A question for ladies...

Peppermint Tea works for me.

Walking helps ( I know, moving around is the last thing you want to do) trust me though, I've had severe, put me in bed for an entire day, kind of cramps most of my life. With in 1 minute of walking they subside and don't come back for awhile. If you can't walk then rasberry or peppermint tea would probably work - a natural food store would know best.

The only pain killers I have found to actually be effective are the Feminax ones. Apart from that warm baths or sitting in the bath with the shower head on my stomach really helps as does hot water bottles.

More exercise always seems to work. Try to maintain a normal routine of cardio 3x's a week and strength training 3x's a week. You can alternate cardio day 1, stength day 2, cardio day 3, strength day 4, etc.... This will help not only your PMS, it will help with weight loss/maintenance, better health, more energy so these cramps are less likey to bother you and will lead you to greater eating habits. Good luck !!

HeaT PacK

I read somewhere that chamomile tea was good for easing cramps. Not sure if this is actually true, but I drink lots of it on my period now, and it seems to make me a feel a little bit better. Also, acupressure points are very helpful in relieving cramps. They hurt a lot when they're being pressed, but in the long run, it helps a lot. I've always had in-bed-all-day excruciating cramps, and I've found that eating well, drinking tons of water, chamomile tea, mild exercise, and acupressure helps immensely. Hope you feel better ASAP!

P.S. My upstairs neighbor is a Chinese medicine student and aspiring acupuncturist, and she swears by Chinese herbs for cramps. I bought a bottle of Free and Easy Wanderer (cheesy name, I know) by Plum Flower brand from another acupuncturist (before I met my neighbor!) and showed them to her (neighbor). She said it's an excellent brand and an excellent herbal supplement for just about every ailment, especially menstrual ones. So if you're looking for a non-pain pill alternative, maybe you should try that! I haven't taken it for very long yet, so I don't know how well it works, but I've heard great things!

Avoid a high sodium diet...salty foods, sugar & caffeine enhance the cramps, OUCH! Genetically, I get terrible cramping and can't do much physically for a few days. Stay off your feet, prop up your legs w/pillows under your knees. A fresh batch of homemade chicken noodle soup I like cinnamon or blueberry tea...it's soothing for me. A heating pad can help but a few months ago I had the worst pain ever...I had to fill a warm tub w/water and found relief that way...the following month I stayed away from my popcorn...since then, I've cut out ice cream & cereal...I'm sticking with the program because I don't ever want to have to go through that again...it was worse than labor(so it seemed)

I recently bought geranium rose oil to put a few drops on my dog's collar to keep ticks away...low and behold, the scent(rosy) helps the hormonal moods & is soothing...the small jar is kept in my kitchen cupboard and I smell it often...perhaps this is the reason for the success these past two months...I've had no symptoms of pms and my periods have been easier.

Keep yourself hydrated and exercise before your period...I wouldn't recommend strenuous exercise during...not for my side of the family You're going in the right direction by getting your weight at a normal/healthy range. This will help you so much!!!

I would google and search out tonic water before taking that...quinine is dangerous.

My girlfriend swears by the calcium suppliment daily and camomile tea. Never did much for me though. I get the cramps in the back and the Thermacare patches work for that. Lots of water and low salt and low carb for the week, and long walks. When they get real bad I find that "relaxing into them" works well....difficult to accomplish sometimes.

Do sit ups!!! It gets more blood flow down there and helps...