As a teenager I experienced the worst kind of period pain – the blackout and vomiting inducing kind that kept me in bed for a day or two at a time.

You know what saved me? The pill. Gasp. But then it wrecked my hormones in a whole other way, so I ditched it in my early 20’s.

Unfortunately the “extremely painful, so-bad-you-want-to-scream-and-tear-your-hair-out period cramps” came back after I got off the pill, because I hadn’t actually fixed the underlying problem.

Picture this: One day while I was working as a production coordinator on a shoot for a TV commercial, my period was so heavy I was changing tampons every hour and my cramps were soooo bad I had to race to the bathroom twice to throw up! My producer came into the office and I was curled up on the floor under my desk unable to work.

He was not impressed.

Some variation of this scenario was my norm every.single.month. It was miserable.

Perhaps you can relate?

More than half of women who get their periods have some degree of pain for 1 or 2 days each cycle, and that’s considered totally normal.

It turns out, however, many women also experience severe, debilitating pain requiring pain medication and time off from daily activities.

According to a June 2012 study, more than 84 percent of women in their 20’s have painful periods and more than 43 percent say they have pain with every period. Another survey found 50 percent of women are incapacitated by their menstrual cramps, and the ability to do their jobs is affected.

In fact, period pain is one of the top causes for women to miss work, after sick children.

In addition to pelvic pain, other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, and headaches can happen just before or during your period. The symptoms may last anywhere from a few hours to 2 or 3 days.

Ugh, why do we put up with this? It’s just not right!

So, what causes painful periods?

There are two types of dysmenorrhea (painful periods) – primary and secondary.

#1 Primary dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea is related solely to your period, meaning there is an absence of pelvic pathology. This is considered a natural part of your cycle.

• One cause of primary dysmenorrhea include high levels of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins – hormone-like substances that cause the uterus to contract (I wrote about them extensively here).

• Another cause is a “tilted/tipped uterus”. Women with a “tilted/tipped uterus” (officially known as a retroverted or retroflexed uterus, depending on its position) also commonly experience primary dysmenorrhea. Possible factors that contribute to a tilted/tipped uterus include pelvic misalignment (e.g., from habitually wearing high heels), regularly sitting improperly on the sacrum (the large triangular bone at the base of your spine), and falls that directly impact the sacrum. I’ll leave the details to my friend Barbara Loomis, a specialist in abdominal therapies and Visceral ManipulationTM, who has a great post on this issue. This picture is courtesy of her site.

#2 Secondary dysmenorrhea

Secondary dysmenorrhea is due to an actual condition. Pain from secondary dysmenorrhea usually begins earlier in the cycle and lasts longer than the menstrual cramps associated with primary dysmenorrhea. The conditions that cause secondary dysmenorrhea include:

• Endometriosis, an inflammatory disease in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus, can cause super painful periods. It’s believed to affect more than 11 percent of women ages 15-44. Check out this detailed post on endometriosis. If you suspect you have it, please see your gynecologist.
• Uterine fibroids, abnormal growths in or on the uterus, will develop in 35 percent of women before they reach menopause. They can lead to heavy bleeding and severe menstrual cramps because the uterus contracts more to push out the large blood clots.
• Adenomyosis – where tissue similar to that of the uterine lining grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, causing it to thicken.. This leads to extremely painful and heavy periods.
• An infection like Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) or an STI
• Ovarian cysts
• The copper IUD, especially for a few cycles after it’s inserted.

It is really important that you see a doctor to determine the cause of your period pain, as that will determine how you’re going to address it.

My best period pain remedies, solutions and hacks

Okay y’all, I’ll be honest in saying that while I’m not scraping myself up off the sidewalk anymore when I get my period, I do get cramps more often than I’d like to admit.

You know the saying, you teach what you most need to learn. Yup, that’s me. Also, I’ve tried almost every one of these recommendations, and if I haven’t, I am recommending something because trusted colleagues or clients have had great results with it. But please do your own research.

Food and supplement solutions for period pain

• Ditch the dairy – There is a fair amount of evidence suggesting that menstrual cramps are linked to a sensitive to dairy. This is most likely due to A1 casein, a protein found in milk that can be inflammatory in some women. Check out my book Fix Your Period for more information on this topic. You won’t find A1 casein in goat or sheep milk, but I’d suggest removing all dairy for 28 days and then reintroducing goat/sheep products to see if they are okay.

• Cut the nightshade veggies – Nightshade vegetables including eggplant, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes may trigger inflammation and subsequent pain in some people. I often see women with endometriosis and vulvodynia (a vaginal pain condition) benefitting from elimination of these foods. Try eliminating them from your diet for 28 days as an experiment to see if it helps alleviate your period pain in your next cycle.

• Magnesium – I call this the “keep calm and carry on mineral”! Magnesium has been shown to reduce menstrual cramps and PMS – double duty. Magnesium glycinate is the most easily absorbed form of magnesium, which will prevent diarrhea. The recommended dose is 350mg a day. I also LOVE Natural Calm, which is magnesium citrate and not absorbed as well, but still amazing. Just mix 1-2 teaspoons in water each night. In addition, I really like the Pure Magnesium Oil Spray which I spray on my chest and the soles of my feet. And don’t forget, you can soak in an Epsom salt bath which will give you an extra dose of magnesium and help you relax.

• B vitamins – I’ve talked at length about the B complex vitamins (they’re kind of my fave), so I’ll spare you all the details. You can find my big share on them in this post on the top 3 supplements for ovulation. The B vitamins (B1 and B12 in particular) work well for period pain. Check out Seeking Health B Complex Plus. FYI – I prefer to take them as a complex because they all work synergistically.

