Recipe for Cramps

If you get periods, this blog is for you!

My cycle is going to start any day now . Here are the routines that I live by. Everything doesn't work for everyone so I encourage you to try and test things out until you find the perfect routine that works for you <3 You can find the same exact items I use during my cycle here on my Amazon Storefront.

DAYS BEFORE

My body usually lets me know when my cycle is coming about 2 days before it arrives. I start to feel sensations nausea and light cramps. That's when I begin to prep my body.

1. BURDOCK ROOT TEA

I GUZZLE burdock root tea during the first two days of my cycle. It helps purify my blood and to help flush out all the extra hormones we make during our cycle. You can take it in capsule or powder form but I've found that the tea works excellent for me. I usually order the 1lb bag from Starwest Botanicals. Its also available here (same price but faster shipping). It lasts me about a year.

Directions:

• in a saucepan, bring 2-3 cups of water to a boil

• add 2 tbps of burdock root

• boil until water is dark brown (about 15 minutes)

• strain and enjoy a few times a day

2. LESS STRICT DIET

I listen to my body and give it whatever it wants during my cycle. I usually crave root vegetables, carbs, soups, and raw chocolate. Sometimes I crave things that I probably wouldn't eat as much of while off my cycle. INDULGE and honor your body.

FIRST 2 DAYS

The first two days can be hell. Be gentle and forgiving with your body.

3. REST

Schedule time off and try to take these two days off from work and any responsibilities if you can. I use a mobile app called Eve to track my cycle. There are many many free period tracker apps that will track your cycle for you (it also comes in handy if you're sexually active, by telling you on which days you're most likely to get pregnant.)

4. FUZZY SOCKS + PACKAGING TAPE

Yes. On my Instagram stories you'll see that I will moisturize and oil my feet and ankles after the shower, put on a fresh pair of fuzzy socks, and TAPE MY ANKLES.

I found this out intuitively. One day I was able to recognize that the pain I was feeling was coming from my ankles (it pays to pay attention and learn your body). I felt like my ankles needed to be squeezed but for a really long time. So I decided to grab some wide packaging tape and tape them. Tight but not too tight to where it hurts.

Also, compression socks don't feel tight enough for me but they might work for you. I'm still searching for a more elevated product to solve my problem but haven't found one better than packaging tape.

I later learned that our ankles are connected to our reproductive systems. I still have a lot to learn but it works for me so I'm sticking to it.

5. CERASEE TEA

I drink Burdock Root to prep for my cycle but once its here I switch to Cerasee tea. It also assists in keeping my blood pure and flushing out extra hormones but in a milder way.

I also drink Cerasee after eating things that may have not been so good on my body. You can find it at many of the ethnic markets or find it here in my shop.

Directions:

•  in a saucepan, bring 2-3 cups of water to a boil

• add 2 tbps or 2 pinches of cerasee tea

• boil until water for about 15 minutes

• strain and enjoy a few times a day

6. MAGNESIUM

I take a magnesium supplement nightly before bed and I highly recommend committing to taking it during your cycle.

Magnesium is great at relaxing our muscles. During our cycles, it relaxes the smooth muscle of the uterus and by reducing the prostaglandins that cause period pain.

You can find the same one I use here.

7. MELATONIN

I get serious insomnia during my cycle. I assist my body's sleep cycle by taking 5mg of melatonin an hour before bed. I sleep like a baby and wake up refreshed.

This also works if you tend to have insomnia in general but it can stop working overtime if you start to depend on it.

You can find the same one I use here.

The END OF YOUR CYCLE

8. LEARN YOUR BODY!

Learn your body! I can't stress this enough. Everyone's body has their own set of rhythms, it very important to learn yours. For example, I just learned a few years ago that my body hates using tampons the first few days of my cycle. It demands that I use pads or I'll cramp so bad. Now I only wear tampons if I'm going out or if it's the last few days of my cycle and I don't want to have spotting.

9. ORGANIC PADS AND TAMPONS

Organic cotton is always best, especially when placed INSIDE your body. My favorite brand is the L. brand. You can find them here or in most stores like Target.

10. ROSE TEA

Ahhhh I drink a rose and bayleaf tea with honey every single night but it seems to taste better on my cycle. It just gives me a sexy and feminine energy and helps me tap into a moooooood. This mood is so important to honor at the end of your cycle. Celebrate yourself. Honor yourself. Love yourself. It can be as simple as enjoying a cup of rose tea. I buy mine in bulk here.

---

Marley's Notes

That's all! I'll add more to this overtime. For now, check out our community's FEM TALK 1 and FEM TALK 2 highlights where we talked about getting off birth control, different ways to help our menstrual cycles, and sex health.

It's a lot of info so I will do my best to but it in a neat blog post very soon.

Wishing you a breezy cycle this month!

xo Marley