Ideal Bite Tip of the Day - Just for the Ladies

Aching belly got you whimpering like a cocker spaniel?

The Bite
Stray from regular cramp control methods. Instead, try a holistic approach that includes techniques like massage and natural pain relievers and that isn't so doggone synthetic.

The Benefits

• Getting a leash on pain. Alternative medicine practitioners have used these remedies for centuries.
• Feeling less shaggy. Natural options such as primrose oil are less likely to cause side effects than your average dose of prescription-only Ponstel.
• Not treating the earth like a pooper-scooper. Fewer synthetic pills means less chance of toxic chems ending up in our water supply - and the water supplies of at least 24 major American cities already contain trace amounts of pharmaceuticals.

Personally Speaking
Jen uses her cramps as an excuse to get massages - but suspiciously, she gets them more than once a month...

Wanna Try?

• Exercise - it improves blood and oxygen circulation, including through the pelvis, and releases feel-good endorphins.
• Get a Massage - massage therapists can target your abdomen to ease the tension.
• Avoid Caffeine - it constricts blood vessels and increases tension.
• Eat Less Dairy and Meat - antibiotics we add to certain foods may make cramps worse.
• Spice with Cayenne - cayenne pepper also improves blood circulation.
• Jigsaw Health Activated B - sustained-release B vitamins; Bs may also help with nonmenstrual cramps ($30).
• Spectrum Essentials Evening Primrose Oil - widely used in Europe for PMS symptoms, it packs healthy omega fatty acids; so does borage oil ($11-$15).
• Aura Cacia Jasmine Massage Oil - jasmine's another PMS symptom-soother; use it to massage your abs ($7).