20 Aug This tangy seed quiets menstrual cramps
When it comes to menstrual cramp pain, it’s smart to look for ways to treat discomfort without resorting to pain pills, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin). That’s because if you’re someone who experiences period cramping, it tends to comes fairly regularly every cycle–and continually taking over-the-counter analgesics month after month and year after year comes with serious risks. These include stomach bleeding, liver toxicity and even a higher chance of heart attack.
That’s why it’s always wonderful when researchers study natural pain-killing remedies…like the researchers in a 2019 study in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice who examined the effect of dill seeds on menstrual cramp pain.(1)
In the study, women who consumed three grams of dill seeds (which are actually the tangy flat brown fruit of the dill weed plant) on the first three days of their period had significantly less menstrual cramp pain.
How do the seeds work? Dill contains compounds that act as anti-inflammatories (which reduce swelling) and antispasmodics (which reduce cramping).
Dill seeds can be found in most supermarkets and health food stores. They pair well with pickles, salads, soups and breads, and can also be steeped for 10 minutes and sipped as a tea.
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Source:
(1) Shabnam Omidvar, et al., “Clinical trial for the management dysmenorrhea using selected spices,” Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 36 (2019): 34-38.
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