The Custom of Women

“And [Rachel] said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me.”

Genesis 31:35

In their culture, it was the custom to stand up when one of your parents came in. Rachel, however, remained on her camel saddle to hide her idols from her father. Laban accepts her apology. It is not clear from this passage if Rachel is lying here or if she used her period as a good excuse.

Rachel probably used of the laws in cases of uncleanness (Leviticus 15:26). Maybe she wasn't feeling well because of her period. I don't know if women at that time also had PMS. The fact is that nowadays many women experience health problems before and during menstruation. Sometimes these are symptoms are linked to the monthly cycle. It can also involve physical and mental complaints prior to menstruation. This is called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In some women, the psychological complaints are so severe that there is premenstrual dysphoria syndrome (PMDD). The good news is that there are many natural remedies to reduce these symptoms. I want to share some of these here.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle is an extremely important factor in the development of health complaints, including symptoms around the monthly cycle. Sufficient exercise, enough rest (think of sleeping long enough and stress reduction) and good nutrition are important.

In terms of food, it is best to avoid alcohol and caffeine. Also pay attention to sugar and starch because these cause fluctuations in your blood sugar, even if you don't have diabetes. These peaks and dips in your glucose can cause a lot of complaints in themselves and get worse just before or during menstruation.

Supplements

There are various supplements that can support PMS and complaints during menstruation. You can discuss which supplement is suitable for you in your specific situation with your own healthcare provider. This depends, among other things, on your complaints, medical history, use of medication and/or other supplements, breastfeeding and the like. The information shared in this blog is educational and general in nature.

Scientific research has been done into the effectiveness of various supplements. This shows that calcium can play a beneficial role in PMS. Most studies show not only that women with PMS more often have a lower calcium level, but also that calcium supplementation improves PMS-related symptoms.

Ginkgo biloba can reduce the severity of PMS symptoms. In this study, the participants were given a ginkgo biloba supplement of 40 mg leaf extract three times a day from the 16th day of the cycle to the fifth day of the next cycle. The severity of the physical and psychological complaints decreased significantly compared to a placebo.

Saffron, derived from the upper pistil of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus L.), can also provide relief from PMS symptoms by taking 15 mg of saffron twice a day. Vitex agnus castus (Chasteberry) is also safe and effective in PMS and PMDD.

Magnesium, evening primrose oil and St. John's wort may also help with symptoms around menstruation, but the results of scientific research are not always clear about the effectiveness of these supplements in PMS.

Skin irritation

Sanitary pads are a major cause of irritation in the intimate area in women. Depending on the brand and type of sanitary napkin, it may contain synthetic materials and fragrances. This can cause a sweltering feeling, skin irritation, itching, pimples.

The vulva and vagina are very sensitive and can absorb toxic substances from tampons, sanitary towels or panty liners into the body. Therefore, choose natural materials, such as washable sanitary pads made of (organic) cotton and/or a menstrual cup. This allows the skin to breathe and collects blood and mucus, so that skin irritation does not stand a chance.

Maintain good personal hygiene. Always wash yourself from front to back and dry the skin of the intimate area well. Immediately rinse blood stains in washable sanitary pads, towels, clothing or bed linen with cold water. And change sanitary pads regularly.

Hot foot bath

Cramps, abdominal pain and headaches are among the common complaints during menstruation. A foot bath with a water temperature of 38-46°C or 100-115°F for 15-20 minutes can provide relief from that pain. Because heat is applied, the blood is drawn away from the location of the pain (the head or the pelvic area) and brought to the feet.

You can read a detailed description of this form of hydrotherapy here: Hydrotherapy: hot and warm foot bath.

Light therapy

There is a relationship between the sleep-wake cycle and the hormone cycle of women. In the luteal phase, which is between ovulation and the start of menstruation, this interaction can cause problems with sleeping and fatigue.

Studies have shown that light therapy significantly reduces depressive symptoms in women with PMDD. Light therapy in the evening and possibly also in the morning can help to synchronize your biological clock during the luteal phase and thus improve your mood and sleep.

Interested in light therapy glasses? The AYOlite light therapy glasses are now for sale at Word and Well-being. Are you interested? Click here to go to the webshop.

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You can ask questions about light therapy by sending an e-mail to info@woordenwelzijn.nl. I would like to help you.

Concluding

This information is educational and general in nature. It is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, personalized advice, or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional.

Nevertheless, I hope that the above advice is helpful and can support you in reducing your monthly complaints in a natural way.

Resources [i] Beneficial role of calcium in Premenstrual Syndrome: a systematic review of current literature. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33312465/ [ii] A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba L. in treatment of premenstrual syndrome. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19678774/ [iii] Crocus sativus L. (saffron) in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18271889/ [iv] Vitex agnus castus for premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a systematic review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29063202/ [v]Sleep, hormones, and circadian rhythms throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy women and women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2817387/