Home remedies for cramps?

C
R
E
A
T
E

A
D

Subeta Forums > Chit-Chat > Issues & Advice

#1 :: July 10th, 2011 @ 12:24 PM

Gossiper

1,225 Posts
173 Achievements

YAY GIRLY ISSUES THREAD~
/sarcasm

Anyways...I need some advice on home remedies for bad to severe cramps. I cannot take midol/pamprin/whatever at the moment because I'm on medication for a concussion. Mother Nature had crapty timing and had to arrive after I got a concussion. Lovely, isn't it?

So, rather than have my meds counteract each other and get no help for the pain, I need your help with some home remedies. Help? c:

#2 :: July 10th, 2011 @ 12:27 PM

Is Lonely

9,192 Posts
975 Achievements

@Aishwarya
I usually sit in the tub when its full of hot water. Or at least as hot as you can stand. take a wash cloth and drape it over your stomach. Then when it starts to cool off, dip it back in the water and repeat. Also, if you have a dog/cat see if you can get them to curl up at your stomach. My dogs do and their body heat helps a little.

Exclusively Exclusive
Tumblr | Lotto | Chat

#3 :: July 10th, 2011 @ 12:32 PM

Gets Around

4,287 Posts
413 Achievements

You know what a rice sock is, right? Basically a long sock filled with rice and sewn off on the end. Well, if you pop one of those into the microwave for a minute or two and lay it where your cramps are (Be sure to wrap it in a towel or something!) it should help. Also a hot bath can help.

BUYING: MKB's
DeviantArt ♥ Art thread ♥ Art tumblr
Dance with Liore

#4 :: July 10th, 2011 @ 12:42 PM

Gossiper

1,225 Posts
173 Achievements

@
A bath sounds like an awesome idea at the moment, now that I have the house to myself for a little while. Thanks! c:

@Pawky
I actually have a rice sock and am using it at the moment, but it's not doing a darn thing for the cramps.

#5 :: July 10th, 2011 @ 12:50 PM

Tongue Wagger

2,168 Posts
625 Achievements

@Aishwarya
From what I've heard hot tea can help as well, helps relax the muscles. Mint is also supposed to help.
Here are some other things that could help.
art by

#6 :: July 10th, 2011 @ 5:36 PM

is a Skilled Hooker

186 Posts
397 Achievements

@Aishwarya

I was about to ask you why you weren't using your trusty rice sock! xD I don't know what else to suggest myself. I absolutely hate taking painkillers to sort it out and so I usually just duke it out or use a rice sock myself. =S

.:~* DeviantArt | Tumblr *~:.

#7 :: July 11th, 2011 @ 10:37 AM

is a Time Lord

3,014 Posts
805 Achievements

@Aishwarya
Weak tea is supposed to help. Exercise is supposed to help lessen the severity of craps as well. I do yoga, personally. Other than that, a heat pad is all that comes to mind. Heat's never done much to make my cramps bearable, but it seems to work for others, so you might have better luck.

Edit:

Aha, I didn't see your post about the rice sock not helping much, sorry!

And it might not be of any help right this second, but my fiance's aunt suggested that I make sure to stay away from processed foods starting a week or two before that lovely time of month, and eat red meat and LOTS of leafy greens, as well as take a fish oil supplement since it's pretty hellish for me. It helped with things a lot.

Last Edit by: MYTHOS 7/11/11 - 10:40:14 am

dA gallery

#8 :: July 11th, 2011 @ 1:03 PM

Gossiper

1,225 Posts
173 Achievements

@
I'm not supposed to be doing any sort of exercising, due to my concussion. xD Otherwise I most definitely would be doing some form of exercse right now. I've been drinking tea religiously, so it's been helping a little.

#9 :: July 11th, 2011 @ 1:20 PM

Gets Around

5,171 Posts
558 Achievements

------

@Aishwarya
Bananas (: potassium does amazing things.

CLASSY
yes

my photography tumblr

#10 :: July 11th, 2011 @ 7:00 PM

is a Time Lord

621 Posts
345 Achievements

Like Entertain said, potassium is a huge help for cramping. Bananas are very high in potassium.

Also, small exercises can help. Since you have a concussion, lay yourself down with your knees propped up so your back is flat and cushion your head with something, and then lift your legs/hips up and then lower them down, repeat, so your doing a half crunch for your abdomen which will also help the cramping.

