Cranberry juice?!

Cranberry juice?

can cranberry juice reduce dysmenorrhea?

NO CRANBERRY JUICE DOES NOT HELP REDUCE DYSMENORRHEA. IT IS USED FOR BLADDER INFECTIONS. RED RASPBERRY LEAF TEA IS MY FAVORITE FOR RELIEVING CRAMPS. YOU CAN GET IT AT THE HEALTH FOOD STORE. HERE ARE SOME MORE IDEAS TO HELP RELIEVE Painful cramping menstruation
( Dysmenorrhea )

Cramps can be very debilitating and can force a menstruating woman into bed during the entire duration of her menstrual cycle. The usual medicine offered is aspirin like medication. Though this may very well suppress the pain, it will never correct the problem. Herbal therapies offer a wonderful alternative to symptom-suppressing medication and have an excellent success rate when used over a period of time.

About ten days before menstruation begins, the level of blood calcium begins to drop and continues to drop until about three days into the cycle. Blood calcium deficiency is characterized by muscle cramps, headaches, water retention, achiness, depression, and insomnia. These are not only symptoms of cramping and painful menstruation but are also the symptoms associated with PMS.

Supplements and herbs

TO PREVENT MONTHLY CRAMPS

Increase your intake of calcium ten days prior to your period to ensure that you have an adequate supply of blood calcium. Include in your diet foods high in easily digestible calcium, such as sesame seeds, tahini, sesame butter, yogurt, kelp, hizike (and other seaweeds), dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, parsley, spinach, fresh sprouts, and herbs such as comfrey, raspberry, and nettle.
Take Floradix and/or some other biochelated calcium supplement daily. Do not depend entirely, however, on a supplement to supply the necessary amount of calcium. You must include calcium in your diet as food. A supplement is just that-a supplement-and not a substitution for proper nutrition.
For three weeks each month, drink three to four cups of the following tea every day.
HORMONAL REGULATOR TEA

1 part wild yam,
2 parts licorice root,
1 part ginger,
2 parts sassafras,
2 parts dandelion root (raw),
1 part yellow dock,
2 parts burdock root (raw),
1/2 part vitex.
Use four to six tablespoons herb mixture per quart of water. Add herbs to cold water and bring to a slow simmer. Keep pot covered. Simmer for twenty minutes. Strain.
Drink three to four cups daily.
For ten days before your menstruation begins, drink three to four cups of the following tea formula.

HIGH - CALCIUM TEA

2 parts oat straw,
2 parts nettle,
1 part horsetail (also known as shavegrass),
4 parts peppermint,
2 parts pennyroyal,
2 parts comfrey,
4 parts raspberry leaf.
Use four to six tablespoons herb mixture per quart of water. Add herbs to cold water and being to a slow simmer. Keep pot covered. Remove from heat and let infuse twenty minutes. Strain. Drink three to four cups daily.

If, during your moon cycle, cramping does occur, do not eat or drink anything cold. Place a warm compress and/or a heating pad over the pelvic area and drink the following tea every fifteen minutes until the cramps cease. This blend is also very effective when made into a tincture.

CRAMP-TEA

1 part cramp bark (or black haw),
1 part valerian root,
1 part pennyroyal leaf,
1/2 part ginger.
Use four to six tablespoons of herb mixture per quart of water. First decoct the cramp bark and ginger root for twenty minutes, simmering slowly over low heat. Turn off the heat and add the pennyroyal and valerian root to the mixture. (Valerian and pennyroyal lose their herbal essence if decocted and are best prepared by infusing.) Steep an additional fifteen to twenty minutes. Strain. Drink one-fourth cup every fifteen minutes until cramps cease.

Valerian root tincture is very helpful for relieving the pain of cramps. A wonderful nervine tonic, valerian has specific remedial actions on the muscles and ligaments. It is excellent for relieving cramps, muscle spasms, and backaches due to tired muscles. Valerian is dose dependent: its effectiveness is determined by the dosage administered. Though it is wise to begin with small amounts, do not be concerned about taking too much. Valerian is most effective when taken in fairly large dosages.

The following teas are excellent for relieving cramps and painful menstruation.

