Menstrual Cycle Magick (to Ease the Pain!) (Patreon)

Okay ladies! Not sure about you but I’m currently PMSing so hard right now! Want to eat everything chocolate, sore boobs, sore back, sore everything, moody, you name it. I’ve been looking up holistic remedies and spells to use to ease the pains of your menstrual cycle and thought I’d share what I found!

Banish Period Cramps

A basic banishment spell, specifically designed for my fellow menstruating witches.

You will need:

- a candle (black works well)

- a sigil (I have a sigil wheel you can copy here, click here to learn how to use one)

Instructions:

Carve your sigil into the top of the candle. Your sigil can mean anything related to your cramps, such as “health”, “pain”, “ease” or even just “cramps”

Light the candle and melt it until the sigil melts away while focusing on the way your body feels. Think about your abdomen, and imagine the tension and cramps melting away as the candle wax does. Repeat as necessary.

PMS Spell

Goal:

To help ease PMS issues.

Materials:

- light blue candle

- chamomile

- lavender

- lemon balm

- bowl with small amount of chocolate or other treat

- your favorite body lotion

Notes:

This is a useful spell for women who have a tough time with PMS- mood swings, bloating, cravings, depression, cramps, and all the rest. It is essentially a spell for balance and acceptance. Sorry, guys- you can’t say it to get rid of your lady’s symptoms. It has to be said by the woman for herself.

You don’t have to experience all the symptoms mentioned here; simply concentrate on the ones that bother you the most.

The spell can be cast on a full moon (very fitting for a woman’s cycle) or when the PMS symptoms hit. Light the candle. Burn the herbs in a fire-safe container (a bonfire is especially nice if you can have one) or crumble them between your fingers to release the smell and magical qualities. Take a few moments to spread body lotion on your hands or anywhere else that seems right to you. Get as comfortable in your own skin as you can and send loving feelings to yourself. Then say the spell. When you are done, eat your treat.

A woman’s cycle comes and goes

bringing joys and bringing woes

I cast this spell with power great

my PMS to dissipate

Ease the cramps that periods bring

ease depression’s moody swing

calm my temper’s easy flare

banish now the black despair

balance hormones, balance mood

and help me change my attitude

cycles come and cycles go

peaceful is my woman’s flow

After:

Part of being a witch is learning to go with the flow of nature. For better or for worse, a woman’s cycles are part of that natural world. As much as possible, try to make your peace with even the less pleasant aspects of womanhood, and remember to be kind to yourself.

Herbs to Ease Menstrual Pain

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

Motherwort is an antispasmodic herb used for painful cramps and the anxiety that may arise as a result. It contains compounds that stimulate the release of oxytocin (our “love” hormone), and is a uterotonic, meaning it “tones” the uterus to help reduce future cramps. It can also stimulate blood flow if menstruation is delayed. It’s often taken as a tincture but you can purchase loose herb to make tea.

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

Chamomile is an all-around great herb for relaxation, and just because you can get it at the grocery store doesn’t mean it isn’t powerful. It’s another antispasmodic herb, helping to relieve cramps during your period. It’s always nice as a tea, but can be just as effective used as a tincture. Even the essential oil has pain-reducing properties, so if you’re someone who likes to make body care products at home, add it to a salve recipe.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

You probably already know all about ginger’s anti-inflammatory action, but did you know it’s actually as effective as ibuprofen(3)? It helps relieve cramps by decreasing the production of prostaglandins, which constrict blood vessels and cause the uterus to contract.

There are three types of prostaglandins, one of which is what causes the pain and the other two relieve that pain — your body is pretty smart in its processes. But those who experience cramps (if not due to issues like endometriosis or fibroids) have more of the prostaglandins that hurt (usually diet-related), and ginger can help you feel a bit better.

It’s also helpful lower back pain associated with menstruation, as well as nausea, so if your period pain is bad enough to get you feeling woozy, this will be great to try. It’s best to start a few days before your period arrives.

Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Nettle is an herbalist’s best friend. It is highly nourishing and rich in vitamins and minerals and protein — the superfood of the herb world. Because cramps are often associated with mineral depletion, nettles can help replenish them.

Magnesium, in particular, is notable for its muscle-relaxing qualities and it reduces the painful prostaglandins as well(5). Nettle also protects the liver, the importance of which you’ll learn shortly!

If you’re drinking nettle tea, it’s definitely… an acquired taste. I always like to have it in a blend with better-tasting herbs, and you can check out the tea recipe at the end of this post.

Dandelion root (Taraxacum spp.)

I love teaching people about the medicine right in their backyards, the ones they think of as weeds! The root of this yellow flower primarily works on the liver(6), which has over 500 jobs to do in the body.

What does the liver have to do with your menstrual cycle? One of its main jobs is detoxification, and through that process, we eliminate waste like excess hormones through sweat, urine, and bowel movements.

A sluggish liver, and also sluggish digestion, can lead to estrogen dominance when these systems are overburdened, which causes PMS symptoms and other more serious issues if left untreated.

If you’re going to make tea out of dandelion root, you’ll need to decoct it (boil for 20+ minutes) to extract all the good stuff, or you can buy it in teabags. It’s also available as a tincture.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)

Cinnamon is a great anti-inflammatory herb for period pain, especially when taken the first few days of your cycle.

A 2018 study in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice

noted that 1000mg capsules per day can reduce the intensity of cramps(7).

Alternatively, you could decoct a big batch of cinnamon tea to sip on throughout the day, which can also be useful for slowing a heavy flow. Cinnamon is known to improve insulin sensitivity as well, which is super important for hormone balance.

Evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis)

Several studies have found that this edible oil is effective for relieving PMS symptoms like cramps(8). Its omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids make it an anti-inflammatory solution that promotes hormone balance. You can usually find this in soft gel form for easy supplementation.

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

As metal as it sounds, this is actually a pretty relaxing herb. It’s anti-inflammatory, mineral-rich, muscle-relaxing, and slightly sedative, with antispasmodic qualities too.

Now that you’ve read about all the other herbs above, I don’t need to tell you why those qualities are helpful for period pain again. You’re an expert now! It’s also really helpful outside of menstruation, for when you’re feeling burnt out and need help shutting off your racing mind for a little while.

Chaste berry (Vitex agnus-castus)

Chaste berry is the ripe, dried fruit of the chaste tree. Used medicinally, it stimulates the pituitary gland to regulate hormones and the menstrual cycle, improving the estrogen:progesterone ratio. Thus, it can help with painful PMS symptoms. It’s also a liver tonic, which aids in hormone detoxification as I explained above.

Reminder: I stress, check with your doctor before beginning any herbal remedy! I say this because I don’t want you to sue me, but also because you may be taking a medication that can interact with the above herbs and reduce its effectiveness, or they may be contraindicated for a health condition you may have (fancy way of saying “not recommended”).

This list is for educational purposes only and the final decision, when considering any course of therapy, whether it’s discussed on the internet or prescribed by a physician, is always yours.

Sources:

Deborah Blake- Everyday Witch A to Z Spellbook

https://www.google.com/amp/s/lavenderspells.tumblr.com/post/86388393354/pms-spell/amp

https://www.google.com/amp/s/lushywitch.tumblr.com/post/153527028398/spell-for-banishing-period-cramps/amp