Understanding Menstrual Pain and Its Remedies
Menstrual pain, or dysmenorrhea, affects many women, manifesting not only as cramps but also as symptoms like lower back pain, breast tenderness, and cold limbs. While these discomforts can be distressful, there are various natural remedies suggested by gynecological experts that can alleviate these symptoms.
Identifying Symptoms and Type of Pain
Before diving into treatment options, it's important to recognize various symptoms associated with menstrual pain. In addition to cramping, some women may experience breast swelling, dull skin tone, dry skin, and irregular bowel movements. These symptoms could indicate a condition known as qi stagnation and blood stasis.
Natural Remedies for Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis
To relieve this type of pain, consuming a remedy based on pomelo and dried tangerine peel can be effective. The preparation involves:
- Removing the flesh and peel from one pomelo and chopping it finely.
- Combining this with 60 grams of dried tangerine peel in a jar.
- Adding an appropriate amount of white liquor and allowing it to steep for 6 hours.
- After soaking, mix in one kilogram of honey and consume 2 tablespoons twice daily, or dilute it with water.
Addressing Back Pain During Menstruation
For women who frequently experience lower back pain during their menstrual cycle, it may be linked to deficiencies in liver and kidney energy, along with weak blood and qi. A nourishing remedy is the black bean rice wine egg soup, prepared by:
- Cooking 60 grams of black beans and two eggs together.
- Removing the eggshell, ensuring the beans are soft, and adding 120 milliliters of rice wine before consuming the soup.
Managing Abdominal Pain with Heat Sensation
Women who experience lower abdominal pain with a burning sensation, especially those with dark red menstrual blood or yellowish discharge, may be facing damp-heat accumulation. Recommended herbal teas include:
- Money Grass Tea: Combine 20 grams of money grass and 12 grams of coreopsis. Boil with water, sweeten with honey, and enjoy as tea.
- Hawthorn Tea: Mix 20 grams of hawthorn with 10 grams of hawthorn seeds and 15 grams of honeysuckles. Boil with water, add brown sugar, and consume in portions.
Cold Sensitivity and Menstrual Pain
For women prone to cold limbs, a lower menstrual flow, and who find relief through hot compresses during dysmenorrhea, their condition may be classified as cold accumulation and blood stasis. To address this, it is beneficial to consume dishes like star anise and black pepper beef stew or a warming angelica and lamb soup in winter.
Addressing Fatigue and Dull Menstrual Pain
If menstrual pain feels heavy and persistent and is accompanied by fatigue or light headaches, it could be a sign of qi and blood deficiency. Remedies such as angelica sugar and black bean jujube soup can help alleviate these symptoms. Here is how to prepare them:
- For angelica sugar, simmer 100 grams of angelica root and mix it with 500 grams of rock sugar.
- For black bean and jujube soup, combine 100 grams of black beans, 50 grams of jujubes, and water to create a porridge, then add 20 grams of brown sugar. This should be consumed daily, starting three days before menstruation, for a total of ten servings.
Conclusion
Understanding the various types of menstrual pain allows for tailored solutions to alleviate symptoms effectively. By incorporating these natural remedies into your routine, women can find relief and improve their overall well-being during their menstrual cycles.