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Help & Hints:

The following hints or help I have all tried myself. The ones I haven't, I will point out, but you could try them anyway to see if they will work.

Drug Relief (analgesics, herbs...)

Ibuprofen works wonders, but has to be used properly. Take it at the first cramp, and take it steady during the first two days of menstruation. (Those are the days when the most severe pain is likely to occur.) Women with mild/medium pain will find one tablet effective, but others (with medium/severe pain) will most likely need two tablets; each dosage taken once every four hours.

Evening Primrose Oil, a herb, is also effective, especially used with Ibuprofen. EPO must be taken daily all month. For the first few months, you might want to consider using a slightly higher dosage then what's listed on the bottle, so your body can build up a good reservoir of the stuff. (The instructions, by the way, vary greatly from brand to brand.) I also find it most effective when the dosage is increased slowly up to the time of the period. Tylenol is not as good a choice as Ibuprofen, but if you have problems like kidney disorders, it might be the only choice. Regular strength likely won't do the trick. Try extra strength or a version with codeine.

Other herbal remedies: I haven't tried anything but EPO. If you are interested in another remedy, I would strongly recommend reading medical journals and consumer magazines, and asking friends, to get a feel what the general consensus is. Avoid publications that are run by the herb companies themselves. They only want to peddle the product. (E.G. A few years back, "kumbucha tea" was supposed to be a big "healthy thing", targetted mostly at "health nuts". The "tea", made out of rotting fungi, turned out to be quite toxic, possibly carcinogenic, and more trouble than good. Oh yeah, and expensive.)

Non-drug measures

A hot water bottle is very effective. Even better: two hot water bottles, one placed between your thighs and one under your lower back. Hot baths are also good. Avoid cool baths or water like the plague. The related muscles and organs are terribly contracted, and any cold will contract them even more, increasing pain. Related: Keep your feet warm; wear socks. (Esp. in cooler climates. A turtleneck shirt to keep your neck warm helps too.)

Try to avoid tampon use during the first few days; this is when pain is at its worst. I find that the tampon increases cramps, esp. at the beginning. Tampons also leak, and are only effective for women with heavy flows who then use both a tampon and a pad together.

Keep bowels and bladder evacuated. Any body waste in the pelvic area presses on the cramped area and increase cramps. If you're prone to constipation esp. around the period or dislike evacuating then because of added pain to the pelvic area, try bran flakes or prunes to gently make it easier. (Commercial laxatives aren't kind to the system.)

Keep moving. Exercise is good because it increases circulation, and decongests blood around the pelvic area. Walking, biking are good. Vigorous exercise: tennis or running, is best to avoid unless cramps are mild/medium. Bonus: exercise makes the body produce endorphins, which will naturally make you feel good.

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