Menstrual pain

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The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs: A Guide to Understanding and Using Herbal Medicinals Leslie Taylor, ND See book keywords and concepts

As a menstrual aid (to reduce menstrual pain, cramping, and excessive bleeding) 1 cup of a whole herb or root decoction or 1-2 g in tablets or capsules can be taken two to three times daily as needed. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated the hypotensive properties of erva tostao. Those with heart problems such as low blood pressure, or those taking medications to lower their blood pressure, should not use this plant without the advice and supervision of a qualified health care practitioner as blood pressure levels should be monitored closely.

For menstrual pain and cramps, take 1 teaspoon of the tincture two to three times daily, or as needed. (Warning—this tincture tastes quite horrible!) NATURAL COUGH SYRUP In a ceramic pot with a lid, combine 4 tablespoons of guaco, 2 tablespoons of embauba, and 2 tablespoons amor seco. Add 8 cups of distilled water. Bring to a boil and place the lid on the pot. Reduce heat to medium and continue boiling until it is reduced to 4 cups (about thirty to forty-five minutes). Cool slightly and let powder settle to the bottom of the pot.

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements Phyllis A. Balch, CNC See book keywords and concepts

Menstrual pain. • Sensitivity to bright lights or loud noises. • Sensitivity to dairy products. • Skin sensitivities. • Stiffness in the morning and, often, when walking. Fibromyalgia is much more common in females than in males, and most often begins in young adulthood. In most cases, symptoms come on gradually and slowly increase in intensity. They can be triggered (or made worse) by a number of different factors, including overexertion, stress, lack of exercise, anxiety, depression, lack of sleep, grief, trauma, extremes of temperature and/or humidity, and infectious illness.

The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D. See book keywords and concepts

Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain caused by another condition, commonly endometriosis (page 182). It starts later in life and tends to increase in intensity over time. As many as half of menstruating women are affected by dysmenorrhea, and of these, about 10% have severe dysmenorrhea, which greatly limits activities for one to three days each month.1 What are the symptoms of dysmenorrhea? Dysmenorrhea includes symptoms of abdominal bloating, frequent and intense cramps, pain (page 338) below the waistline, or a dull ache that may radiate ro the lower back or legs.

In a double-blind trial, supplementation with 500 IU of vitamin E (page 609) per day for two months, beginning two days before menstruation and continuing for three days after the onset of menstruation, was significantly more effective than a placebo at relieving menstrual pain.18 Some practitioners report success using topical progesterone (page 577) cream for dysmenorrhea.19 To date, this approach lacks sufficient research. Are there any side effects or interactions? Refer to the individual supplement for information about any side effects or interactions.

Dietary changes that may be helpful Some physicians advise that alcohol should be avoided by women experiencing menstrual pain, because it depletes stores of certain nutrients and alters the metabolism of carbohydrates—which in turn might worsen muscle spasms. Alcohol can also interfere with the liver's ability to metabolize hormones. In theory, this might result in elevated estrogen levels, increased fluid and salt retention, and heavier menstrual flow.

Diets low in omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA [page 509]) have been associated with menstrual pain.14 In one double-blind trial, supplementation with fish oil (page 514), a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, led to a statistically significant 37% drop in menstrual symptoms. In that report, adolescent girls with dysmenorrhea took an unspecified amount of fish oil that provided 1,080 mg of EPA and 720 mg of DHA per day for two months to achieve this result.15 A double-blind trial found that the same amount of EPA and DHA plus 7.

The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs: A Guide to Understanding and Using Herbal Medicinals Leslie Taylor, ND See book keywords and concepts

In the Ecuadorian rainforest, the Quijos Quichua Indians prepare a bark decoction for general aches and pains, rheumatism, sore muscles, menstrual pain, and stomachaches. In the Peruvian Amazon, chuchuhuasi is still considered the best remedy for arthritis among both city and forest dwellers. It is also used as a muscle relaxant, aphrodisiac, and pain-reliever, for adrenal support, as an immune stimulant, and for menstrual balance and regulation.

