July 26-2010 All About Women Health - Dysmenorrhea

Alternative Medicine, Home Remedies for Menstruation Relief

By Dr John Anne


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Menstruation is the term used for the natural monthly cycle of periods in the female body. Periods are when the unfertilized eggs are ejected out of the reproductive system along with blood and several other tissue cells. This flow happens once a month. The flow is profuse on one particular day of the month. However the discomfort of the periods could generally last for three days.

The female reproductive system is indeed marvelous. Every month the ovaries produce one egg which is deposited in the fallopian tube. The uterine wall known as the endometrium thickens and there is increased blood circulation in the entire reproductive system. This is all in preparation of a pregnancy. However, if the woman does not get pregnant, then all these things need to be expelled from the body. This is known as the period. Once the expulsion is done, the ovaries produce a new egg and the cycle continues for another month.

Women may face several difficulties during their menstrual flow. There is increased moistness in the vaginal area, and there could be infections. Women could have fevers, extreme pain in the groin area, giddiness, nausea and vomiting, etc. In some women the effects are more aggressive than others. And the most worrisome thing is that the symptoms could recur month after month. The biological term for menstrual problems is dysmenorrhea.

In Ayurveda, menses (i.e. the flow of the menstrual period) is considered to be the excess pitta which flows out of the body. It is called as Raja. Hence the menstrual flow is also called as Raja Pravritti. Though menstruation is a typically pitta phenomenon, effects on the vata and the kapha are also seen. Some women have insomnia and mood swings during their periods. This is vata vitiation. Some women gain weight. This is kapha vitiation.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Menstruation

b) Asafetida (Ferula fetida)

Asafetida is known to increase the secretion of the female hormone, progesterone. Thus it facilitates menstruation. Using asafetida gum fried in ghee and mixed with goat's milk and a spoonful of honey for a month can reduce the pains during menstruation and also make the flow reduced.

c) Asoka (Saraca indica)

The bark of the asoka tree is given to women who experience extreme blood loss during menstruation due to leucorrhea or uterine fibroids. The plant has a stimulating effect on the uterine wall and the mucus layer in the reproductive tract.

d) Bamboo (Bambusa bambos)

Bamboo acts as an emmenagogue which stimulates menstruation. Its leaves are prescribed for this purpose. Regular consumption of the leaves of the bamboo is prescribed to promote and regulate the menstrual flow.

e) Bloodwort (Achillea millefolium)

The hot infusion of leaves of the bloodwort is taken as an emmenagogue. A decoction of the herb can correct irregular periods. The herb also yields an oil which can be used in the treatment of female reproductive disorders.

f) Chicory (Chichorium intybus)

Seeds of chicory are prepared into a decoction to treat problems of obstructed menstruation.

g) Dill (Anethum sowa)

This fragrant herb is efficient in stimulating menstrual cycles. It helps women who have delayed periods to get their periods on time. Young anemic girls are prone to spasmodic menstruation, which can be quite painful. A decoction of dill is prepared with the leaves of parsley to treat such problems.

h) Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Cold climates can sometimes cause painful and irregular periods. An infusion of ginger sweetened with sugar is taken for correcting such problems.

i) Henna (Lawsonia alba)
Henna is a cooling agent. Suppositories of its leaves are made and placed in the vagina for women who have problems of excessive menstruation.

j) Hermal (Peganum harmala)

The hermal is a little-known herb, but in Ayurveda it is prescribed regularly for menstrual problems such as painful menstruation and irregular periods.

k) Indian Aloe (Aloe vera)

The Indian aloe is a stimulant of the uterus. Hence it is given in cases of painful menstruation.

l) Indian Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi)

The jatamansi is a very popular Indian herb used in the treatment of painful and irregular periods.

m) Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Lemon grass is used in painful and difficult menstruation. It can be taken in the form of a tea.

(2) Dietary Treatments for Menstruation

The following dietary tips are beneficial to women who have painful or irregular periods:-

1 Avoid all constipating foods, especially in the last week of the menstrual cycle. This includes fried foods, sour foods and protein-rich pulses.

