Change in feminine aids. Sometimes switching your menstrual pads or tampons will change how your body reacts, thereby lessening your cramps. Try different things, and note how they work with you. Sometimes it as simple as changing pads to a different brand or style.

Don't have a bathtub? Try turning your shower stall into a steambath instead. Turn up the heat, place a lawn chair in the middle of your bathroom, and run the shower at maximum temperatures to build up the steam. A little eucalyptus oil will add to the healing atmosphere.

2torial #0752: Learn2 Cope with Menstrual Cramps (continued) Relax yourself Cramps are a muscular phenomenon--they're the natural result of your muscles getting worked up unnecessarily. The muscles involved are mostly involuntary, which means you can't tense and untense them as an act of will. But if you relax your body as a whole, it's likely that effect will be passed on tothe cramping area. You probably know best how to make your body relax, so go to it! It's not an indulgence, but real medicine. If you don't have a surefire method of your own, here are some suggestions: Take deep breaths. Take a deep breath in and hold it for about 5 seconds. Slowly let it out, letting your limbs go slack as you do. Breathing deeply eases tension out of your whole body--and since your body, in any kind of cramp, tenses up, it's a good skill to master. Play mind-soothing music. Set the music at a soft level, so it becomes part of the background and doesn't override your attention. If your mind is relaxed, your body will follow. Nature tapes can help you escape the busy din of a city, and classical music can put you in a contemplative state, even if you don't usually listen to it (but you might want to steer clear of tragic operas and the like). Most importantly, use music you like, not something that'll just irritate you. Take a hot bath. Run a deep, hot bath and pour some bubble bath in. Use as much as you like, but beware of perfumed-bubble baths, as they may overload your senses. Get a good book and take the time for yourself to enjoy the water and forget the world. If reading in the tub doesn't appeal to you, you could try books on tape, which are a good way to get the book you've been putting off for years. Warning: If you do put on music or books-on-tape, it (almost )goes without saying that you should be careful about using electrical devices in the vicinty of a bathtub. To avoid the danger of electrocution, make sure you're dry (and on dry ground) before touching any plugged-in device. Step 2