Question for the LADIES. :p Sorry guys!

[Giselle]

Dong Quai.

Prescriptions - ask for a type of med called an "anti-prostaglandin"

These have been around since the 70's - an early one was called Ponstan. Here's the theory:

1. The hormone that tells the uterus to contract is a prostaglandin.
2. Women who have too much of this hormone get cramps, as the uterus over-contracts.
3. ANTI-prostaglandins cut down the amount of this hormone.


It was a LIFE-SAVER!!!!!

They MIGHT be over the counter by now, but there are several kinds. Maybe a phone call to your doc and you might get some free samples to try? You have to take it as your period (or cramps, whichever come first) starts, so you might have to wait a month.

If your doc is a male, he doesn't get these cramps...so chatting up his nurse might get you further!

I never had to take more than three, right at the beginning.

Good luck!

Do you mean Danggui? It's pronounced Dang Guai in Cantonese, so I assume Dong Quai must be a phonetic Mandarin translation.

Due to my change to vegetarianism, maintaining my iron levels has been an issue, so my mother/private herbalist () recommended drinking danggui soup. It's like a female ginseng and is unique in the fact that it is the only non-animal source with significant levels of Vitamin B12. It is also used for anti-inflammatory effects. So in essence, if you decide to combine the previous suggestions of NSAID's and vitamin B complexes, you've got the option of using danggui, a double whammy.

Almost forgot, I'm pretty sure most people don't consume danggui in powder form, so my suggestion is to contact an herbalist and see what soups you can make. I thought it might be interesting to add that I have *never* had a bad menstrual cramp. The only cramps I ever got were from running LOL!

[TamanduaGirl]

a specific stretch that helps blood flow to thev area is on kees foread tp the ground in front of you. Read that and it helps some. Make sure you eat even in nasiouse as hunger makes it worse. The yoga or other stretching will help too.

If I use tampons or anything that inserts it always makes my cramps worse.

Other than that not much to add to what was already said.

[Muddy4paws]

I know exactly how you feel, I went through it all before I went on the pill - its the only thing that stopped the pain for me its not completely gone but its so much less. I used to have days off of work because I could hardly move!

Try the heated wrap they do work wonders! I find a hot bath helps too and plenty of water.