, so this home remedy for period pain works multiple-fold. Herbal teas also help you sleep better, so that’s one more reason to drink them.
5. Improve your diet

When you’re on your period, reaching for a brownie or a burger may sound super tempting, but try to control those cravings. The reason we say this is that certain foods may make period cramps worse. High among the list of foods that make period cramps worse are high-carb, salty, and high-fat foods. Consuming these foods can cause inflammation in the body, which makes period cramps even worse.
Caffeine is another substance that worsens cramps. To relieve period pain, consume foods high in vitamins, minerals, zinc, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids. You can get these by eating green leafy veggies, nuts and fatty fish.
6. Go for herbs

Adding herbs to your regular diet is another effective home remedy for period pain. Cinnamon, ginger, fennel seeds and cumin seeds are some herbs you can add to your everyday diet. Having ginger with hot water makes for a warm cramp-relieving drink. You can use cinnamon powder in water and cumin in water as well.
7. Drink more water

This may sound like a generic remedy, but that’s not it! Yes, drinking enough water and staying hydrated is essential. However, this is especially important when you are menstruating. That’s because when you are dehydrated, the muscles in your uterus may cramp even more, causing more menstrual pain. That’s why drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water is an important home remedy for period pain as it may help alleviate pain associated with water retention.
8. The Big O

Now this one’s an unusual home remedy for period pain! The body’s natural endorphins can boost your mood and reduce menstrual pain, and one of the natural ways to boost endorphins is having an orgasm. A small study conducted in 2020 proved that having an orgasm worked better than medication when it came to achieving relief from period cramps. When you orgasm, blood flow to the uterus increases, thus helping relieve cramps.
9. Take enough rest

This may sound obvious, but how many of you can claim that you take adequate rest when you are on your periods? While you cannot leave everything aside, you must relax because your body is going through hormonal changes. To help relieve menstrual pain, sleeping in the fetal position may reduce pressure on your abdominal muscles and ease cramping.
10. Pop a painkiller

This is the last thing we’d advise, and you must do this only when the above-mentioned home remedies for period pain don’t work. Moderate use of painkillers is one of the ways you can curb period pain.
When To See A Doctor For Period Pain

While period pain is normal, sometimes it may get too much. If you face any of the below symptoms, then you must see a doctor:
- If you have severe pelvic pain
- If the bleeding gets heavier and the pain worsens
- If the pain hinders you from carrying out your day-to-day activities
- If you are over 25 and cramps are a new development
These symptoms could be signs of an underlying health condition, such as endometriosis, fibroids or pelvic floor disorders.
Period pain is normal and a part of every woman’s life. Try each of these home remedies for period pain to see what works for you and provides you with the most relief.
Written by Nisha Shah on 15th Nov 2021
Writer, avid reader and a lover of all things creative is the best way to describe Nisha Shah! Equipped with a degree in Journalism and a certification in Digital Marketing, she brings a distinct perspective to her writing. With experience in content covering a range of topics from health to travel and beauty to food, she manages to bring something interesting and yet easy-to-read for her readers. When she's not writing, you can find her curled up with a book and coffee, bingeing on movies and TV shows, experimenting with photography and lots more!