Top Non-Medication Remedies for Period Cramps

DoTerra Deep Blue Rub

The first item on my list is DoTerra Deep Blue Rub which is a special lotion made with essential oils. I usually take a pea-sized drop of the lotion and rub it over my lower abdomen. I also put the same amount on my lower back. It smells a bit like Icy Hot or Solonpas, which I also use sometimes to alleviate cramps. When using this lotion, you have to be sure to wash your hands immediately after application to prevent burning your eyes on accident. This lotion is quite powerful and falls into the less is more category. You really don’t need much at all. I’ve been using this tube for quite awhile and haven’t run out yet. In addition to helping with cramps, I’ve also used it to help relieve back pain and headaches. The DoTerra Deep Blue Rub sells for $32 on Amazon Prime or you can purchase it with your local DoTerra Wellness Coach. Trust me at this price it is an amazing value because it will last you for a looooong time. Tip: When purchasing essential oils, be sure that you are buying directly from the company. In this case, you want to purchase directly from DoTerra and not a 3rd party seller (unless it is an actual DoTerra Wellness Coach) to make sure you are getting the real stuff. Not all essential oils are of the same quality and you want to be sure you are purchasing new items and not something expired.

DoTerra Lavender Essential Oil and Diffuser

I’m a mom of two little ones so I don’t have a ton of “me” time, but usually on days when my cramps are out of control, my husband usually makes an effort to give me a bit of a break. Once I can have a few minutes to myself, I like to put a few drops of my favorite essential oils into my diffuser next to the bed to help me relax. I usually use Lavender essential oil since it’s calming. In addition to putting 5 drops into my essential oil diffuser, I also put a bit on the bottom of my feet. I’m not sure how it works, but I know it definitely helps with relaxation and sleep, so I’m a fan!

Traditional Heating Pad

I don’t have to say much about this one, you know how they work! What you don’t see here is my other heating pad. (They are the same.) I tend to get a lot of back pain when I have cramps. On bad days, I will sandwich myself between two heating pads (laying on one under my back and holding the other over my lower abdomen). I also love to use them when I’m cold!

Payne and Comfort’s Payne Killer

I received a complimentary Payne Killer aromatherapy pillow from Payne and Comfort on Etsy in order to facilitate this review. All thoughts are my own. So let me tell you why this product is amazing: While I said I use the traditional heating pads, what I don’t like about those is that I have to hold it on my lower abdomen and sometimes it just doesn’t move the way I need it to. I LOVE my Payne and Comfort Payne Killer because it does much more than a traditional heating pad. It’s designed with 4 compartments filled with flaxseed and essential oils. It functions for cold and hot needs. The hot/cold therapy pack can be used to relieve aches and pains. You can either freeze it for one hour to sooth sore muscles or you can heat it in the microwave for 45-60 seconds to relax tension. It can be wrapped around your neck, placed over your shoulder, or, in my case, wrapped around your lower abdomen to help alleviate period cramps. It stays put just the way you need it to! The Payne Killer aromatherapy pillow is available in a variety of scents: lavender, eucalyptus, and vanilla (the one I chose!). You can also choose an unscented option. There are 4 color patterns to choose from and each item is reversible so you get 2 prints in one! The Payne & Comfort Payne Killer pillow retails for $32 + shipping and is available for sale on Etsy. All Payne & Comfort products are handmade in the USA.

A Good Book:

I don’t take a lot of down time. Having two small children and working from home means my life is pretty busy. However, when I am not feeling well and have bad cramps, my husband is always great about making sure I can take some time to rest and recover. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love books and reading! So it’s no surprise that I like to spend some time reading when I’m not feeling well. I typically read books that I can learn something from (nonfiction, personal growth, etc.) so that even during my down time I can feel a bit productive in some way.   I am currently reading Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy. I discovered Michael Hyatt about a year ago on YouTube. I love listening to his videos and podcasts while I’m working on my computer. He had some great tips for productivity and entrepreneurship that I’ve been able to implement. If you’re into that kind of thing, then you may want to check out his new book also!

Ipad, iPhone, Instagram, YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, all the things:

Okay so remember that when you aren’t feeling good, sometimes taking care of yourself is your job. It’s okay to take personal time to rest. You don’t have to be productive every second of the day. It took me a really long time to learn this. I have found the more I can balance self care with productivity, the better the results end up. If I try to be productive all the time, I’ll end up burning out. If I allow myself to recharge and recover when I’m not feeling well, I always accomplish so much more when I am feeling my best. I will usually set a time for myself with reading, either in time or by chapters. Once I finish my reading, I get comfy on my bed with the iPad and catch up on my favorite YouTube channels. I always love to watch my favorite YouTube family’s daily vlogs, the SacconeJoly’s. If you haven’t discovered them yet, you are missing out! Johnathan and Anna Saccone-Joly are a cute Irish couple living in London with their daughter, Emilia, and their son, Eduardo, and their 6 dogs! They recently announced they are expecting Baby #3. I love how cute they are but mostly that our kids are the same ages. Andrew and Aidan love to watch with me and it’s nice to have a cute and family-friendly channel that I never have to worry about the content my kids are exposed to. Definitely check them out on YouTube! I also love to check out my Instagram feed for all the cute mommies and babies I follow. This is probably a good time to leave my shameless plug: If you love cute kids and #momlife or entrepreneur kinda things, follow me on Instagram! Okay, moving along…..

