It is estimated that between 30 and 50% women experience period pain that is bad enough to disrupt their life. It is a lot. Painful periods are common, and often unexplained. There are many conditions which can trigger pain during a bleed, such as endometriosis or fibroids, but the subject of this article is unexplained period pain. And the good news is that there are ways to manage the pain and maybe even eradicate the pain totally. Periods do not have to be painful.

Having a period is a good way to cleanse our body, flush out toxins and start a new month afresh. I can certainly appreciate that many of you do not like this time of the month, and I fully sympathise with you. But in this article I want to share with you some tips and homeopathic remedies that can help manage the pain. I also share my story, which will hopefully inspire some of you.

Symptoms of painful periods

Period pains are most often cramping pains in the lower abdomen during the bleed. But the symptoms vary greatly from woman to woman. Sometimes the pain starts before the flow; most of us will suffer during the flow; and a few women have more pain towards the end of the bleed. In addition, the pain can be felt in the back, in the vulva or in the thighs. Some of us also experience a change in body temperature, or perhaps nausea and vomiting. Emotions can be impacted too: some will become tearful whilst others may become irritable or depressed during their menses.

Why are periods painful?

This is an extract from the NHS website:

“Period pain happens when the muscular wall of the womb tightens (contracts). Mild contractions continually occur in your womb, but they’re usually so mild that most women cannot feel them.

During your period, the wall of the womb starts to contract more vigorously to help the womb lining shed as part of your period.

When the wall of the womb contracts, it compresses the blood vessels lining your womb. This temporarily cuts off the blood supply – and oxygen supply – to your womb. Without oxygen, the tissues in your womb release chemicals that trigger pain.

While your body is releasing these pain-triggering chemicals, it’s also producing other chemicals called prostaglandins. These encourage the womb muscles to contract more, further increasing the level of pain.”

In my experience, period pain is often the result of stress, anxiety and work overload. Perimenopause is also a common cause.

Some practical tips to help alleviate the pain

Period pain can be debilitating at its worse and so taking steps towards managing the pain between bleeds is a good idea.

1. Deep breathing

What has been helping me the most is breathing exercises. Taking a long breath through the nose, into the abdomen is incredibly powerful. If you can, take a few moments each day to just breathe. Take a long breath, hold for a few seconds, and then exhale slowly. Repeat several times. This can be done during meditation, yoga, or done on its own.

2. Calming down the mind

Calming down the mind is also a powerful tool to manage period pain. Breathing, meditation, yoga, tai chi or any gentle exercise help with managing stress or other emotions. Doing it daily or several times a week, rather than just during your period, will help in the long run.

3. Nutrition

Throughout the month your hormones will fluctuate, and this is more noticeable in the second phase of the cycle. Progesterone levels increase steadily and then drop a few days before the flow starts. This means that the liver has to work harder to clean the blood from these hormones. And you are more likely to suffer from period pain or abdominal discomfort before and during your period if your liver is overburdened.

Eating green vegetables, particularly a few days before the flow starts, and avoiding alcohol, sugar and heavy meals will help support your liver. If you tend to have pimples or spots around your period, this is a sign that your liver needs rebalancing.

4. Magnesium

Magnesium taken as a supplement or via a foot bath will also help to alleviate cramps.

5. Take time for yourself

When your body hurts, it is a sign that it needs to be looked after. It is important to acknowledge it and maybe change your priorities when you have your period. It is hard when we have a job, children to look after, and various responsibilities. But if you can, take some time to yourself and rest or do some exercise, or whatever your body is calling for. Sometimes, just acknowledging your body needs taken care of can help.

6. Massage your belly

Massaging your belly on a regular basis will support your digestion as well as helping with period pain. Using essential oils, such as lavender oil or this Women’s balance oil, will provide further relaxation. Start by massaging your abdomen in a clockwise direction starting from your liver, repeat several times. You can continue by going a bit deeper and massaging your belly as if kneading dough, still in a clockwise direction. Finally, rest your hands on your tummy whilst breathing deeply for a minute or two.

