Moon Time Again – Taking back control of your period and your life

Warning: this post contains girly subjects

     Sounds dramatic doesn’t it? It conjures images of dreadlocked hippy women with upraised fists smelling of rosemary, lavender and patchouli. The dramatic stuff aside I feel like there is so much truth in it. I do research now and again about different things, such as say natural birth (when I catch the baby bug) or naturopathic medicine. Everything I learn further supports my conclusion that we have forgotten how to take care of ourselves – how to listen to ourselves. So many of us rush through life and only stop when we have cramps or a migraine to take a pill or get a shot. It doesn’t occur to many people that the problem is them – they don’t listen to their body, or let it repair itself.

      Part of the reason for my blog is I want more people to feel as empowered as I do. Lacking medical insurance I’m relying on books and magazines, mostly alternative to heal myself. (Disclaimer: Please understand that if I had a serious emergency I would go to the hospital.) