Period pain

Original question: ‘My daughter suffers from severe bloating just prior to her periods and often severe pain and cramping during it. She is 15 years old and tends to become very upset at this time.
Her GP has suggested that she start using a contraceptive pill to help prevent these symptoms but we would like to, if possible try and help her with out going to these lengths. She is not in a relationship and therefore we do not feel that the pill is quite appropriate at this time’.

……Firstly have your daughter make sure her diet is free of refined foods, white bread, sugars and especially drinks such as Coke, as an excess of these will invariably cause bloating and pain.
She also needs lots of green leafy vegetables to ensure adequate iron levels. Beetroot is also a wonderful source of iron.

Also, before your daughter contemplates going on a contraceptive pill I suggest that she first tries using Evening Primrose oil. Evening primrose oil is one of the best remedies I know of for premenstrual bloating and for the breast tenderness which tends to go hand in hand. It can work wonders, either on its own or in combination with other herbs.
Use 3000mg per dose as needed for pain, once or twice daily. It is not necessary to take this amount every day, just take when necessary.
Go to On-line shop for organic Evening primrose Oil.

Herbs such as Dong Quai, Wild yam, Paeonia or Black Cohosh, can also help relieve pain and soothe muscle spasm. Cramp bark can also be useful.

Taking extra B6 (100 – 200mg daily along with B complex tablet) from ovulation
onwards can also help relieve the bloating.

If cramping continues to be a problem it may be a good idea to have your daughter visit an
Osteopath, as at times low back and low abdominal pain and especially cramping can be due to problems in the lumbar region of the back.

If these measures do not appear to be sufficient (and the diet and spine are sorted) then it may be a good idea to use the herb Chaste Tree (Vitex Agnus castus) for several months as the underlying reason for premenstrual bloating and breast tenderness (apart from the above mentioned things) is thought to be due mainly to prolactin secretion. Chaste Tree would be the herb of choice to sort this out.
Use the Contact us page to order herbal remedies.

Also see page on ‘Premenstrual Syndrome’.

Alternatively if wanting more specific advice, send your query and details via ‘Ask Alison’.