Can we just admit that it’s tough being a woman? Tougher than it is being a man? (Of course, men are often part of the problem — but we’ll leave that for another article.)

No matter how fit and healthy a woman is, for instance, most who are in the early teens up to the late 40s or so, have to deal with menstruation once a month.

WHY?

Well, you probably know that a period is what happens when the lining of your uterus reacts to the lack of a fertilized egg latching to its side. The lining then breaks down and is expelled from your body, resulting in monthly bleeding. OK, you handle that with aplomb. But too often, your period is accompanied by pain in your abdomen and back. As you already know, and confirmed by the Mayo Clinic, “for some women, the discomfort is merely annoying. For others, menstrual cramps can be severe enough to interfere with everyday activities for a few days every month.”

A hormone-like chemical called prostaglandins works to help break down the uterine lining, as you will read in this article by Medline Plus. Some women have higher levels of prostaglandins than others, and they are more likely to have menstrual cramps and related pain as the chemical causes the uterus to
contract during the process.

Ibuprofen is what most doctors prescribe for temporary relief of menstrual pain but for many women it can have harsh side effects that themselves are very similar to the effect of menstruation, such as bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea and heartburn. See this full list of possible ibuprofen side-effects by
Drugs.com.

If you wish to try methods that don’t involve adding anything unnatural to your body, here are a few of several suggestions from HealthPartners.com that help replenish you physically, calm your mind and boost endorphins:

• Drink more water
• Meditate
• Exercise

Coffee tends to dilate blood vessels and HealthPartners also suggests switching to decaf a couple of days before your period begins.

But if you count on your coffee fix, don’t want to take the time to exercise, and have no patience for meditation, Menstrual-Eaze by NuEthix is a natural way to address menstrual pain (and pre-menstrual syndrome), and avoid the side effects of any the many products that contain ibuprofen.

Check out this video by a menstrual pain management specialist, Mere Paci, who describes some of the benefits of Menstrual-Eaze.

As Mere states, one of the main ingredients in Menstrual-Eaze is vitamin B6, which according to this naturopathic clinic “has a long history as an effective treatment for menstrual pain,” including in natural Chinese medicine.

Menstrual-Eaze contains 25 mg, or 1,471% of the recommended daily value.

Another ingredient is bupleurum root extract. You may not have heard of this inelegantly named plant but WebMD refers to it as a stimulant of the immune system that is another ingredient in traditional Chinese and Japanese treatments for menstrual pain.

And as you know too well, your period also may bring skin breakouts, so Menstrual-Eaze contains poria cocos whole bodies, extracted from a medicinal Asian mushroom that, according to Riotto Botanicals, “has the ability to regulate sebum production, detoxify the skin, shrink enlarged pores, and clarify the complexion.”

For the athlete, by the way, once you manage the pain of your menstrual cycle, there is no reason you shouldn’t continue to exercise, with some caveats.
Enkimd reports that evidence shows, for example, the rate of ACL tears is higher in women while they have their period. Also avoid inverted yoga poses and weightlifting that strains your abdomen or back. Otherwise, you can continue to lift weights, run and swim, and otherwise work to stay fit. And with
Menstrual-Eaze, there won’t be a day you regret the joy of being a woman.

Would you like to talk more with Mere Paci? Email her at mere@scoobyprep.com

ABOUT MEREDITH:

Meredith Paci is an integrative nutrition and fitness coach. She was a Registered Dental Hygienist for over a decade. Her personal history — including years of chronic dieting, disordered eating behaviors, battles with depression and anxiety, adrenal adaptation, and sex hormonal imbalances — ignited her
passion for more education and to help others. After years of ovarian struggle she was placed into surgically induced menopause, igniting a whole new journey and opportunity to navigate the support she needed for her longevity and quality of life. It is through her clinical and personal experience that she realized she needed to create more impact. She left her RDH career to further her education and
help others navigate their struggles and goals. She works to help her clients restore and further level-up their health and fitness while educating, supporting and guiding them to create sustainable habits for the long term.

FOLLOW MEREDITH!

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Feel free to give us a call anytime during the week as well on our hotline! (844) NUE-THIX

The contents of this blog should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem - nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health.