Natural Solutions for Natural Problems

Guest post by Sherri Goodman.

Ladies, there are some things that we all cringe to think about—much less talk about. But there are

many women’s issues we deal with throughout our lives that we don’t have to just endure quietly. The

more you know about some of the things that may be bothering you, the more you can do to achieve

greater satisfaction.

The road of women’s issues is a long and rocky one. From the first time we get our period when we’re

in young adolescence to the time we reach menopause, which the NIA says is on average age 51, we

have a whole host of roadblocks to overcome.

Let’s talk about some of the issues, as well as many of the most effective and natural solutions.

The Problem: PMS

Premenstrual syndrome has a whole host of unpleasant symptoms, ranging from mood swings,

tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue, irritability, and depression. Often times, these emotional and

psychological symptoms are accompanied by physical symptoms such as diarrhea, muscle pain,

headache, bloating, weight gain and acne flareups. The cause is thought to be a fluctuation of hormones

surrounding the menstrual cycle, as well as insufficient amounts of the neurotransmitter (or brain

chemical) serotonin in the brain.

The Solutions:

Be sure you get enough sleep, and try to stick to your sleep schedule. To regulate your serotonin levels,

be sure to take a multivitamin and eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Exercise is often linked

to better mood regulation and better moods in general, so be sure to get plenty of regular exercise all

throughout your cycle so when the dreaded PMS days strike, you’re ready.

The Problem: Menstrual Cramps

It is an unfortunate truth of womanhood that we must bleed one week out of every month. And not

only that, it must hurt. For the first one or two days of a woman’s full flow, she typically experiences

cramping and bloating. The cramping can be acute and sharp pain inside the hip bones, a full-feeling in

the low abdomen, or a heavy feeling lower down.

Cramps are caused by the contracting of the uterus during menstruation. The body releases hormones

involved in pain and inflammation in order to trigger that process (but wait! Because where there is a

body chemical problem, there is bound to be a body chemical solution… painful prostaglandins, meet

orgasmic oxytocins!). The higher the level of prostaglandins in a woman’s body during her period, the

more painful the cramps she will experience. Though there are medicines that can help this problem if

it is particularly unbearable, there are plenty of natural solutions that have been proven to work just as

well.

The Solutions:

According to Medicine Net, getting plenty of sleep, walking, exercising, yoga, heating pads, abdominal

massages, and orgasms can help alleviate the pain of cramps. Orgasms cause the uterine muscles to

contract and the brain to release lots of chemicals, including oxytocin, which is the body’s natural pain

reliever. A glass of wine and an orgasm are a surefire solution to the problem of menstrual cramps.

And if you’re pressed for time, using a vibrator can speed things along. As explained by Adam and Eve,

there has been an “increase in interest in vibrators for women,” which simply means more women may

have started capturing the natural power of the body’s hormones.

The Problem: Lack of Libido

Women typically experience a dip in libido after hitting menopause. While this is completely normal, it

can be very frustrating. Typically the cause has to do with changing hormones, which we’ll get to, but

since this is a problem that can be unrelated to changing hormones, I thought I’d address it separately.

The Solutions:

It may seem contradictory, but getting enough sleep is key to having a healthy libido. If you lead a

very busy life, you owe it to yourself to slow down and make sure you’re getting all the sleep you need.

Having a low libido may just be a side effect of exhaustion. If you’re in a relationship, keeping open

lines of communication and taking the focus off intercourse can help rekindle the flame and refocus

your sex drive. Have fun with foreplay and, if need be, seek couples’ counseling.

The Problem: Changing Hormones

Estrogen changes occur in all women after menopause. Before menopause, your sex drive peaked just

before and just after ovulation, as your body’s way of preparing for pregnancy. But once your period

stops, so do those cycles of increased libido. Less estrogen can also lead to vaginal dryness, which

makes sex painful. Androgen changes also occur during menopause. Androgens are male hormones

that are also found in women, albeit in smaller amounts. These hormone levels drop off in older age in

women as well as men, though women are more likely to report a decrease in libido.

The Solutions:

Once again, the combination of natural solutions for these kinds of problems seems to be plenty of

sleep, healthy diet, and exercise. If you’re also experience vaginal dryness, use a water-based lubricant

for sex. For hot flashes, which are a result of hormone changes during menopause, be sure to always

dress in layers so you can lose layers and be more comfortable in public. At home, sleep with the fan

on and use lightweight cotton sheets on your bed. Also, have an ice pack or a cool cloth handy, maybe

the latter can be soaked in water scented with soothing lavender bath salts.

No matter what stage in life we’re in, we women have a lot of things to juggle. Don’t let things like

PMS or cramps hold you back. There are plenty of simple solutions to these kinds of issues that can

really increase your overall satisfaction.