Home Remedies For Painful Menstruation (Dysmenorrhea)
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Enjoy this article written by Alandi student Prachi Vinata! Prachi is a current student and available to work with in our student clinic.
Many women and menstruators experience menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) before or during their periods. While cramps may be uncomfortable at best, and debilitating at worst, there are plenty of home remedies within the Ayurvedic toolkit that can relieve cramping and its accompanying symptoms. Here are a few that can be found in your kitchen pharmacy.
Coriander (Sanskrit: dhanyaka) is a common kitchen spice that can support the female reproductive system. Its rasa (taste) is astringent, bitter, sweet, and pungent. Its virya (potency) is heating. Coriander’s vipak (post-digestive effect) is sweet.
1. Coriander tea for menstrual cramps: Boil 1 tsp coriander seeds in a cup of water until seeds sink; strain and drink to relieve menstrual cramps
2. CCF Tea: Mix one-third tsp each of cumin, coriander and fennel 'seeds' in a cup of water, boil until the seeds sink and strain. Drink after meals to aid digestion or to relieve colic. This tea is also a great way to help get adequate iron and calcium in your diet as well, especially important for menstruators.
Cinnamon (Sanskrit: tvak) is a favorite household spice in Indian and American homes alike. Its rasa (taste) is pungent, bitter, and sweet. Its virya (potency) is heating, and it has a pungent vipak (post-digestive effect).
1. Cinnamon and Hibiscus tea: Take 1 teaspoon of hibiscus and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon and steep for 20 minutes in 1 cup boiling water. Strain and drink 3-4 times daily. This tea is good for dysmenorrhoea or menorrhagia
Fennel (Sanskrit: mishreya) is a cooling kitchen spice. Its rasa (taste) is sweet, pungent, and bitter. It has a cooling virya (potency), and sweet vipak (post-digestive effect).
1. Fennel and Ajwain tea: Take half teaspoon each of fennel seeds and ajwain seeds, make a tea, add rock sugar or honey and drink 2-3 x daily.
2. Hormonal balance essential oil blend: Apply 1 drop of fennel oil, 1 drop of geranium, 2 drops of clary sage oil and 1 tablespoon of whole fat milk on the lower abdominal area.
Nutmeg (Sanskrit: jatiphala) is antispasmodic and relieves pain. It’s rasa (taste) is pungent, bitter, and astringent. Its virya (potency) is heating, and its vipak (post-digestive effect) is pungent.
1. Jam for menstrual cramping: Mix 1/3 tsp nutmeg in honey and eat it. The sweet taste of honey reduces vata and pitta, often the primary factors of dysmenorrhea.
2. Milk for insomnia that can be accompanied by cramps and high vata: Mix two pinches nutmeg in a cup of boiling milk, simmer for a minute and drink.
3. Acne mask: Make a facemask with nutmeg, milk and honey and apply.
This piece was written by a student of the Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula in Boulder, Colorado. Learn more about studying ayurveda at our home school, or access your deep wellness with the support of our student practitioners in the Alandi Ayurveda Clinic.