Toxic Overload: A Doctor's Plan for Combating the Illnesses Caused by Chemicals in Our Foods, Our Homes, and Our Medicine Cabinets Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton See book keywords and concepts

These essential oils can also help prevent atherosclerosis; reduce incidence of heart disease, depression, and stroke; and bring relief from the symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis, menstrual pain, and joint pain. They also help detoxify chemicals in the body, increase energy levels, reduce inflammation, and keep skin supple. People deficient in these health-giving oils are not only less able to detoxify chemicals, but are also much more prone to developing a wide number of different diseases.

Fundamentals of Naturopathic Endocrinology Michael Friedman, ND See book keywords and concepts

Patients who have these conditions usually have significant menstrual pain. þ Diabetic keto acidosis. Nausea with diffuse abdominal pain along with acetone breath are key signs of this condition. Physical Signs Cardiomegaly þ Carcinoid syndrome þ Hyperthyroidism. Increased thyroid hormone levels continually stimulate the heart to pump faster and harder. þ Diabetic atherosclerosis. This eventually causes high blood pressure. þ Hypothyroidism. This is associated as well with hypertension. þ Adrenal tumors. Secrete high levels of aldosterone, which results in hypertension.

Ultraprevention : The 6-Week Plan That Will Make You Healthy for Life Mark Hyman, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Sources of caffeine include: coffee, black or green teas, colas and other soft drinks, chocolate and cocoa, and various medications for weight control, pain, menstrual pain relief, and colds. Because each medication is different, check the labels, where caffeine content will be listed. Remove Excess Animal Protein Excess animal protein in your diet increases your levels of homocysteine, a harmful by-product of protein digestion. Excess animal protein also places added strain on the kidneys, which have to filter this excess protein.

The Omega Diet: The Lifesaving Nutritional Program Based on the Diet of the Island of Crete Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D., and Jo Robinson See book keywords and concepts

Menstrual Pain (Dysmenorrhea) The painful cramps that some women experience before and during menstruation are finked with an overproduction of an inflammatory agent called prostaglandin E2, or PGE2 Aspirin and similar drugs short-circuit the production of PGE2, which is one of the reasons they relieve menstrual pain. Fish oil also blocks PGE2, so it is not surprising that women who eat fish on a regular basis are less likely to be troubled with cramps.24 Adding omega-3 fatty acids to the diet has been proven to be an effective therapy.

Everybody's guide to homeopathic medicines Stephen Cummings and Dana Ullman See book keywords and concepts

Acute home-care situations in which Lachesis is more commonly useful include sore throats, boils and abscesses, and menstrual pain. Whenever the symptoms of any of these conditions are more intense upon first waking or during sleep, Lachesis may be the correct medicine. In fact, people who need Lachesis may dread going to sleep, because they anticipate the increased suffering they must endure when they awake. Pain or inflammation that is much worse on the left side of the body, or that begins on the left and moves to the right, is equally characteristic.

Optimal Wellness Ralph Golan, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Endometriosis (see ENDOMETRIOSIS) can also cause extreme menstrual pain. Treatment and Preventive Measures CONVENTIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT • Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, and other anti-inflammatory medicines are commonly prescribed for normal menstrual cramps. • If menstrual pain becomes severe and debilitating, you should be checked for endometriosis. DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS • Reduce the unfavorable prostaglandin levels in your body by avoiding refined, partially hydrogenated, and other unhealthful oils. Do not eat excessive amounts of animal protein.

Complete Guide to Prescription and Nonprescription Drugs 2005 H. Winter Griffith, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Infrequent: In adults - insomnia dry mouth, stomach pain, constipation, weight loss, loss of libido, impotence, ejaculatory difficulty, problems in urinating, menstrual pain; in adults and children -may feel lightheaded when getting up after sitting or lying down. Continue. Call doctor when convenient. Rare: Allergic reaction (itching, rash hives, swelling of face or lips, wheezing). Discontinue. Call doctor right away. OVERDOSE SYMPTOMS: Unknown effects. WHAT TO DO: Overdose unlikely to threaten life.