@Aishwarya

#11 :: July 13th, 2011 @ 4:56 AM

is a Mirage

724 Posts
412 Achievements

@Aishwarya not exactly a home remedy, but it works WONDERS. I have horrible cramps and it helps so much to have heat patches both around my stomach area and on my lower back. It's so amazing I can't go a month without heat patches.

As for other stuff...placing a pillow under yourself to put pressure on your lower belly helps...

and chamomile tea sometimes helps, if you don't have nausea.

Also, sometimes it helps to be distracted by something. I tend to watch animated movies a lot during this time

Or sleep. Sleep always helps!

Check out my personal beauty blog here

#12 :: July 14th, 2011 @ 3:01 PM

Newbie

14 Posts
84 Achievements

Applying heat and pressure to the area helps with cramps. Any form of exercise helps as well

#13 :: July 15th, 2011 @ 1:49 AM

Donated to the Cash Shop

795 Posts
223 Achievements

I have an electric heating pad that is my best friend around that time. I just lay in bed, wrap it around my lower belly with it turned up to the medium setting, curl up into a ball, and hug my Pillow Pet. xD The heat and pressure thing does it. And I'll end up falling asleep and waking up with no cramps usually.

Pokemon art by Kuron

#14 :: July 15th, 2011 @ 11:07 AM

Only has Room for One

66 Posts
174 Achievements

@Aishwarya

I was diagnosed with endometriosis after years of the worst cramps you can imagine, so I'll offer all of my non-pharmaceutical remedies for cramps.

Given your situation, it makes sense that you shouldn't be exercising. But, just sitting down and stretching will help immensely!
This link has some yoga/stretching poses that help relieve cramps. http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yoga-and-health/yoga-for-dysmenorrhea-and-pms.asp They are all very basic stretching poses, and I've been able to do them even when I was personally banned from physical exercise.

Heat! Especially a hot bath. As hot as you can take it, fill the tub up to your bellybutton and soak.

I'm a tea-a-holic. Cut down on caffeine (caffeine can make the cramps much worse) and try to switch to green or herbal teas. Raspberry, Ginger, and "cramp bark" are amazing and available at most grocery stores.

Fresh pineapple! It contains an enzyme that helps the muscles relax and thus ease cramping.

Avoid standing. Fetal position, or anything close to it, is best for relieving pain from cramps. So if you can, pull your knees up in your chair/couch and enjoy a movie for some distraction?

#15 :: July 27th, 2011 @ 2:00 PM

Posting Machine v2

148 Posts
363 Achievements

Heating pads feel wonderful with an Advil!

#16 :: July 27th, 2011 @ 4:30 PM

Newbie

6 Posts
36 Achievements

Heat. Heat is the best thing for it. If you have a hot water bottle or a heat pad that's great. Personally, I'm going to second the bath ideas because moist heat works the best for me. Although, I don't actually take baths when I'm having bad cramps. I take showers and--I have a shower-tub setup--I lay down in the shower and let the stream hit my gut. Something about the additional pressure, I think, helps me more than a bath does.

#17 :: July 28th, 2011 @ 5:13 PM

The Gourmand

2,403 Posts
806 Achievements

@Aishwarya
Heating pads, hot baths, really anything with heat helps. Though with my cramps, they were so severe that nothing would help, not even heat.

#18 :: July 31st, 2011 @ 2:50 AM

is a Mirage

1,551 Posts
266 Achievements

"If you're not committing sin...

This is probably going to sound really odd, but, well, it's worth a try, right?
I get pretty bad cramps as well and heat doesn't do anything for me.
However, my mother has one of those small handheld massage devices. They look like this.
If I turn it on and press it into my belly, it helps a lot. Like I said, odd.

Anyway, I wish you best of luck! C':

you're not having fun."

._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.

My DevArt PING ME to get my attention.

#19 :: July 31st, 2011 @ 10:12 AM

Is Lonely

118 Posts
252 Achievements

Lavender works very well for pain, but I've never tried it for cramps. I found out accidentally that applying a sprig of fresh lavender to wherever the pain is pretty much vanished it. Though this was for my headaches and cuts and bruises and things...and fresh lavender is hard to come by. But maybe a soak in lavender bath salts or something would help. The scent is very therapeutic.

Last Edit by: PolychromeKitty 7/31/11 - 10:13:55 am