What to eat to relieve menstrual pain

In general, individuals experiencing dysmenorrhea may consume foods such as ginger brown sugar water, durian, red dates (jujubes), warm milk, and longan. They may also take medications like ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, naproxen sodium tablets, Yimucao granules, Danggui Nanzao granules, or Tianqi Tongjing capsules under medical guidance to help relieve symptoms. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Foods

1. Ginger Brown Sugar Water
Ginger is warm in nature and helps warm the meridians, dispel cold, and promote blood circulation. Brown sugar nourishes the blood, activates blood flow, and warms the uterus. Drinking ginger and brown sugar boiled in water can alleviate dysmenorrhea caused by cold stagnation and blood stasis, reduce uterine smooth muscle spasms, and provide energy to improve fatigue and cold intolerance during menstruation.

2. Durian
Durian is hot in nature with a sweet and pungent taste, capable of dispelling cold, relieving pain, promoting blood circulation, and reducing cold accumulation. It is suitable for individuals suffering from cold-type dysmenorrhea. The sugar content and nutrients in durian help replenish energy lost during menstruation and relieve symptoms such as abdominal cold pain and cold hands and feet caused by stagnant cold qi.

3. Red Dates (Jujubes)
Red dates are warm in nature and sweet in taste. They tonify the spleen and stomach, boost qi, nourish the blood, and calm the mind. They are effective in improving dysmenorrhea due to deficiency of qi and blood, replenishing the body’s vital energy and blood, and alleviating mild abdominal pain and pallor during menstruation. They can be eaten directly or brewed with goji berries for gentle regulation of menstrual health.

4. Warm Milk
Rich in calcium and tryptophan, warm milk helps relax the uterine smooth muscles and reduce cramping pain. Tryptophan promotes the synthesis of serotonin and melatonin, helping to ease anxiety and irritability during menstruation. Drinking it warm also provides abdominal warmth, further reducing discomfort associated with menstrual pain.

5. Longan (Dragon Eye Fruit)
Longan is warm and sweet in nature, benefiting the heart and spleen while nourishing blood and calming the spirit. It is ideal for individuals with dysmenorrhea due to deficiency of both qi and blood. It helps replenish blood and qi lost during menstruation and relieves symptoms such as menstrual pain, dizziness, and fatigue. It can be consumed directly or added to porridge.

2. Medications

1. Ibuprofen Sustained-Release Capsules
This nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, thereby reducing excessive uterine contractions and relieving cramping abdominal pain associated with dysmenorrhea. The sustained-release formulation prolongs the duration of action, providing continuous pain relief. It is particularly suitable for individuals with primary dysmenorrhea.

2. Naproxen Sodium Tablets
Also an NSAID, naproxen sodium has strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. It rapidly relieves abdominal pain and lower back soreness caused by dysmenorrhea and effectively suppresses prostaglandin-induced stimulation of the uterus. It is recommended for individuals with more severe menstrual pain.

3. Yimucao Granules
Composed primarily of motherwort (Leonurus japonicus), these granules promote blood circulation, regulate menstruation, remove blood stasis, and relieve pain. They are suitable for dysmenorrhea caused by blood stasis, improving uterine blood flow and facilitating the expulsion of retained menstrual blood. This helps reduce symptoms such as painful periods, scanty flow, and clots.

4. Danggui Nanzao Granules
Containing ingredients such as angelica (Danggui), southern jujube (Nanzao), and Polygonum multiflorum (He Shou Wu), this formula nourishes and activates blood circulation, regulates menstruation, and relieves pain. It is ideal for dysmenorrhea involving both blood deficiency and blood stasis, addressing both insufficient qi and blood and poor circulation. It helps relieve dull abdominal pain and pale menstrual blood.

5. Tianqi Tongjing Capsules
Formulated with herbs such as Panax notoginseng (Sanqi), Wu Ling Zhi, and cattail pollen (Puhuang), these capsules regulate qi and blood, relieve pain, and normalize menstruation. They are suitable for dysmenorrhea caused by cold stagnation and blood stasis, helping to warm the meridians, dispel cold, activate blood circulation, and resolve stasis. They alleviate menstrual pain and poor menstrual flow due to internal blockage from cold and blood stasis.

In daily life, it is important to maintain healthy habits: avoid raw, cold, spicy, and irritating foods during menstruation, keep the abdomen warm, and avoid strenuous exercise and staying up late. If necessary, seek timely medical evaluation to determine the type of dysmenorrhea and receive appropriate treatment under professional guidance.