2 Fish is a good dietary indication for painful periods. Fish contain omega-3 fatty acids which help to ease the spasms during menstruation. Meat, poultry and dairy products must be avoided.

3 Among vegetables, white pumpkin, papaya, drumstick, snake gourd, bitter gourd and cucumber are good for dysmenorrhea. Potato, yellow pumpkin and eggplant must be avoided.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatments for Menstruation

Kumari is the drug of choice for menstrual problems in Ayurveda. This is nothing but the aloe vera plant. It is taken in the form of Kumarasava in a dose of six teaspoonfuls twice a day. There is a special preparation called as the Raja Pravartani vati, which contains aloe and asafetida as its main ingredients. This medication is taken in the form of pills - two of them twice a day a week before the periods are due.

(4) Home Remedies for Menstruation

1 Fry asafetida in ghee and add a teaspoonful of it to buttermilk. Have this once a day in case of dysmenorrhea.

2 Mix some sesame seeds in a glassful of water. Drink this twice daily when you have menstrual pains.

3 Have salads with boiled beetroot in them, or have beetroot juice.

The following exercises help in reducing the pain of menstruation:-

a) Take a firm chair and stand behind it holding your hands firmly on the chair's back. Lift one heel and then the other. Continue this for about ten minutes. You can also do knee-bends.

b) Lie on your back on a firm bed. Fold your legs and bring the knees up to your chin. Repeat this ten times.

Read more on menstruation home remedies and herbal treatment by ayurveda at http://www.ayushveda.com
Read more about Ayurveda at World's Largest Portal on Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Remedies: Ayushveda.com - The Free Ayurvedic Encyclopedia

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July 19-2010 All About Women Health - Dysmenorrhea

Holistic Treatment of Dysmenorrhea Can Be Permanent

By Madeleine Innocent


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Dysmenorrhea, or more simply put, pain during or around a period, can be mild or severe. Most people just accept the mild forms as a part of life. But when it becomes so severe you need to take pain killers, or worse, then it's time for some action.

Sadly, young girls who suffer from this are normally put on the oral contraceptive pill. But this has the potential of causing more serious problems later on.

There are many wonderful homeopathic medicines which can not only relieve the acute symptoms, but can go on to totally resolve the problem altogether.

But working out which is the correct medicine for your condition can be difficult and it may be best left to the skills of a professional homeopath.

But you can use homeopathy at home, too. There are some common medicines which you can use very effectively, without knowing very much. But you still do need to be able to recognise your individual symptoms, which can then be matched to those of the medicine. Without this match, nothing is the most outcome.

But with the correct match, be prepared for wonderful results.

The medicine in the spotlight in this article has a particular symptom picture, as all do. Those that relate particularly to dysmenorrhea are:

• severe pain, violent, throbbing
• the bleeding is bright red and feels hot
• the bleeding may smell offensive
• you may experience pain just on the right side, possibly your right ovary
• you may experience a headache or migraine with the pains
• you may experience a 'bearing down' sensation, as if all your innards will fall out

Not every woman's dysmenorrhea will be as described above. But if you can see a similarity in you for at least three of the listed symptoms, then the medicine Belladonna is likely to help you enormously.

Written by Madeleine Innocent
Do you want to learn more about natural health, in particular homeopathy? Check out my free ebook An Introduction to Some Common Homeopathic Remedies, by clicking on the website link below.
Good Health Naturally

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July 12-2011 All About Women Health - Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea, The Menstrual Discomfort

By Bardnurz Sham


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The discomfort associated with menstrual pain (also known as dysmenorrhea) range from cramps in the lower abdomen, diarrhea and frequent urination to sweating, bloating, nausea and vomiting. Mood swings, head and back aches, and upper thigh and back pain are also not unusual.

Prostaglandins are hormones like body chemicals that become more active right before your period begins. These chemicals gather in the lining of your uterus and are alternately released and absorbed by the uterine muscle, causing all those contraction and cramps.

