Tea Time of the Month: The Best Herbal Drinks For Menstrual Cramps

Statistics say that up to 90% of women experience painful periods. We will not stand for that insanely high number, especially when there are proven natural remedies out there. And by natural we do not mean sprinting to your local CVS to load up on ibuprofen.

Read more: Painful Periods: When to See a Doctor

Instead, curl up with a nice cup of tea and rest easy knowing you’re using centuries-old, yet proven-through-modern-research herbal teas to help relieve menstrual cramps.

Ready to enjoy the benefits of plant-based healing? Below are some of our favorite herbal teas that can help relieve cycle-related symptoms. Chances are, you already have some of these stocked in your kitchen.

Try any of the following, either on its own or in combination with the others to maximize effects. Because plant products aren’t as strong as pharmaceuticals, drinking the tea 3x/day, both leading up to and during your period, will give you the best results. 

• Lavender: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-anxiety. What more could you want during your cycle? 
• Ginger: Known to block the formation of prostaglandins, which would normally increase inflammation associated with the menstruation process, ginger is an essential herb for fighting those period pains. 
• Peppermint: Mint has an antispasmodic effect on the muscles of your uterus, decreasing cramps. This action also applies to your digestive system, so it is especially good for those with cycle-related GI upset.
• Lemon: This you don’t need to boil, just squeeze right into your concoction. In Chinese medicine, the sour flavor of the lemon soothes the system that controls your hormones, creating a more balanced period. Research also shows it to be effective for cramp relief. 
• Turmeric: Known as the “Golden Spice,” turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, great for combating cramps and bloating.
• Chamomile: Chamomile can help increase glycine in your body, a chemical that helps relieve muscle pain and relax your body, thereby easing period pain. It also stimulates blood flow, which can help regulate irregular periods.

Interested to learn more? Click here to see which Elix herbal treatment is right for you.

References:

1. Yarnell E. Herbal Medicine for Dysmenorrhea. Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 2015;21(5):224-228.
2. Raisi Dehkordi Z, Hosseini Baharanchi FS, Bekhradi R. Effect of lavender inhalation on the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea and the amount of menstrual bleeding: A randomized clinical trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2014;22(2):212-219.
3. Daily JW, Zhang X, Kim DS, Park S. Efficacy of Ginger for Alleviating the Symptoms of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Pain Medicine. 2015;16(12):2243-2255.
4. Masoumi SZ, Asl HR, Poorolajal J, Panah MH, Oliaei SR. Evaluation of mint efficacy regarding dysmenorrhea in comparison with mefenamic acid: A double blinded randomized crossover study. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2016;21(4):363-367.
5. Maddepalli Usha Rani, Vanaja Kumari, Arumugam Indira, Katari Kantha. Effectiveness of Mint Juice Versus Lemon Juice on Dysmenorrhea. Recent Scientific Research. 2016; Vol. 7(4):10707-10712.

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This article was reviewed by Zoey Gong.

Zoey Gong is a Traditional Chinese Medicine nutritionist, food therapist, and chef. Her recipes have been featured in various publications, including the cover of Food & Wine magazine in the February 2023 issue. She’s the author of The Five Elements Cookbook: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine with Recipes for Everyday Healing, where she guides readers in the basics of TCM through encyclopedic entries on common ingredients and 50 nourishing recipes.