• Fish oil – Another supplement I’ve yammered on about! Numerous studies have found that simply taking fish oil supplements dramatically improves dysmenorrhea symptoms but typically only after three months. This is due to it’s rockstar anti-inflammatory properties. I am currently obsessed with Rosita Real Foods Cod Liver Oil which has those magical fatty acids EPA and DHA (the essential fatty acids you need for pain free periods), vitamin A and D (so needed by us to make hormones and have healthy pregnancies). But I also love Designs for Health OmegAvail.

• CBD oil – I’m gonna start by saying that this deserves a category all its own. I even mention it in my book! I’ve been using cannabidiol (CBD) oil since November 2017, and the results are ahh-mazing! My pain (neck/back pain and period cramps which weren’t so bad) has dropped significantly. Many of my clients and friends who use CBD oil for painful periods say their pain is gone after just three months. Other cool things are happening too – hardly any anxiety, my hair is fuller, and my skin and scalp are not as itchy (this happens to me in the cold weather). And this is only after two months on the stuff. I’ve been using a brand called Foria. I recommend trying their Foria Basic Suppositories – Menstrual CBD – these are vaginal suppositories to be used when you are experiencing cramps (see below).
  *Just FYI, you cannot get high off of CBD oil as it does not contain THC, the psychoactive property in marijuana.

Structural and physical solutions for period pain

• Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy (ATMAT) – A form of abdominal massage, ATMAT is an external, non-invasive modality that repositions internal organs that may be restricting blood flow and causing pain. The first time I did this massage years ago, my period pain was literally cut in half. It was pretty spectacular – you’ll also laugh at the funny story involving my in-laws. If you’re in NYC, go see my dear friend Katinka Locasio at Earth and Sky Healing Arts or find a practitioner here.

• Pelvic physical therapy – A pelvic physical therapist can evaluate your lady parts to see if there’s something structural going on that’s causing your pain and treat it. I’ve seen a Pelvic PT (holla Lindsey Vestal of the Functional Pelvis) and I can tell you it’s a game changer. If you’re in NYC, reach out to Lindsey or find a licensed PT here.

• Acupuncture – I’ve been doing acupuncture for about 15 years, and I recommend it to all my clients in conjunction with the Fix Your Period Program. Acupuncture can help bring consistent blood flow to the abdomen which can ease period cramps. There is mounting scientific evidence for its positive effect on period pain – one study showed a “ favorable effect of acupuncture in controlling the duration and intensity of moderate/severe dysmenorrhea related pain.” And this study showed that acupuncture was effective at relieving menstrual pain in as little as five minutes. If you’re in NYC, a visit to my dearest Aimee Raupp (fertility acupuncturist extraordinaire) is a must!  Or grab her free Fertility Enhancing Acupressure Guide. This guide includes a worksheet and video discussing location, function and the emotional correlation of each acupressure point and is a great way to regulate your hormones and optimize your fertility from the comfort of your own home.

Topical solutions for period pain

• Castor oil packs – With its’ amazing detoxifying and anti-inflammatory properties, castor oil is a great remedy to ease period pain. You can find my guide to make castor oil packs here. Apply them 1 to 2 times a week and only during the weeks you’re NOT menstruating. 

• Apothecanna Pain relief oil – Organic essential oils and anti-inflammatory plant extracts like those in Apothecanna’s oil can be applied directly to your abdomen. Works like a charm!

• Essential oils – Add 2 to 3 drops of peppermint essential oil to a non-toxic body lotion or a carrier oil like coconut oil and massage it on your abdomen and lower back when your period starts. This has worked wonders for my pain and stiffness on the first day of my flow. I also lurvvve doTerra’s ClaryCalm which you can apply on your abdomen for the 7 days leading up to your period and then during your period. 

• Herbs Etc. Cramp ReLeaf – I’ve never used this product, but a number of clients who have severe cramps say  this product relieves, if not eliminates their pain altogether.
• Foria CBD Suppositories – Cannabis based period products are so hot right now, and Foria is by far my most recommended brand. I really trust their ingredients because they take quality really seriously. The vagina readily absorbs CBD, which promotes muscular relaxation and localized relief from cramps. Give Foria a try and you’ll become a true believer in the magical benefits of CBD!

Devices

• MyoBuddy – A massager and fascia blaster all in one, the Myobuddy kicks myofascial pain and muscle soreness to the curb! If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen my Instastory of me massaging my abdomen on day one of my cycle! Haha. It’s an investment but REALLY worth it! I use it for neck and back pain, AND it’s replaced my foam roller – hated rolling out my tight IT bands, and now I don’t have to. You can get $100 off the MyoBuddy with the code “nicole100.”
  

• TENS Unit – Have you heard about the Livia device? It’s a TENS unit specifically for period pain. What’s a TENS unit you ask? It stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, and simply put it releases a current that distracts the nerves causing the pain and reduces your perception of pain. Although the TENS unit won’t treat the root cause of your pain, it can provide substantial temporary relief. Here is the one I have, which is significantly cheaper than the Livia but obviously not specifically for period pain. 

Alrighty, you now have FOURTEEN really great tried-and-tested natural solutions for your pain in the ass period! Just kidding – you love your period right?? 🙂 I am constantly researching and experimenting with products to help improve periods, so my hope is that these alternatives to the pill and pharmaceuticals come to your rescue!