Common: • Burning, prickling, Continue, but call or tingling sensations; doctor right away, clumsiness or unsteadiness; confusion; continuous, uncontrolled back-and -forth or rolling eye movements; dizziness; double vision or other vision problems; drowsiness; generalized slowing of mental and physical activity; memory problems; menstrual changes; menstrual pain; nervousness; speech or language problems; trouble in concentrating or paying attention; unusual tiredness or weakness. • Breast pain in women, Continue. Call doctor nausea, tremor. when convenient.

The Complete Guide to Health and Nutrition Gary Null See book keywords and concepts

Vitamin C has been used to help conceive babies and to ease menstrual pain, as well as to prevent spontaneous abortion, which we mentioned before. Some doctors have found 200 to 1,000 milligrams daily of vitamin C a very effective measure against the severe menstrual pains experienced by some of their patients. Why was more C needed? Because the metabolism of ascorbic acid increases considerably as the menstrual cycle progresses, and can possibly culminate in a real deficiency.

Disease Prevention and Treatment The Life Extension Editorial Staff See book keywords and concepts

A study of ibuprofen for menstrual pain showed that 44% of women did just fine with the 200 mg ovet-the-counter dose, but the researchers still recommended 400 mg for all women (Shapiro et al. 1981). Studies of cholesterol-lowering drugs show that many women respond to lower doses (Wierzbicki et al. 2000; Ose et al. 1999; Peters et al. 1994; Leitersdorf 1994), but they are routinely prescribed the same doses as men. Side effects with antihypertensive drugs occur more often in women (Lewis 1996; Israili et al.

Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies Phyllis A. Balch, CNC See book keywords and concepts

FORMULA COMMENTS Formulas That Reduce Menstrual Pain Augmented Rambling Powder1 A traditional Chinese herbal formula that treats menstrual pain with tenderness in the breasts and lower abdomen, irritability, edema, headache, and digestive disturbances at the beginning of the period. Cinnamon Twig and Poria Pill A traditional Chinese herbal formula that stops sharp, severe pain with discharge of clotted blood.

The Doctor's Complete Guide to Vitamins and Minerals Dr. Mary Dan Eades See book keywords and concepts

Precisely how this occurs is unclear; however, some women can relieve their menstrual pain by using vitamin E. Recommendation: Begin supplementing about 10 days before your menstmal bleeding should begin. Take 100 IU vitamin E (as alpha-tocopherol succinate) 3 times a day and continue for 4 more days. • Iron supplementation, if you are low in iron and anemic, may help to relieve your menstrual pain. I could find no indications in the literature that this remedy would help if you were not anemic from iron deficiency.

Whole Foods Companion: A Guide For Adventurous Cooks, Curious Shoppers, and lovers of natural foods Dianne Onstad See book keywords and concepts

Women may use it to alleviate menstrual pain and restore regularity. Experiments show that those who take bee pollen decrease their daily intake of food by 15 to 20 percent. Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva) Also Known As: White Mountain Rose, Spatlum The genus Lewisia commemorates Captain Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) of the Lewis and Clark expedition; rediviva means "restored," or brought back to life. The English name bitterroot was given because the root is intensely bitter when raw.

The Omega Solution: Unleash the Amazing, Scientifically Based Healing Power of Omega-3 & -6 Fatty Acids Jonathan Goodman ND See book keywords and concepts

Menstrual Pain As with PMS, menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) is extremely common, affecting more than 50 percent of women during their childbearing years. The main symptom, of course, is painful cramping, although some women also experience nausea, vomiting, bloating, or headaches. Some women also have excessive bleeding, a condition called menorrhagia. Doctors aren't sure what causes dysmenorrhea, although it appears to be linked to an imbalance in prostaglandin metabolism, which in turn leads to inflammation, cramping, and other related symptoms.

Whole Foods Companion: A Guide For Adventurous Cooks, Curious Shoppers, and lovers of natural foods Dianne Onstad See book keywords and concepts

Anise is also an expectorant with antispasmodic action that is helpful in countering menstrual pain, asthma, whooping cough, and bronchitis; it appears frequently as a Anise/Aniseed / Nutritional Value Per 100 j Edible Portion Whole Seed ltsp. Calories 337 7 Protein 17.60 g 0.37 g Fat 15.90 g 0.33 g Fiber 14.60 g 0.31 g Glcium 646 mg 14 mg Iron 36.96 mg 0.78 mg Magnesium 170 mg 4mg Pbospborus 440 mg 9 mg Potassium 1,441 mg 30 mg Sodium 16 mg trace Zinc 5.300 mg 0.110 mg Copper 0.910 mg n/a Manganese 2.

