Menstruation

Menstruation

Menstruation is a woman's monthly bleeding which is also known as a period. When you menstruate, your body is shedding the lining of the uterus menstrual blood flows from the uterus through the small opening in the cervix, and passes out of the body through the vagina. Most menstrual periods last from three to five days.

What is Menstruation?

The menstrual cycle is the female reproductive cycle that makes eggs available for fertilization. Menstruation involves the hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary. Every 28 days, a woman enters ovulation, which means that she is dropping an egg from one of her ovaries into the Fallopian tube. The uterus prepares to receive a fertilized egg by lining itself with special cells, which allow the egg to fasten to the wall of the uterus. All of this dead material must be flushed from the body, which is what the menstrual flow accomplishes.

The two major female sex hormones in the body are estrogen and progesterone. They are produced in a pair of organs in the abdomen, known as the ovaries. The ovaries start producing large quantities of estrogen when a girl reaches about 12 years of age. This enables her to grow rapidly and develop into a normal young woman. The commencement of menstruation at this time heralds the reproductive phase of her life, when she can have children. The main problems relating to menstrual flow are pre-menstrual tension, painful menstruation, stoppage of menstruation, and excessive menstruation. These disorders are not uncommon.

Cultural Beliefs:

In Hinduism, menstruating women are not supposed to enter the temple or puja room in the house because they are ‘unclean’, and keep away from sacred objects in their homes. The menstruating woman is treated as “impure” or “polluted”. The impurity lasts only during the menses, and ends immediately thereafter. 

• During their menstruation, women must leave the main house .
• They must take rest, and do no work, should not cry, run, laugh or talk too much, should not cut her nails and not allowed to cook food and must keep separate utensils. 
• They should not touch or plant the trees and water the plants.
• They Should not touch the Living things.
• They should not see a Brahmin who is having food.
• They should not touch or offer the prayers to god even on the  fourth day of menstruation.
• They should not sleep in the afternoon on the fourth day after having head bath.(if they sleep will get fever).
• Do not apply oil on the fifth day of menstruation.

The reason was due to the infection at those days and for the poor living conditions prevailed then. Women had less Hemoglobin content and susceptible to fatal infections during this period. Now we have better antiseptics and other hygienic environments and appliances.

Mantra after menstruation:

ఆకూ తొక్కినా పాపం అంటు తొక్కినా పాపం 

బ్రాహ్మణుడు భోజనం చేస్తుంటే చుసిన పాపం 

కొండంత పాపం  గోరింత చేసి 

గోరింత పుణ్యం కొండంత చేసి

నేవే అన్నవు నేనే చెల్లిని 

ఓ సూర్యభగవానుడ నమస్కారములు 

Scientific Reason:

The ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone are produced during each menstrual cycle. These hormones circulate in the blood stream, enter cells throughout the body, and affect how these cells are able to carry out their daily functions. The brain is made up of millions of cells that are sensitive to the effects of ovarian hormones and the fluctuations in these hormones during the menstrual cycle. For most women, ovarian hormones serve to support basic brain functions, including sleep and temperature control, sexual feelings, ability to reason and moods.

Women need to understand what is happening with their bodies and thus cope intelligently with these natural forces. Women live longer than men because their blood gets purified each month.

Dietary wastes are removed through feces and urine, and fat is removed through sweat.

Food is converted into seven tissues through fire - first into blood and then six kinds of flesh. At each stage some wastes are generated through metabolism. Every month a woman body purifies the blood, adjusting for any imbalances. This controls the throwing out of these wastes. This is very beneficial and makes it easier for her to be physically healthy.

The monthly hormonal-emotional cycle involves all three doshas (movement, metabolism and structure). This was supposed to take place over the new moon time. Once her flow ends, fertility would peak around full moon. This was considered the ideal time to conceive - especially since the moon represents the mind. At that time, both male and female deep impressions are optimal to pass on to a child.

Problems and remedies during menstruation:

The discomfort experienced during menstruation varies from woman to woman. Some are never bothered by their periods, while some are badly affected by unpleasant symptoms. 

These may include like pains in the vagina, feeling nauseous and unwell, sweating, mood swings, irritability, anxiety, tension, and depression. Also physical problems like Breast tenderness, Abdominal swelling, Weight gain, Swollen ankles, Feeling tired, Appetite changes or food cravings, upset stomach, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea, Headaches and  migraine.

There are several things that will help relieve discomfort:

• Try to avoid drinking caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, and cola.
• Relaxation and massage can work wonders.
• Exercise and staying fit can help prevent painful periods.
• Take Supplements like Vitamin B6, Vitamin, Magnesium, Multivitamin and Minerals.
• Drink a glass of the juice of carrot, beetroot and cucumber along with parsley.
• Ginger is a wonder herb and has tremendous health benefits .Boil some ginger slices in water. Keep sipping this throughout the day.
• Keep your abdomen warm. Placing a hot water bag on the stomach will help in easing the pain or a better option is to squeeze a towel in hot water and place it on the stomach.
• Try using turmeric extract twice daily for two weeks prior to expected menstruation. Turmeric purifies, stimulates and builds blood. Turmeric is an antispasmodic to smooth muscles so it reduces digestive and menstrual cramping. It should reduce the severity of pain, if not ease them completely. Turmeric used during the menstruation cycle helps in removing stagnant blood.
• Take half a teaspoon of Sesame seeds powder with hot water twice daily. It acts excellently in reducing spasmodic pain during menstruation in young, unmarried anemic girls.
• The unripe papaya helps the contractions of the muscle fibers of the uterus and is thus beneficial in securing a proper menstrual flow. Papaya is especially helpful when menstruation ceases due to stress or fright in young unmarried girls.
• Six grams of Coriander seeds should be boiled in half a liter of water. This decoction should be taken off the fire when only half the water remains. Sugar candy should be added to it and the patient should drink it when it is still warm.
• Eating a spoon of Fenugreek seeds (Menthi) with a cup of Buttermilk helps to reduce stomach ache. 

Interesting facts:

The coincidence of the moon and women are described like this. The moon is the sub planet of the earth. While all other planets are rotating the sun, the moon is only rotating the earth. Consider the nature of women assuming the sun is the husband of the moon. The earth is the parent of the moon. This evidences the fact that a woman's heart is always centering around her parents wherever she is.

A moon becomes shinning and beautiful when it goes nearer to her husband Sun. Likewise a women is honored and respected while she is along with her husband. This is the day of full moon.

A moon becomes dark and unseen when it keeps away from the Sun. Likewise a woman loses her glory and respect when she keeps away her husband. This is the day of new moon.