There are so many things to love about being a woman, but I think we all can agree period cramps are not one.
Once a month, mother nature pays us a visit to remind us who's boss while silently beating our uteruses into submission. You've probably heard stories of women whose cramps are so painful that they it inhibit their everyday lives during that time of the month. Some women have to miss out on work and life's precious moments for the simple fact that their period keeps them bed-bound. Every woman doesn't experience period cramps the same but we can agree period cramps can be a bit aggravating.
One thing that may slip our minds about our period, is that the cramps we feel a due to a muscle (in our uterus) contracting in order to shed and keep the blood flowing. Like other muscle cramps, there are some great ways that you can beat your period cramps without turning to painkillers every few hours. Of course, period cramping is a spectrum, ranging from intermediate pain to severe. Those who fall at the latter end of the spectrum may indeed need to seek a professional, however, starting with some at-home remedies never hurt a soul.
Here are 6 for you to try:
Heating Pad
This is the age-old and most common answer to period cramps and that's because it works. The heat from the pad does wonders for soothing the pain associated with your period. If you've been sleeping on this you need to get with the program. Of course, this isn't a viable option for on the go.
Warm Bath
This is another one of the not-so-secret age-old remedies that work especially when you're home. Not only will a warm bath be what the doctor ordered for your cramps, but it also gives you an excuse for some much needed self-care.
CBD Muscle Cream
You may have been hearing about the hype surrounding the wonderful healing powers of CBD, but guess what? It's not hype and what you've heard is true. Many people use creams or balms with CBD for muscle soreness (specifically post-workout) but it is also great for period cramps. CBD can be applied topically to soothe cramps but it can be also used in other forms throughout your cycle (i.e. sublingually, through CBD infused snacks, Vaped). In addition to being the ultimate cure for period cramps, CBD is also a great way to deal with other PMS symptoms that some women may experience during that time of the month, such as anxiety and depression.
Pineapple Juice
This tasty fruit juice is more than the perfect mixer for your favorite cocktail. Pineapple juice contains an enzyme, brolemine, that is a natural muscle relaxer. Many people run to pineapple juice to induce their period because it helps the uterine lining shed but it also calms cramps.
Orgasm
If sex is your favorite form of exercise (or your only), you're in luck. A little (or a lot) of penetration has been proven to lessen period cramps so you may need to pencil in a D appointment or two with your partner during that time of the month. When you have sex, your body releases endorphins such as oxytocin and dopamine that act as natural pain relievers. If period sex isn't your cup of tea, you may want to reconsider.
Exercise
Same concept as sex--when you exercise, your body produces those natural mood lifting endorphins that also make coping with period pain 10 times easier. Even if you aren't usually in the gym, hitting the treadmill or taking a light jog outside is a holsitic way to minimize the cramps you experience.
Period cramps might seem like a pain - literally and figuratively - but they're not impossible to beat. What are some of your favorite ways to alleviate your period cramps?
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To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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