Beyond Menopause
Is period pain normal?
Let's stop normalizing pain. While period cramps are common, it is not something that should be accepted. Our periods are not a
time to suffer. We'll dive into the causes of period pain and cramping here and explore solutions to this issue.
time to suffer. We'll dive into the causes of period pain and cramping here and explore solutions to this issue.
Shifting Cycles
Menopause is not the end of a cycle but a profound change in how we relate to our bodies. Through practices that promote care and balance, we seek to give dignity to this phase while recognizing that it doesn’t need to be a time to suffer.
All Bodies Experience Menopause Differently
As time passes, there comes a point when levels of estrogen and progesterone change and drop until the body no longer needs to menstruate, shifting from perimenopause to menopause. Menopause officially occurs when your ovaries have stopped producing the hormones responsible for your menstrual cycle.
Menopause
is characterized by the depletion of ovarian follicles and cells critical in reducing the function of the ovaries. This results in lowered levels of reproductive hormones found in the body – particularly estrogen, testosterone, and sometimes androsterone. When these hormones are unbalanced and scarce, one’s body reacts by showing the following symptoms:
Who’s it for?
Menopause may occur anywhere between the ages of 40 to 58 either naturally, through surgery, or triggered by forms of chemotherapy. Regardless of when or how this happens, it can be a whirlwind of mixed emotional and physical symptoms.
Ways that Herbs can
Impact Cramps
While many folks reach right for the OTC medications to help soothe cramps and period pain, there are herbs that are also up to the task. Herbs and botanicals can be consumed and applied in various ways; a warming cup of tea, a topical salve, or concentrated extracts and tinctures that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine or when you need them most. Here are a few ways that herbs support cramp relief:
Passionflower has anti-spasmodic properties to help in relaxing muscles and easing uterine spasms.
Mugwort promotes menstruation which eases cramping in the womb.
Black Cohosh Root is commonly considered a "women's herb" in traditional medicine, black cohosh root is one of the top specific remedies for painful menstruation with antispasmodic properties.
Ginger Root helps relieve tension in the muscles and encourages healthy, balanced menstruation.
Lemon Verbenais traditionally used to treat abdominal pains and cramping.
Motherwort balances and tones hormones to promote regular and less painful menses
Studies indicate that CBD inhibits the production of prostaglandins which are associated with period cramps.