Period Power

It’s time for us to start talking about our periods. Your period should not be a source of shame or embarrassment. You should approach your period like you do your body temperature, pulse, blood pressure and respiratory rate—as a vital sign of what’s going on inside your body.

If you have a fever, you’re fighting off infection. If you have high or low blood pressure, pulse, or respiratory rate, you’re dealing with some significant issues that need to be addressed.

So when something is off with your period, it is always a sign that something is wrong with your hormones. It’s not just a “woman problem” that you should learn to live with…. if something is not right during your menstrual cycle, there is a real root cause behind it that needs to be addressed!

A typical period should last 3-7 days with moderate flow throughout, the discharge should be varying shades of red with few small clots, you shouldn’t have debilitating cramping, and your period should occur every 24-36 days.

If, for example, you have 3 days or less of bleeding, or a sudden decrease from your normal, this could mean your body doesn’t have enough blood to spare. This can be caused by hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies (especially iron), PCOS, or stress. On the other hand, if you bleed for more than 7 days, have large clots, etc., this could be a sign of uterine polyps or fibroids. Other causes could be estrogen dominance or potentially even pelvic inflammatory disease. If you have agonizing pain during your period, it could be pointing to extra inflammation in your body caused by gut problems, stress, or hormone imbalances

Hormonal birth control might help to regulate your period, but it also masks symptoms and can cause more hormone imbalances within the body. Supporting your body through it is the way to heal.

Top tips to treat period problems safely and naturally include:

- Cut inflammation - by avoiding inflammatory foods and replacing them with lots of fibre;

- Correct gut problems and nutrient deficiencies – ‘leaky gut’ can contribute to endometriosis and other reproductive issues. Consuming quality probiotics and plenty of fibre, and healing your gut with nourishing foods like bone broth;

- Reduce stress with self-care - stress is a major contributor to menstrual irregularities. Cortisol, your body’s stress hormone, has the power to shut down your menstruation if your body is chronically stressed. The best way to fight back against stress is to go for a walk, read a book, and meditate….do something for YOU each day;

- Go for acupuncture – it can normalise blood flow and help to restore regular periods when they are irregular or non-existent. It can also alleviate other conditions associated with menstrual cycles – intense cramping, bloating, breast tenderness, headaches and mood swings.