A note on conventional treatments

Several conventional treatments exist for managing period pain. Whilst they can be useful if you are in pain and have a commitment you cannot postpone, the drugs only suppress the issue instead of addressing the cause. They have a major impact on the liver, and can have further side effects. Some treatments, such as the birth control pill, have a detrimental impact on the endocrine system, therefore disrupting hormones. Limiting the use of conventional drugs and looking for alternative natural approaches have a more durable effect whilst supporting you in a holistic way.

Homeopathic remedies for painful periods

Homeopathy offers many remedies to alleviate, or eradicate, period pain. The remedy selected for you will depend on your own symptoms. Here are three examples of homeopathic remedies that can be taken during the acute phase of the pain.

– Mag Phos

This is probably the most commonly used remedy for period pain. It is useful if you suffer from severe cramping pain which is better for rubbing the abdomen and warmth. The pain is worse in the cold and exertion can bring on cramps. Feeling better for hard pressure or doubling up is another indication for this remedy, so if you are one of those who like to curl up in bed with a hot water bottle, Mag Phos may well help you. Drop a couple of pills in a mug of warm water and sip it throughout the day.

– Belladonna

The main indications for choosing this remedy are: sharp or throbbing pain, profuse bright red blood, a great sensitivity to pain. If you also feel worse for lying down, but better for standing or sitting down upright, then Belladonna is likely to help you.

– Chamomilla

This remedy is well known for teething pains but is also very useful to manage period cramps. The pain feels like labour pain and may extend down the inner thighs. You will feel very angry whilst in pain, perhaps capricious, not knowing what you want. The pain is better for a cold application and vigorous walking. If the pain was triggered by anger or emotion and your symptoms match these described here, then look no further.

I suggest taking theses remedies in a 30C or 200C potency. If you are unsure of how to take remedies, then click here for some advice.

What about long-term pain management?

Managing the pain when it comes is certainly a relief. But if you endure painful periods on a regular basis, then a long-term treatment may be appropriate. There are many remedies such as Pulsatilla, Sepia, Cimicifuga or Nux Vomica which can be introduced in your treatment.

As homeopaths, one of the things we look for is addressing root cause of the issue. If we can do that, then we can help your emotional symptoms, hormonal imbalance as well as your monthly pain.

My story in short

Painful periods have been with me ever since puberty. My first period was very painful, although thankfully the pain became more manageable for the following few years. After seeing a French homeopath as a teenager, my periods actually became very easy for a couple of years or so.

I then moved to the UK and the pain returned progressively, to the point of being intolerable. Some months I had to take time off work because the pain was so bad. I had terrible cramping pains, on a few occasions the spasms would make me be sick. The flow was quite heavy and lasted 7 to 8 days, the pain lasted a good 5 days.

Eventually though, I turned back to homeopathy and I am glad to say that my periods became easier, lighter and shorter over the years. I may occasionally suffer from a few cramps, but they are very mild and of short duration. So if you have painful periods, be hopeful!

If you would like to find out more about a homeopathic treatment, book your free 30-minute chat here.

With best wishes for a happy life,

Priscille Francetti LCCH MARH

Homeopath

Children have had a challenging time over the last couple of years, and so promoting your child’s wellbeing is essential.

Generally speaking, life as a child, although more comfortable, is a lot harder now than a few decades ago. Because life outside home is less safe, we have to live with more boundaries and rules. Who would let their 4 or 5 year old go out to play in the street without adult supervision these days?

It is also apparent that peer pressure is becoming stronger and at a younger age.

All this, sadly, affects our children’s wellbeing. This article is about promoting it as well as giving ideas to support your child grow up, help them become resilient young adults and comfort them during a crisis.

Ways to promote resilience and self-confidence

1. Getting to know oneself

For children to become more resilient, they need to get to know themselves. Once they know what they are like, what they enjoy and what they don’t enjoy so much, then it is easier for them to stay true to themselves.

