This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Gahnique Bell. Find her on Instagram at @s14rbur81_g4l4xy. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Ladies, let’s be real. We all hate that time of the month when our uteruses decide to bleed out. If there was a way for us to stop it instead of waiting till we’re all in our 40s, we would do it. It’s annoying and disgusting at times and has a bunch of side effects no one asks for. It’s a lot at times between the mood swings and headaches. But overall, the shit is painful. While some of us get cramps that only last a few seconds, the rest of us will get excoriating abdomen pain that will take us out for days or even a full week. I’m one of the lucky few that don’t have to go through too much pain when their period comes on, but that doesn’t mean I want to still feel the pain of my uterus screaming at me.
Luckily, women’s medicine and health have come a loonnngg way, and now we have things that help with the pain. We have heating pads now and medicine like Tylenol and Advil that helps with the pain, but there’s something that even I haven’t thought of when I’m going through menstrual pain. And that is herbs! Herbs are a safe and gentle way to relieve pain, and they have been a part of medical treatments for hundreds of years in a variety of cultures. You might even have some of these herbs lying around in your kitchen. If other methods of pain relief haven’t been working out for you, maybe consider trying out some herbs for menstrual cycle pain. There’s plenty to choose from, and I’m going to provide seven of those herbs for you to try out!
1. Ginger
Whenever I got sick as a kid, my mom would always go buy me some ginger ale from the corner store near our house. I never understood how soda would make me feel better, but sure enough, with the help of some Robitussin, I was back on my feet in a day or two. Ginger is a really common way to treat pain and sickness, especially menstrual cramps and pain. It contains beneficial compounds like gingerol, shogaols, and salicylates that help with relieving pain and reducing inflammation within the body. Increasing ginger in your diet can help ease the pain whenever that time of the month rolls in. You can easily do this by adding ginger to stir fry, baked salmon, juice, and even in smoothies. Besides helping with menstrual pain, ginger is also known to help with digestion, stomach problems, and diarrhea.
2. Chamomile
I heard chamomile is used often in teas, but I wasn’t exactly aware it also has health benefits. Chamomile is a daisy-like herb that is native to Europe and Asia and is mainly known for its calming and soothing properties. It’s used in many different products like hair dyes, perfumes, and shampoos, but it is most commonly used in teas (who doesn’t love a good calming tea?). As far as relieving pain, chamomile contains apigenin, which is very high in anti-inflammatory effects to decrease pain and acts as a mild muscle relaxant, which is great for cramps and can alleviate mood swings and anxiety. Besides tea, chamomile is also used in oil that can be used to help massage sore muscles and in warm baths to soothe the body. It is also available in powder, oil, and capsule.
3. Chasteberry
I have never heard of chasteberry before, but apparently, it is a purple flower and fruit that comes from a chaste tree native to the Mediterranean and Asian regions. It contains compounds such as iridoids, flavonoids, predestines, and essential oils that is used to assist with menstrual pain. Although there isn’t enough research to back up its specific effects and benefits of using chasteberry, it is still a herb that is known among people to help with pain and sickness. There are claims that it can even help with breast pain, balancing hormones, and lowering sex drive- hence the name chaste. This neat little herb comes in a variety or forms such has capsules and liquid extracts.
4. Cinnamon
Do you guys remember the cinnamon challenge where people will eat a spoonful of cinnamon? While taking that amount of cinnamon is diabolical and could lead to terrible side effects like chest pain, lung inflammation, vomiting, diarrhea, and organ damage, cinnamon is a great way to relieve aches and discomfort. Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as cinnamaldehyde, which is one of the biggest causes of the health benefits that come with cinnamon. While research on cinnamon is low like chasteberry, there are some speculations that it is beneficial for those who have diabetes and low blood sugar. It works quickly if you’re experiencing any pain and can reduce menstrual bleeding if you have a heavy flow. Cinnamon can be used in a lot of different ways in your diet. I love cinnamon in my French toast and oatmeal, but I know some people who love cinnamon in their tea and smoothies.
5. Yarrow
Yarrow is another one of those herbs that I’m not too familiar with. This herb is native to North America and can come in two colors: white or pink. The flower leaves and stems are the parts that are used to make medicine tablets, tinctures, and liquid extracts. You can also just buy these fresh or dried. Yarrow is used mainly as a muscle relaxant in intensities and is great use for menstrual cramps, spasms, and overall pain. I also find it interesting that it helps with insomnia and anxiety.
6. Sage
Now, sage is something that I started using in my dishes whenever I cook. I recently used it in this chicken stew recipe I found online (10/10 would highly recommend), and it added flavor to my dish. But besides making food taste good, sage is another great plant that is used to help women with their period pain. Like many of the other herbs described, sage increases anti properties and is rich in antioxidants that neutralize the chance of cancer and diabetes. It’s very popular in common medicine and other bodily health like skin, brain, and mouth. It has vitamin k, which helps with blood clots and circulation, and it’s used commonly to treat nausea and digestive symptoms, which is common with pregnant women. There are tons of more benefits so it’s safe to say that sage is high on health benefits!
7. Peppermint
Lastly, we have good old peppermint. Peppermint, as we all know, is common, especially during Christmas time when everyone lines up at Starbucks to get their favorite peppermint mocha drink. I’m not much of a peppermint girl (unless it’s the church candy kind), but it’s clear why peppermint is so popular. The minty herb is used in a variety of ways and is common in medicine, dating back to ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian times. Peppermint treats common coughs and colds and can reduce stress and pain like cramps, headaches, and muscle spasms, which are common during periods. You can get peppermint leaves from local stores, and there are plenty of peppermint teas that can help relieve pain from the comfort of your home.
Do you have a hard time finding a way around period pain? Try using botanical herbs for menstrual cycles to help during your time of the month!
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