1. Warm the Abdomen
Warming the abdomen, as well as warming the body, is the most effective way to soothe the pain caused by menstrual cycles. There are various ways to warm up, such as taking a hot bath, using a heating pad, or applying heat patches. Warmth will make the uterus contract more easily, relax muscles, and facilitate the shedding of the uterine lining, making it easier to endure the pain.
The method of applying warmth to the abdomen is the simplest, just boil a hot water bag and apply it to the lower abdomen until the bag cools down, then reheat the bag until the pain subsides. If you don't have a hot water bag, you can use a glass bottle wrapped in a towel and apply it to the abdominal area.
Doctors point out that this pain relief method is as effective as some painkillers.


2. Consume Plenty of Green Vegetables
Vitamins in green vegetables are effective in reducing pain. During menstruation, supplementing essential nutrients such as zinc, calcium, and vitamin B is crucial.
These are essential vitamins that can reduce pain and bloating. Green vegetables like collard greens, parsley, and spinach are rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin B, as well as other minerals, helping blood circulation during the 'red days' easier. Therefore, the symptoms of abdominal pain during menstruation will be significantly reduced.


3. Apply Fresh Ginger
Some natural pain relief methods have proven to be highly effective in alleviating menstrual cramps and symptoms of menstrual disorders. One simple natural ingredient that can be used to relieve menstrual pain is ginger. Fresh ginger has warming properties that promote blood circulation and enhance blood flow. Therefore, it helps facilitate blood circulation in the uterus, reduce uterine contractions, and effectively prevent menstrual cramps.
Fresh ginger, when crushed or thinly sliced and applied to the lower abdomen for about 5 - 7 minutes, can help women alleviate menstrual pain during the 'red days'.
Using fresh ginger to treat menstrual pain is an effective method trusted and used by many women. In addition to applying ginger topically, women can also drink ginger juice, chew ginger, or bathe with ginger.


4. Engage in Physical Exercise
Gentle exercises such as walking or practicing yoga can help increase blood flow and alleviate abdominal pain. Instead of sitting still and complaining during your 'red days', get up and move with gentle exercises that not only make you healthier but also effectively reduce pain. Relaxed muscles release endorphins - a type of hormone known for its excellent pain-relieving properties.
However, be cautious and stick to gentle exercises; vigorous activities may increase bleeding and exacerbate the pain.


5. Gentle Massage
One effective method for alleviating menstrual pain is massage. Gently massage the lower abdomen to relax the body and promote better blood flow. Simply place your hand on the lower abdomen and massage in circular motions.
It's recommended to massage the lower abdomen gently and regularly during menstruation to prevent strong muscle contractions and reduce pain effectively.
This massage technique can also help alleviate other types of abdominal pain. When experiencing pain, gently massage the affected area in circular motions to relieve discomfort!


6. Use Pain Relief Medication
Over-the-counter pain relief medications can help alleviate menstrual pain almost immediately. These medications have been tested and proven to effectively reduce menstrual cramps, especially those containing paracetamol combined with caffeine, which can be highly beneficial.
However, using pain relief medication excessively and frequently may not be good for the body. You should only use pain relief medication if the pain is prolonged and severe.


7. Consume Chicken Eggs and Mugwort Leaves
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of the benefits of mugwort leaves is treating irregular menstruation, heavy menstrual flow, and menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). During 'red light' days, you can eat mugwort leaves cooked with chicken eggs, and the abdominal pain will be reduced, or even eliminated.
Another method for those with irregular menstruation is: Every month, on the day when menstruation begins and during the menstruation days, take 10g of dried mugwort leaves, add 200ml of water, boil it down to 100ml, add a little sugar, then drink it twice a day. After 1 - 2 days, you will see remarkable results, feeling less tired, with less and lighter menstrual bleeding.


8. Take Warm Baths During Menstruation
As mentioned earlier, heat helps soothe menstrual cramps. Additionally, taking a warm bath also relaxes the body both physically and mentally. Fill the bathtub with hot water, add some salt, 2-3 teaspoons of crushed ginger, play your favorite music, and prepare a cup of tea. The rest is just to enjoy!
To enhance the pain-relieving effect, you can add some essential oils like lavender, chamomile, etc. into the bath.


9. Alleviating Menstrual Pain with Honey
During menstruation, honey is effective in quickly reducing pain and detoxifying the body, as well as regulating blood circulation due to its abundant magnesium content.
According to experts, honey has a warming effect, making it very beneficial for women during menstruation, delayed menstruation, menstrual disorders, or irregular menstruation.
Honey not only helps alleviate pain quickly but also regulates blood circulation. To reduce menstrual cramps during the red light period, women can apply the following methods:
- Method 1: Mix 3 tablespoons of honey with 1 glass of warm water and drink it every morning.
- Method 2: Mix honey with warm water and add a little lemon juice or ginger water to drink every morning or after meals.
- Method 3: Mix honey with warm milk and drink it every morning, or you can drink it at any time of the day. Maintain it throughout the menstrual cycle for effectiveness.


10. Using Warm Turmeric Milk
Using warm turmeric milk right at the onset of menstruation can alleviate clotted menstrual blood, reduce flow, and relieve cramps. Additionally, the active compound Curcumin in turmeric helps regulate uterine activity, suppress inflammation, and reduce nervous tension.
When consuming turmeric milk, it's best to drink it while still warm to enhance its pain-relieving effects and provide a comfortable, soothing sensation.


11. Treating menstrual pain with acupuncture
Acupressure for reducing menstrual pain is an easily applicable traditional Chinese medicine method. Women should explore three crucial acupressure points: Tam Tam Giao, Huyet Hai, and Thai Sung.
These points play a significant role in alleviating menstrual cramps. Therefore, individuals can utilize acupressure techniques to alleviate pain. When performing, it's advisable to apply gentle pressure and may combine with gentle massage.


12. Avoiding certain foods for a specific period of time
While some foods may make you feel better and alleviate menstrual pain, others have the opposite effect. For example, caffeine. For those accustomed to a morning cup of coffee, giving up caffeine can feel like a disaster. However, caffeine truly exacerbates premenstrual syndrome symptoms, including bloating, mood swings, cramps, and tension. It makes you feel more anxious and can even make your menstrual cycle irregular.
Additionally, it's better to avoid foods and drinks that cause bloating and water retention, such as salty foods, fatty foods, alcoholic beverages, chocolate, and all carbonated drinks.


13. Take time to rest and get enough sleep
During menstruation, reduce your workload and take time to rest. Overworking and stress can make your body tired and worsen menstrual cramps. Moreover, during 'red light' days, try to sleep before 11:00 PM and ensure at least 7 hours of sleep. Sufficient sleep helps regulate uterine contractions, restore the body, and significantly reduce pain.
Meanwhile, in women with a habit of staying up late and not getting enough sleep, the uterus tends to contract intensely, increasing pain levels and leaving the body lethargic and lacking energy the next day.


14. Drinking warm ginger tea helps reduce menstrual cramps
Drinking warm ginger tea is a common method to reduce menstrual cramps. The abundant Cineole compound in this herbal tea has many health benefits. It can inhibit pain transmission, relax the central nervous system, and help improve sleep quality.
Moreover, ginger contains high levels of Zingerone and Gingerol compounds. These components can inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are known to cause inflammation in the uterine lining. Thus, it can help alleviate menstrual cramps, lower back pain, and fatigue.
In addition, ginger contains essential oils with a distinctive aroma and various antioxidant compounds. Besides its pain-relieving effects, drinking warm ginger tea also helps improve some accompanying symptoms during menstruation such as nausea, loss of appetite, and discomfort.