The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Chinese, Western, and Ayurvedic Herbal Treatments Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay. See book keywords and concepts

A study on 181 healthy Danish women looked at the correlation between dietary habits, especially low intake of fish products and intakes of specific nutrients, and menstrual pain. Statistical analysis of results were highly significant, supporting the hypothesis that a higher intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids correlated with milder menstrual pain symptoms (Deutch, 1995).

The Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing: A Comprehensive A-Z Listing of Common and Chronic Illnesses and Their Proven Natural Treatments Gary Null, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

Another formula, Xiao Yao Wan, which can be obtained at herbal pharmacies in Chinese ethnic neighborhoods, aids the digestive process, reduces menstrual pain, and soothes angry emotions. Yunnan Pai Yao is a blend of herbs that can be employed to stabilize profuse bleeding, mitigate stabbing pains, and reduce swelling. Green tea is a way of enhancing energy by stimulating the digestive system, without excessive quantities of caffeine. It creates a cooling sensation, and can help alleviate sharp, stabbing menstrual pains.

Complete Guide to Prescription and Nonprescription Drugs 2005 H. Winter Griffith, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Abdominal pain; burning, prickling or tingling; constipation, cough, dry mouth, eye pain, fever, indigestion, arthritis, amnesia, skin rash, menstrual pain, nervousness, sensitive hearing, tightness in chest, trembling or shaking, unusual weakness, depression or tiredness, wheezing. Discontinue. Call doctor right away. Continue. Call doctor if symptoms persist. Rare: • Nosebleed, hallucinations.

Indian Herbal Remedies: Rational Western Therapy, Ayurvedic and Other Traditional Usage, Botany C. P. Khare See book keywords and concepts

It is given in delirium, migraine, insanity, infantile convulsions, menstrual pain and cramps. Hemp is used as an analgesic for cancer- and AIDS-patients undergoing chemotherapy. It reduces neurological overactivity and muscle spasm in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and other muscular affections. A synthetic cannabinoid (nabilone) in capsule-form is prescribed by physicians of modern medicine for the relief of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients on chemotherapy; also for glaucoma in which pressure within the eye is abnormally high.

The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs Mark Blumenthal See book keywords and concepts

Kohama and Suzuki, 1999 menstrual pain, chronic abdominal pain O n=39 14-30 days 30-60 mg (2 capsules/day for 2—4 wks; 4 capsules on demand) 15 mg capsules Improvement of cramps 70%, abdominal pain 80-90%.

Bottom Line's Prescription Alternatives Earl L. Mindell, RPh, PhD with Virginia Hopkins, MA See book keywords and concepts

Allegra's side effects may include headache, cold, back pain, nausea, menstrual pain, drowsiness, or cough. It should not be used by those taking MAO inhibitors or by anyone with urinary retention, narrow-angled glaucoma, high blood pressure, or heart disease. Ethylenediamines (pyrilamine maleate, tripe-lennamine, tripelennamine citrate, and hydrochloride) are associated with more digestive system side effects than other antihistamines, and cyproheptadine (Periactin) appears to cause more pronounced increases in appetite and weight gain than other drugs in this class.

The Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing: A Comprehensive A-Z Listing of Common and Chronic Illnesses and Their Proven Natural Treatments Gary Null, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

For menstrual pain...The most common treatment for menstrual cramps is dong quai, although a mixture of other remedies can also be used. Herbalist Christopher Trahan recommends a tincture of equal quantities of angelica sinensis, viburnum opulus, and the Chinese herb corydalis for treating severe cramps. The muscle-relaxant American wild yam, also known as dios-corea, is incorporated into the tincture, along with a small amount of black haw, also known as viburnum. Additional herbs that can be included in an anti-cramps mixture are Chinese cinnamon, wild ginger, and cassia.

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