Understanding Menstruation Ages 10-16
The womb gives birth to humanity!
Everyone on the entire planet comes from a womb, also called a uterus.
Even if you never choose to birth a human, the well being of your uterus matters!
The moon and the uterus:
There is a special relationship between the moon and the uterus.
The moon is the natural timekeeper for the uterus - for the menstrual cycles.
The sun is the timekeeper for day and night.
The moon takes on average 29 days to circle the Earth. 28-30…and the period comes every 28-30 days.
The moon has a special relationship to the sea…it determines the tides and the waves. There is a gravitational pull between the moon and the ocean (which is salt water). Our blood is made out of mainly water, also salt, so as far as we understand it, likely there is a gravitational pull between the water in our blood and the moon.
This moon has four phases:
Our wombs are tied to the moon so it’s helpful to know where the moon is in the sky (it changes!) and what the four phases are.
The New Moon - completely shadowed and you can’t see it at all (dark moon). The beginning of the lunar cycle. It’s in the sky all day long.
Crescent Moon - The next day is the crescent moon, and it gets bigger and bigger until you get to the half moon moon. Also called 1st quarter moon or half full moon.
Half Full Moon - also called 1st quarter moon, will be in the sky from noon-midnight and it gets more and more full each day until the FULL MOON.
Full Moon - when the moon is a full circle, full light, and is in the sky from sunset to sunrise⏤all night long. After this full moon night, the moon begins to wane, or get smaller again. The next week will be the 4th quarter moon.
4th Quarter Moon is the HALF EMPTY moon, it gets less and less full each day, decreasing in light, and is in the sky from midnight till noon. Rises at midnight and sets at noon….until the new moon returns.
Each phase is a week long.
The womb also has four phases:
First week - 1st phase - the period - uterine clearing or also called womb cleanse
Second week - 2nd phase - post period - replenishing phase
Third week - 3rd phase - ovulation peak, peak/height of the menstrual cycle, peak of body’s energy.
Fourth week - 4th phase - pre-period prep - the week before the period comes.
The Period - first week/1st phase:
The uterus has a natural clearing out/cleanse once a month - we call it the period. The name comes from the concept “periodic illness” but the period when the uterus sheds its lining via blood is not an illness! It is a clearing out of uterine tissues, mucus, fluids.
The uterus sheds its lining (a thin layer of mucus called endometrium) and follicles (eggs). One egg is shed every month.
The heart opens the uterine arteries to flush out the lining and the follicle. It’s like turning on the hose to wash off something, to clean it.
The colon and bladder clear out/cleanse daily, the uterus clears out/cleanses monthly for its health and maintenance.
The uterus helps regulate hormones, and is in charge of fertility. Hormones play a big part in our moods and more. When the uterus is getting a good monthly clearing out, then hormones are more regulated.
Special care during the period:
The body needs to rest while it is producing extra blood! Resting during your period is like recharging your energy battery. If you do sports, hiking, swimming, intense dancing, or staying up late during your period, it really depletes you and it becomes hard to bounce back from being exhausted.
Stretching - if you need to do some slow, calm stretching avoid inversions (going upside down).
Keep warm, especially the abdomen.
Avoid cold ice, ice cream, cold smoothies, boba…etc. These can cause cramps as the cold slows the blood flow.
Let it flow - do your best not to plug during the period - no tampons, discs, or cups. Do use non-toxic pads or period underwear. If you can’t avoid getting in water with friends or family while on your period use a non-toxic tampon, disc, or cup for the very short time, or better yet there are period catching swimsuits available from period underwear companies!
Eat regularly and snack. Eat five times a day to keep giving the body nutrients throughout the day. Soups, porridges, and hot cereal are easiest for the body to digest and turn into blood.
Hydrate!! Lots of room temperature water or herbal tea.
Replenish after period - second week/2nd phase:
After the period is the replenishment phase. During the period the body uses a lot of fluids and nutrients, so it’s important to replace them to stay strong.
Post period replenishment:
hydrate
eat well (lots of nutrients - fruits and veggies, iron rich foods)
steam! It is a good habit to steam at the conclusion of every period as a pleasant way to transition back to normal daily routines, and also as a preventative care practice to ensure that the uterus had a complete clearing out.
The cycle peaks at ovulation - “full uterine” phase - third week/3rd phase
The full moon has its peak, so does the uterus. During ovulation the follicle/egg travels through the fallopian tubes into the uterus - this is the “full uterine” phase when it is easiest to get pregnant.
Pre-period prep fourth week/4th phase:
The pre-period preparation time is the week before the period. This is the time to make plans to slow down, to clear your schedule for the four day period.
Look at the calendar or app where you are tracking your cycles and take note of when it is supposed to start.
Clean your room, get the foods/snacks that you want to eat so when your period starts you can rest and nourish yourself.
Steam this week! Steaming will boost circulation in your abdomen and pelvis so that your period is smooth, with few or no symptoms, and pain free.
Balanced or Imbalanced Menstrual Cycle:
Balance menstrual cycle with healthy period
4 days of fresh red, mild smelling blood
even flow
no pain or premenstrual symptoms
Imbalanced Menstrual Cycle with symptomatic period (can be one of the following)
stagnation - brown or dark red blood, cramps/pain, tender breasts, mood swings, headaches
blood deficiency (not enough nutrients - not enough or low quality food) light pink blood, barely any blood flow, missing period
uterine fatigue - heavy bleeding, short cycles (period begins on MCD 27 or before), bleeding or spotting between periods
dampness - when stuff is getting funky, sticky menses, vaginal discharge is funky - infection
dryness - dehydration can result in vaginal dryness, sometimes it’s from having excess heat
excess heat - night sweats, hot flashes, burning sensation in vulva skin, burning urine
weak digestion - can show up as nausea or abdominal bloating during period or right before