There are several things they can do to get to know themselves:

• Write down their favourite thing and least favourite thing, and why.
• Think about their emotions and what might have been the trigger. What has brought on anxiety or joy?
• What are their strengths and recent successes?
• On the other hand, where do they need to improve? Is there an experience they can learn from?
• What are the things they would like to do in an ideal world?

Being self-aware helps to make better decision, whether about friendships, joining in games, choosing an activity or after school club, etc. In turns, it boosts self-confidence.

2. Being creative

Encourage your child to express themselves by doing something creative. This can be drawing, painting, cooking, gardening, playing sports, singing or playing an instrument, etc.

There are many ways children can express themselves, perhaps some will need to try various things before finding their preferred activity. All is good to build confidence, get to know themselves and express themselves.

3. Journaling

Writing up a journal is a way for any of us to express ourselves, offload our negative experiences, write our hopes and desires.

When growing up, I was quite secretive and loved having a secret diary which I could talk to. Journaling can be done on their own, or with an adult if the child feels like it. It also has the benefit of practicing hand-writing and doodling.

The best is to keep a journal nearby, perhaps on a bedside table, and go at it as and when. Getting into a routine of writing a little bit each day around the same time can have further benefits as it helps them feel safe.

4. Helping others

Helping others can help towards our wellbeing too. It gives us a sense of purpose, which in turns promotes self-confidence and motivation. It helps to create positive emotions which are good for our health and of course wellbeing.

Helping others can be simply at home, helping a sibling or a parent with tasks in the house. It can be with friends and neighbours. It can also be through volunteering for a charity or a local event. Here are two charities which are worth looking into if volunteering appeals to you: Kids Against Plastic and Young People – #iwill

Managing a crisis

Despite our best efforts as parents or carers, occasional crises or difficult times are unavoidable; they are part of life. Managing them and finding ways that work for each of us help us grow too. Here are a few practical tips for managing a crisis:

1. Take a deep breath

Being aware of our own breathing is incredibly helpful in managing anxiety or a panic attack. One way is to take a long deep breath and counting to 4 on the inhale, hold 2 seconds if possible and exhale whilst counting to 4. Repeat a few times.

Another more playful way is to breathe through the nose and exhale through a straw. Repeat for a few minutes.

2. Focus on something

Looking at things around us and focusing on one of them can also be useful. Choose an object and think about what it looks, its colour and its shape. You might even want to hold the object and see how it feels.

3. Give a big hug

A hug can help release a hormone called oxytocin which helps to manage anxiety and fear. If your child is willing, give them a big hug and ask them to count to 20 (or longer).

4. The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise

This lovely exercise promotes grounding and soothes anxiety.
Name: 5 things you can see. 4 things you can touch. 3 things you can hear. 2 things you can smell. 1 thing you can taste.

These tips are courtesy of @thecontentedchild

A few more tips

Here are a few more tips to support your child’s wellbeing:

• Make sure your child stays hydrated as dehydration can increase the level of a stress hormone called cortisol. Drinking in sips throughout the day is better than a whole glass at once, but do what you can.
• A good sleep routine is important: it provides better rest and also security for the child. You can get further advice on how to help children sleep here.
• Spend time as a family. For example, eat a meal together at the dinner table or do some activities together at the weekend.
• Focus on gratitude daily. When going to bed, get your child to name three things they have enjoyed doing or are grateful for that day. And tell them what three things you are grateful for.
• Manage screen time/apps etc, particularly at the end of the day. This article is explains the negative effects of technology on children. In addition, the blue light emitted by devices can affect the production of melatonin (the sleep hormone) and therefore the ability to fall asleep.
• Manage your own stress levels. Children can be incredibly sensitive and pick up our emotions even if we don’t express them verbally. Being positive will contribute to your child’s wellbeing.

If despite your efforts your child is still struggling to stay positive emotionally or is having repetitive crises, then homeopathy may be what they need. Homeopathy is a gentle medicine that supports each individual and can help to overcome difficulties or past traumas. It can also help to manage symptoms such as panic attacks, disinterest in life or violence. Get in touch if you think your child needs help.

With best wishes for a happy life,

Priscille Francetti LCCH MARH

Homeopath