Remedy 1: Heat Therapy

Remedy 1: Heat Therapy

What is it?

Heat therapy refers to applying a heat pad or a hot water bottle around the pelvic region to reduce menstrual cramps and back pain.

Regimen:

• What - hot water bottle, electric heating pads, heat wraps, medicated ketoprofen patches

• When - From the time that pain starts

• Details - Effective from 10-30 mins of application; optimal temperature = 40 degree Celsius; heat wraps can be applied for 8 hours at a time.

How does it work?

1. Heat therapy releases water retention and congestion, and thus helps in reducing menstrual pain

2. Helps reduce inflammation and increases blood circulation around the pelvic region¹.

What is the efficacy?

11 databases were searched for studies published through July 2018. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that addressed heat therapy for patients with primary dysmenorrhea were included.

1. Two RCTs found favorable effects of heat therapy on menstrual pain compared with unheated placebo therapy.

2. Three RCTs found favorable effects of heating pads on menstrual pain compared with analgesic medication.

3. One RCT showed beneficial effects of heat therapy on menstrual pain compared with no treatment.

However, these results are based on relatively few trials with small sample sizes. The review provided suggestive evidence of the effectiveness of heat therapy for primary dysmenorrhea, but rigorous high-quality trials are still needed to provide robust evidence¹.

Side-effects:

Short-term effects: Skin redness, Skin itchiness

Long-term effects: Superficial burns (used for >12 hours per day)

References

1. Jo J, Lee SH. Heat therapy for primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis of its effects on pain relief and quality of life. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):16252. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-34303-z