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea + Cookies:

I love tea. I drink tea in the morning. I drink tea in the afternoon. I drink tea in the evening. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and drink tea. As you read this, I’m probably drinking tea! If you aren’t a tea kinda person, try a few different kinds. There is a tea for everything! During that time of the month, I always enjoy a couple daily cups of Yogi’s Women’s Red Raspberry Leaf Tea that helps strengthen a woman’s reproductive system. It tastes great and helps take the edge off a bit when I am suffering from cramps. I find it to also be relaxing in the process.

CHOCOLATE!!

Amiright? Okay I’ll let you in on a little secret. I actually don’t love chocolate. However, during that time of the month I tend to love a bit of chocolate in the form of Chocolate Hazelnut rolled wafer cookies! I always enjoy three (yes, I said three….don’t judge!) with a cup of tea. They are yummy! These cookies have become a staple here always in the pantry (usually hidden). They are known in our home as “mommy’s cookies!” And yes, I do share them….on special occasions!

Candles!

I love candles and have so many. I’m not tied to one particular brand but more drawn to so many different scents. My favorite candle right now is Sweet Spun Sugar and I got this from Target. It smells like a mix of cotton candy and pure Heaven! As you can see, this one is almost gone. I’ve checked in a few times and haven’t seen any in stock lately so I may cry. If you find any at your Target, buy them all. You’re welcome!

Hi-Dow Micro Physical Therapy Massager:

Okay kids, this a big one! My husband and I purchased this Hi-Dow Micro Physical Therapy Massager from a mall kiosk around 6 YEARS ago! I believe it came with a lifetime warranty, but I haven’t ever had any issues with it. It’s been AMAZING for menstrual cramps and I don’t think I could live without it!  What is this you might ask? Great question! Let me tell you all about it! The Hi-Dow is basically like a little mini ipod, but about 1/3 of the size (see photo below for size comparison). You can charge it with an AC adapter, so it’s rechargeable. You plug in these little electrode pads. You can plug in up to 2 sets (each set has 2 pads). I use all 4 pads. They are rubbery and easy to remove, they don’t hurt at all. You just stick them onto your body where you have pain. I put two (one on each side) of my lower abdomen. I put the other 2 on each side of my lower back. When you turn it on, there are several levels of intensity and different types of massage that you can select. It is VERY strong for such a tiny little item. I usually keep it around a 5.5-6 depending on my pain level (I tend to have above average pain due to endometriosis) and it works, it REALLY works! I usually use the variety option so it does different types of massage in rotation. You can set a timer as well so it will automatically turn itself off. When I started using my Hi-Dow, I had an office job and had trouble working through my pain during that time of the month. With the little sticky pads attached to me, I was able to put the handheld device into my pocket discreetly and it helped me enough to feel better and get through my days. I use it while I’m out and about and also while I’m laying down at home. I’ve used it on airplanes, in the car, and on the go. When I purchased my Hi-Dow, it was about $220. Remember mine was purchased 6 years ago. I just saw the new and improved version on Amazon for only $129! I can’t bring myself to replace mine because it still works great, but if this is something you may like, that Amazon price is a great deal! You can also buy extra sticky pads in small or large sizes. I actually have replaced my pads once in 6 years but other than that, they work really well and last for a long time! You can also clean them with a tiny bit of water. The Hi-Dow comes with a little plastic plate thing to keep them on there when not in use.

Period Tracking App

Last but not least, I’d like to introduce you to the period tracking app that I use. It doesn’t necessarily help with cramps, but it at least allows you to plan your down time and work around it. The app I use is called My Days. I’ve used it for a few years now and I use the free version. You just input the data for when your period starts and stops and it does everything from there. You can check the calendar to see how your cycle is and when it starts over again. It also allows you to track other things like ovulation to plan for or plan to avoid babies. I’m not going to go into details, but I will say that so far it’s been pretty accurate 🙂 You can download it for iPhone here or Android here. And now we know each other a bit more than you probably needed to 🙂 I hope you’ve enjoyed all of these ideas for alleviating period cramps without medication! If you are using something else, I’d love to know! Please leave your ideas in the comments below so I can try them out! I am always looking for ways to alleviate cramps because of my endometriosis!     Disclaimer: Everything suggested in this post is 100% based on my personal opinion. I am not a doctor. If you have any medical concerns, ALWAYS seek your doctor’s advice before trying anything new. Special thanks to Payne and Comfort for sponsoring this post. Some items in this post were sent to me by the company in order to test and review. All thoughts are my own. Many of the products were purchased by me with my own money. All products in this post are things I actually use and love. Some products listed above may contain affiliate links. This means that if these are items you would like to purchase, I may receive a very small percentage back on your purchase. It costs you absolutely nothing and helps me grow my blog and bring you more great content! ]]>