CINNAMON GINGER TEA

1 part valerian root,
1 part ginger root (fresh - grated is best),
1 part cramp bark,
1 part cinnamon bark.
Use four to six tablespoons of the herb mixture per quart of water. Place cramp bark, ginger root, and cinnamon in cold water and slowly bring to a simmer. Simmer gently for about fifteen minutes on low heat, keeping the pot tightly covered. Remove from heat and add valerian root. Let the mixture infuse for one-half hour or longer. Drink small amounts (one-fourth cup) every fifteen minutes until cramps have subsided.

PENNYROYAL RASPBERRY LEAF TEA

2 parts pennyroyal leaf and flower,
1 part motherwort,
1 part oat straw,
1/2 part yarrow leaf and flower,
1 part raspberry leaf.
Add four to six tablespoons of the herb mixture to one quart of cold water. Keep pot covered. Over very low heat, bring just to the simmering point. Remove immediately. Drink small amounts (about one-fourth cup) throughout the day until cramps subside.

OTHER HELPFUL HINTS

Oil of pennyroyal, though extremely toxic if used internally, provides excellent temporary relief for cramps when used-externally-as a massage oil over the pelvic and lower stomach area. However, the essential oil is extremely strong; you may wish to dilute it in a little olive oil, especially if you have sensitive skin. Do not get the oil near the vulva or lip openings. Pennyroyal oil will irritate and burn the delicate membranes of the vagina. Used sparingly and wisely, it is a very helpful healing substance.
Place a heating pad over the lower back while simultaneously putting a poultice made of fresh grated ginger over the pelvic area. This is a wonderful soothing remedy that usually brings quick relief. It's quite easy to make this effective poultice. Make a pot of strong ginger tea by grating fresh ginger and adding it to cold water. Bring the ginger tea to a low boil and simmer (with the lid kept on tight) for ten to fifteen minutes. Allow to cool just slightly. Dip a clean cotton cloth in the tea and wring out any excess liquid. Put a dry towel over the pelvic area, and then place the hot poultice over it. Cover with a thick towel to keep the heat in and leave in place for fifteen to twenty minutes or until the poultice begins to cool. Repeat until the pain is eased. To keep the poultice hot for a longer length of time, place a heating pad over the outer towel.
Nervine tinctures are very helpful for alleviating cramps. They are also handy preparations for young women to use while at school. Because tinctures are very concentrated and are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, results are often speedy.
Homeopathy

In acute pain, take the appropriate remedy every half hour or hourly-or more frequently if needed. Relief should be experienced within a few doses if the medicine is correct. Repeat the remedy as symptoms require. If a remedy is known to work well for an individual, it can be used as a preventive at the start of the next period.

Belladonna
Strong bearing down, as if everything would come out. Flushed, bloated face.
Pains before the flow, throbbing headache. Fury, delirium, desire to escape.
Menses early, heavy. Bright red, hot blood, clotted. Worse: jarring, light, touch, motion, afternoon, noise. Better: pressure, bending backward, rest.
Chamomilla
Unbearable labor-like pains into the thighs. Dark, clotted blood with occasional gushing. Effects of emotional upset. Increased sex drive.
Irritable, angry, easily offended, restless. Changeable, capricious moods.
Chilly, hot perspiration, thirst. Flushed or one red cheek. Worse: night, coffee, lying on back, puberty. Better: heat, cold compress, being rocked.
Cimicifuga
Pains across pelvis, down thighs, increases with the flow. Bearing down.
Electric pains. Heavy limbs, backache. Menses dark, clotted, offensive.
Gloomy, black depression. Fear of madness. Muscle and spinal pains.
Worse: night, damp, cold, motion, drafts, sitting, alcohol, noise, left side.
Better: warmth, pressure, open air, gentle motion, rest, lying, eating.
Colocynthis
Attacks of cutting, crampy, numbing pain; from navel to genitals, with nausea, vomiting. Pains before menses. Sudden spasms causing a cry or jerking. Profuse menses. Irritable, touchy, suppressed anger, indignation.
Worse: effects of insults, night, lying on painless side, motion, eating.
Better: warmth, doubling up, hard pressure, rest, gentle motion, touch.
Nux vomica
Cramping, twisting pains. Soreness across the abdomen. Nausea, pain in back, bladder or whole body. Constipation with constant urging.
Irregular, profuse or scanty menses, black blood. Tension, muscle spasm.
Critical, impatient, workaholic, driven. Use of stimulants, medications, spices.
Worse: cold, getting wet, pressure, touch, light, noise. Better: rest, heat.