warnings: smut, bondage, slightly dom!reader (no pegging tho), riding, nipple play (fem!receiving), teasing, loid has horse cock (but we already know that hmmm)
a/n: this was supposed to be an uzui tengen drabble at first but i changed it last minute sorry uzui stans :(
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Post-sex with Loid Forger is truly blissful.
Normally, you can never catch him off guard. He’s expecting the unexpected at all times— even in his sleep, you recall, from all the times he fully wakes up when you merely shuffle in bed next to him.
But now, with sweat seeping from his skin, making the strands of his pretty blond hair stick to his forehead, his eyes are closed in peace. His breathing has evened out from shallow gasps, muscled chest rising and falling at a steady pace. You stroke his cheek and he moves into your palm lovingly. A part of you feels bad to ask him now when he’s feeling quite domestic, but you know you won’t have the confidence to tell him any other time.
The last installment of this series discusses herbs & how they can impact our hormones, strengthen the uterus, and improve our body’s response to stress.
Vitex (chaste tree berry) is the #1 go to herb for periods. Vitex is a very strong herb that improves the body’s absorption of estrogen (taking estrogen out of the blood stream), therefore regulating the estrogen-to-progesterone ratio, essentially increasing progesterone and decreasing estrogen without giving us extra hormones. It is fantastic for regulating irregular menstrual cycles, ideal for folks with PCOS. It can help calm things down after getting off of hormonal birth control.
Red Raspberry Leaf - I already mentioned it, but RRL is the most loving of herbs, chock full of nutrients and alkaloids primed for strengthening the uterus. Great for heavy, crampy periods.
Adaptogens are a whole class of herb, but they are herbs that decrease the stress response and improve the body’s reaction to stress. They are gentle and deeply soothing. In particular for improving mood, memory & brain function, libido, decreasing PMS & PMDD symptoms, and regulating the cycle are the herbs: Shatavari, Rhodiola, Ashwaghanda, Holy Basil, Eleuthero, and Reishi Mushroom.
Evening Primrose Oil is an oil full of healthy fatty acids, which improve symptoms of PMS such as chest tenderness, mood swings, and irritability.
Black cohosh is a well respected herb that has been used for generations in regulating menstrual cycles, easing childbirth, and soothing symptoms of menopause. It has estrogen-like isoflavanoids that act almost like taking birth control pills or hormone replacement for people who’ve gone through menopause.
Dong Quai is a Chinese herb very well studied that is excellent at bringing back an absent period & regulating cycles.
Motherwortis a tender, sweet herb that I love, which relaxes uterine spasm while also stimulating the uterus to work more effectively.
PLEASE REMEMBER: Herbs are medicine too!! Just because they’re more “natural” doesn’t mean you should take them without careful guidance!
HEAVY CRAMPING & BLEEDING due to hormones & nutritional deficiencies:
One reason for increased pain during your period is because of higher levels of prostaglandins, which are a hormone that causes smooth muscle (uterine) cramping. It’s one of the hormones that stimulates labor in a pregnant person, and can also cause diarrhea and certain other symptoms since the intestines are also smooth muscle.
Always talk to a healthcare provider before deciding to do something that might affect your health, whether that’s a pharmaceutical medication or an herbal one.
Ways to decrease, or regulate, prostaglandin release & its effects on uterine cramping:
Magnesiumis a micronutrient that is vital to muscle function. It can also decrease stress & anxiety, improve bowel movement regularity, and lower blood pressure. Taking 300-450mg daily of magnesium can significantly improve menstrual pain and decrease the amount of menstrual blood shed over the course of a period. Sources: X,X] (Has side effects & can interfere with other medications!)
Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10) is an enzyme that is found in every single cell in the body and is needed for the basic function of cells and is the source of energy for the mitochondria. It is awesome for a variety of things, including menstrual pain & discomfort. I like to combine supplements so people don’t have to take nearly as many individual pills, and because of this I like the Nordic Naturals Complete Omega + CoQ-10, which has all the omega fatty acids necessary + all the CoQ-10 necessary. However, it’s fish based. If you’d rather chose a non-animal version, Nature Made is pretty respectable. Take 200mg daily. (Has side effects & can interfere with other medications!)
Omega fatty acids can help to decrease inflammation, which is one of the main things at work during menstrual pain (this is why Motrin, a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory medication works). Again, fish oil is better (see Nordic Naturals above) but if you’d rather a veggie version, Omega Twin is great. (Has side effects & can interfere with other medications!)
Nutrition can make a huge difference too! A good, healthy diet includes:
High fiber
Lots of fresh & cooked vegetables (at least one vegetable at each meal)
Not much red meat
Little to no added sugar.
If making this change makes a big difference in your diet, you might see a huge difference in your menstrual pain. See sources: X, X,X,X
Smoking and caffeine intake can really make cramps worse. If uterine cramping is really making a difference in your life & making things hard for you, consider what it would mean for you to stop smoking or drinking caffeine. If you think you can, definitely try! You will be shocked to see what a big difference it can make.
Exercise for exercise’s sake, not for the sake of “losing weight” can make a huge difference. Exercise releases endorphins that decrease pain on a short-term level, but also improves hormone regulation in the longterm. If you can get your heart rate faster than normal for 30 minutes at least 3 times a week (much better 5 times) you can see some huge differences in menstrual symptoms.
Glutenmight make a difference. However, cutting out gluten seems to be a slow-moving solution, and there definitely isn’t enough research to recommend it for everyone. This study says that they see a decrease in pain scores during menstruation after 12 months of a gluten-free diet.
Supplements
Calcium is sort of magnesium’s little sister - when taken together they may improve muscle function at a higher level. The research here isn’t as clear, so I don’t have great sources to show you. Consider taking a combined Magnesium/Calcium/Vitamin D supplement since Vitamin D is needed to digest Calcium AND, as you will see below, can help menstrual discomfort in its own right.
Vitamin D decreases inflammation and helps to absorb calcium. Some research has been done to show that extremely high doses of Vitamin D can significantly decrease menstrual pain. Before you start taking very high doses of Vitamin D, though, talk to your provider about what makes the most sense since such high doses are not necessarily safe for everyone. Source: X,X.
Again!!! Don’t start any new treatment/supplement/herb without talking to a healthcare provider first about YOUR specific body & health needs! Some of these can cause interactions with medications you’re already taking, or health conditions you have.
