Why Cramps Show Up When They Do

[Placeholder body copy] In the first days of your cycle, prostaglandin levels rise sharply as the uterine lining sheds. Higher prostaglandin activity is what drives the cramping most women feel — the more your body produces, the more intense that cramping tends to be.

What's Actually Happening

[Placeholder] Prostaglandins cause the uterine muscle to contract, and in higher concentrations, those contractions can restrict blood flow — which is part of why cramps often come with a dull, heavy ache rather than a sharp one.

"The intensity of period pain tracks closely with prostaglandin levels, not with how 'tough' someone is."

[Placeholder] Herbs traditionally used to ease this phase — like ginger and cinnamon bark — have long been used across Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for their warming, circulation-supporting properties.

Traditionally Used For This Phase

• Ginger — traditionally used to support circulation and ease tension
• Turmeric root — traditionally used for its calming properties
• Orange peel — traditionally used to support digestion during this phase

[Placeholder closing paragraph tying the article back to general cycle awareness, not a hard sell.]