Dysmenorrhea primary is defined as “painful menstrual cramps in the lower abdominal region during menstruation (Jo & Lee. 2019.” It is known that menstrual pain is one of the primary causes for reoccurring absenteeism from school or work in young women. Women with menstrual pain have reported it to negatively impact their quality of life therefore making it a serious discussion topic.  A meta-analysis was conducted by researchers Jo & Lee (2018) to determine whether heat therapy for primary Dysmenorrhea improves pain relief and individuals’ quality of life. The meta-analysis noted six studies found heat therapy to decrease menstrual pain in women who have been diagnosed with Dysmenorrhea (Jo & Lee. 2019).

Additionally, a study by Thabet et al (2020) aimed to assess the effect of non-pharmacological pain relief interventions on the severity of pain amongst adolescent girls who experience Dysmenorrhea. The study utilised 90 students who were placed into either a knee-to-chest group or a heat compress group. Students in the knee-to-chest group would repeat this position for five minutes ten times a day for each day of their menstruation cycle. Heat compress group placed the heat onto their lower abdomen on each day of their cycle for 15-25 minutes or until cold as needed. The study resulted in finding both groups method reduced Dysmenorrhea pain intensity level, with heat compressing being more effective than knee to chest (Thabet et al. 2020).

Finally, Armour et al (2019) researched the effectives of self lead care techniques and lifestyle interventions that assist menstrual pain intensity, duration and analgesic usages with women who experience Dysmenorrhea. The current study investigated types of exercise that can benefit reducing pain during menstruation. Little evidence was found to support high intensity aerobic actives (running, swimming or cycling or resistance training) effectiveness in minimisation of pain. However, lower intensity types (yoga, tai chi, Pilates and stretching) have gained attention to be a more effective alternative to assist in pain reduction. Heat therapy was found to be more effective than exercise due to increasing blood flow which can reduce pain signals reaching the brain more known as “pain modulation by warmth.” These studies demonstrate the positive effect heat therapy can have on reducing pain severity that many women are currently experiencing.

The research is clear that there is benefit to reducing pain with the use of Heat packs. But, on a personal note, it is fair to say that period pain has affected people near and dear to me throughout my life. As a woman, it seems to be something that we just had to ‘put up with’ or ‘deal with it’ the best way we knew how.

As a mother, I’ve watched my daughter suffer for years with Endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. When the pain started, she always reached for a heat wheat bag to try and take the edge off her pain. I felt quite helpless and it broke my heart seeing her in such pain. The one thing that helped was knowing I could bring her a wheat bag that offered an effective method of natural pain relief, which brought both of us some comfort. Nothing else seemed to soothe like a warmed wheat bag on her tummy, curled up in bed with a cup of tea watching her favourite Netflix show.

That’s why I care so deeply about offering these wheat bags in my store. They’re not just products to me they’re part of my story, part of our story. I make them hoping that another mother may be able to offer the same relief for their daughter too.

So, if you know someone that could benefit from using a wheat bag for heat therapy, send them one today, they will love you for it!

References:

Armour, M., Smith, C. A., Steel, K. A., & Macmillan, F. (2019). The effectiveness of self-care and lifestyle interventions in primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 19(1), 22.

Jo, J., & Lee, S. H. (2018). Heat therapy for primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of its effects on pain relief and quality of life. Scientific reports, 8(1), 16252.

Thabet, H. A., Amin, H., Fahmy Elsaba, H., Abd, A. H., & Hassan, E. (2020). Effects of two Nonpharmacological Pain Relief Interventions on the severity of pain.