Painful Periods

Tea for Menstrual Cramps–Mild to Moderate Menstrual Cramps

Bring 1 cup of water to boil.  Add 1 tablespoon of dark brown sugar and mix.  Let cool slightly and drink as tea.

Drink several cups of this tea throughout the first day of your period.  Warm liquids are helpful for cramps in the same way a heating pad often feels good.  Brown sugar moves blood stasis, which is present to some degree for all women experiencing painful periods.  Foods have different properties in the same way as medicinal herbs, though they are generally milder in action.  It is best to use natural brown sugar such Sucanat because these sugars have a higher molasses content and are less processed.  However, the brown sugar you’ve got on your cupboard at home can also help.

Castor Oil Packs–Moderate to Severe Menstrual Cramps

A castor oil pack is often recommended by practitioners when women have received a Western medical diagnosis reflecting strong stagnation in the lower abdomen, such as endometriosis, polyps, or cysts.  Applied to the lower abdomen, it can be a great home remedy to relieve the blood stasis common to more severe menstrual cramps.  This home remedy is appropriate for women with a moderate to heavy dark menstrual flow with clots and stabbing abdominal pain.  It is not appropriate for mild to moderate cramps.  Apply the castor oil pack two to three times per day during the premenstrual and menstrual period. This is not an appropriate treatment for mild to moderate cramps.  

Castor oil was originally used as a laxative, and although it is no longer taken internally, it can still cause loose stools when applied externally.  If you begin to have loose stools, cut down on the number of times you use the pack.  **Do not use a castor oil pack premenstrually if you are trying to conceive.

To make a castor oil pack you will need the following materials:

  • Three layers of plain wool or cotton flannel large enough to cover the affected area 
  • Castor oil 
  • Plastic wrap cut one to two inches larger than the flannel (can be cut from a plastic bag) 
  • Hot water bottle 
  • Container with lid 
  • Old clothes and sheets. Castor oil will stain clothing and bedding.

To make the castor oil pack, place the flannel in the container along with the castor oil and let it soak until it is saturated, but not dripping.  Place the pack over the lower abdomen and cover with plastic. Place the hot water bottle over the pack and leave in place for 45 minutes.  After removing the pack, cleanse the area with a dilute solution of water and baking soda.  The pack can be replaced in the container and stored in the refrigerator to be reused up to 25 times.