Menstrual cramps? How to relieve your period pain from a holistic & embodied lens

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Got cramps?

The truth is there is not just one answer to how to relieve menstrual cramps, and my guess is that if you've got cramps you've realized this yourself.

It took me years to understand that there are many different KINDS of menstrual cramps, and they all come from different imbalances in the body and the pelvis.

Today I explore a question I received from a listener about how to stretch or support your ligaments that hold the uterus in place.

But before I dive into that, I share what I consider to be foundational ways to observe your menstrual cramps to become a detective of your own body and consider what qualities of your cramps and other symptoms might be telling you.

Then I share about my first step with almost everyone with menstrual pain, and a little glimpse into how herbs might be allies - and why many herbs may not work for you, too.

And finally, I give a little insight into some of the hands on (and possibly hands in) ways you can both assess and tend to your tissues in the palace of your pelvis when there's pain.

Resources:

• Grab the free guide: Track your cycle with FAM (and symptom tracking)
• Book rec: Pelvic Liberation by Leslie Howard
• Episode 19: The importance of softening the pelvis w Chaya Leia Aronson
• Episode 32: Herbal spotlight on motherwort
• Episode 110: Healing chronic pelvic pain with Julia Dyer
• Episode 176: Integrative approach to fibroids

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

Trusted sources for bulk herbs:

LARGE COMPANIES 

• Mountain Rose Herbs (affiliate link - same price as anywhere, I just receive a tiny kickback) 
  
• Mountain Rose Herbs (not an affiliate link, Mountain Rose gets all your $)
• Pacific Botanicals - California-grown and globally sourced herbs
• Banyan Botanicals - Ayurvedic herbs

REGIONAL, FARM-BASED COMPANIES

• Zack Woods Herb Farm (VT)
• Healing Spirits (NY)
• Sawmill Herb Farm (MA)
• Oshala Farm (OR)
• Meetinghouse Farm (ME)
• Sonoma County Herb Exchange (CA)

Learn to track your cycle and listen to your own body wisdom - Track Your Cycle Simply in 3 Easy Steps Guide (click here)  

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