From the beginning of pre-menstrual symptoms (anything from ten days before the period) to one or two days into menstruation, tension, anxiety, tearfulness, depression and even anger can build up, smoulder and erupt!
Water retention can make you feel large and clumsy, while little upsets can become major issues.
Menstruation should not be painful; the blood should flow with ease, with and no clots (clots tend to suggest an oestrogen excess). The blood should be a brownish red colour rather than a bright red; the latter indicating potential poor food assimilation and possibly an excess of sugar.
If the flow is dark red and stringy excesses of unassimilable proteins, especially meat and eggs are likely to be the cause. The menses can last anything from a day or two to seven or more days, but between four and six is considered normal. After menstruation has finished you should feel uplifted as your hormonal balance changes again.
To keep your iron and calcium levels up (blood loss lowers serum iron levels and calcium is lost in womb activity) try seaweeds (Superfood) and nettle leaf.
Some Ideas to Keep a Healthy Menstruating Body:
Gamma linoleic acid (G.L.A) helps balance the female system by balancing the prostoglandins. Take one capsule of blackcurrant seed oil or evening primrose oil a day. It can also help aching eyes, fuzzy head, bloating, fatigue and other pre-menstrual symptoms. 1,000mg daily or more under practitioner supervision.
If the adrenal glands and kidneys are not functioning correctly they will need to be built up.
Use relaxing essential oils for cleanliness and additionally to help avoid cystitis and vaginal infections. Organic lavender, geranium and chamomile are wonderfully soothing and are 'in tune' with your hormones - add one or two drops to your bath water.
Use plastic-free and chemical-free cotton sanitary towels or tampons but, try to avoid using any kind of tampon, if you have a history of infection. Tampons of all descriptions keep stale blood where it shouldn't be, even if they are changed every four hours. (Some women even experience life-threatening toxicity from using tampons - toxic shock syndrome). There is also considerable speculation that pelvic inflammatory disease (P.I.D) and some forms of endometriosis can arise from tampon use over the year
Wear cotton or silk pants and avoid sweaty nylon tights or other tight, airless clothing. Don't restrict your belly with tight skirts or trousers.
Keep your circulatory system healthy; exercise and breathe deeply, this will prevent clots and sluggish painful blood movement (or lack of it).
Look after your nervous system and make sure magnesium and calcium levels are maintained.
Take care of your immune system. Premenstrually the immune system can become three times more vulnerable than at normal times.
Don't plan exhausting work or social schedules around these times - stress disrupts the delicate balance of hormones. Think ahead and plan accordingly, giving yourself permission to take time off if you're able.
The colours of menstrual blood are important. A good menstrual colour is reddish-brown (see main text above).
Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol. They are all known to disturb hormone balance, increasing sugar imbalances and congesting the liver.
If you have sugar cravings, eat fruit or choose bitter and sour foods which will offset the craving for sweetness otherwise go for 100% organic and 70 to 100% pure cocoa chocolates.
Avoid high fat content foods, such as dairy products and meat, as these affect prostaglandin levels in the body. Avoid all hormone-fed meat, dairy produce and eggs, as these will also disrupt your hormone balance.
Liver health is important, therefore consider liver maintainence programmes.
Never Mix Prescribed Drugs and Herbs without your GP or Herbal Practitioners Seeing You. Do
Not Use Herbal Products if you are Pregnant or Breastfeeding.
Avoid if on the pill or any kind of contraceptive implant.
