Whilst menstruating, the uterus needs a lot of energy to shed its lining every month. Various factors lead to the uterus not being able to do this optimally.

Your period symptoms provide insights into what may be out of balance. Lack of symptoms tells us your uterus is operating as it should.

Symptoms such as severe cramping, heavy flow, dark or pale blood, spotting, clots etc. are your body’s way of telling you something is not right.

Besides peristeaming when not bleeding, you can consider:

• Prioritising rest and making a conscious effort to be gentle with your body for the first 3 days of your period. Gentle walks and stretches are fine but leave intense activity for later on in your cycle.
• During this time, consume easy to digest, warming and nutrient dense foods: stews, soups, porridges and warm salads.
• Keep your whole body warm, with extra focus on the lower abdomen and lower back. Hot water bottles or wheat bags are your best friends.
• Hydrate more than you usually would, so aim for about 2.5 – 3 litres of warm or room temperature water.
• Avoid tampons as they are not conducive to letting the blood flow freely out of the body. Sanitary pads and period underwear are better options. Menstrual cups are okay but not suitable for all women.

We instinctively feel the need to slow down and rest, despite what TV commercials would like us to believe. Our hormonal and neurological landscape during this time is primed for self-reflection, and being gentle with oneself.

Unfortunately society expects and dictates something else from us, because our entire construct is based on the patriarchal, masculine body; with little to no consideration for women’s cycles.

Found this to be helpful? Follow me @‌trideviwellness for more inspo on how to take agency of your beautiful female physiology.

In service to your womb,

Sanjukta xx