Types of Dysmenorrhea:

Primary dysmenorrhea: Typically occurs in adolescents and usually begins 2 to 3 years following their first period. The cramps begin just before the onset of bleeding and usually stop within 2 or 3 days. They may persist throughout your 20s or until you deliver a child after which for unknown reasons, they're likely to decrease in intensity or go away entirely.

Secondary dysmenorrhea: Occurs mainly in women in their 30's or 40's and is attributed to some underlying causes such as endometriosis, fibroid or pelvic inflammatory disease. It can often be distinguished from primary dysmenorrhea by the fact that the pain usually continues for the duration of bleeding.

Relief for cramps:

Analgesics: If your cramps are too painful to ignore, try non-streoidal anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and mefenamic acid. Such medications work best when taken before during your period.

Nutritional Supplements: Some women find that nutritional supplements such as evening primrose oil, magnesium, calcium or vitamin B6 help relieve their pain.

Exercise. It reduce discomfort.

Apply some heat: Warmth can often soothe cramps. Take a long, hot bath or place a hot water bottle or heating pad on your stomach.

Gently massage your lower abdomen.

Go easy on the coffee: Taking in less caffeine does help some women feel better.

Get enough sleep: Dealing with discomfort is a lot easier when you're not tired and cranky.

When to seek Medical advice.

Although some pain during menstruation in normal excessive pain is not.

See doctor if:

- The pain is getting worse with each period.

-The pain lasts longer than the first 2 days of your period.

-Medicines that you have used in the past can no longer control the pain.

-Menstrual bleeding has become increasingly heavy

-The pain is accompanied by fever

-There is abnormal discharge or bleeding.

-The pain occurs at times unrelated to menstruation.

Bardnurz Sham, a young nutritionist who devote his daily activities to food and nutritional science. Doesn't believe in chemical base source of food which contain preservative, coloring and acid base foods. Write an article to educate people so that they can improve their life by eat well and have a wonderful life.

web: [http://longerlifespan.blogspot.com/]

feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthAndLongevity

Multi-Vitamin for Women Womens complete Multi-Vitamin and Multi-Minerals [http://herbslife.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/multi-vitamin-for-women]

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July 05 -2011 All About Women Health - Dysmenorrhea

What Are Menstrual Cramps? Things That You Should Know

By Joshua Panebianco


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Menses or periods can be very painful for some women as they suffer from painful cramps during the menstrual periods. In medical terms menstrual cramps called dysmenorrhea. The common term for these cramps is period pains - they occur during the menstrual period time.

Menstrual cramps are felt in the lower abdomen and are very painful. The severity of the pains can vary from dull to extreme. As a rule, this pain is felt at the time of ovulation. Ovulation is a process when the egg cell is released by the ovaries to the fallopian tube.

There are mainly two types of menstrual cramps or period pains. One is primary dysmenorrhea and the second one is secondary dysmenorrheal. The primary one is most common. These pains usually do not have a known reason. This pain is known to last for a period of four days at the max and began one or two days before the onset of periods.

Secondary dysmenorrheal has many medical reasons behind it like uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. The cramps in this type are related to the medical reasons.

The main reason behind menstrual cramps is a substance known as prostaglandin. This substance is known to cause inflammation and pain. One more reason behind this pain is the contraction of uterus at the time of menses.

There are many symptoms that can be associated with menstrual pains. Aside from cramps, some women also feel other symptoms like pain in the lower back that spreads to the thighs, dull and throbbing pain which is the lower portion of the abdomen, lightheadedness, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and abdominal bloating.

Menstrual cramps are something women except and suffer until the time they have menstrual periods i.e. reach the age of menopause. There are some ways by which menstrual cramps can be avoided. For pain free periods devoid of these cramps it recommended to maintain a healthy body and eat a balance diet. Fatty and greasy foods should be avoided. Caffeine, salty and sweet foods, consuming alcohol should be limited. Regular exercise will also help you in prevent the cramps.

Joshua Panebianco is fitness guru who conducts boxing classes Sydney and is also an expert about all exercises done on a exercise ball.

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