Q.  Every month I suffer from severe period pain.  It gets so bad I can’t go to work.  I have to take high strength pain relief tablets for a couple of days just to get through it.  Is there anything I can do naturally to help?

A.   Yes, there is, but first I would advise you to be checked for endometriosis or fibroids, as these conditions can be the cause of severe period pain.

Once they have been ruled out, there are a number of diet and lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your pain.

• Eat less  saturated fats (e.g. meat, full fat dairy products)
• Eat more fish, nuts and seeds (especially walnuts and linseeds). These contain omega 3 fatty acids which are anti-inflammatory and will help relieve pain.
• Eat more green leafy vegetables such as rocket, spinach, cabbage as these enhance liver clearance of excess oestrogen.
•  Eat more magnesium rich foods such as nuts, seeds, dried fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.  Magnesium works by relaxing the uterine muscle and so relieves painful cramps.
• Exercise regularly – increased circulation to the pelvic region has been found to reduce period pain.
• Use a hot water bottle or have a hot bath when pain is severe.
• Have a massage just before or during your period.

If these strategies don’t help, there are a number of herbal medicines and supplements that are very effective in eliminating period pain.http://bit.ly/18x1KFB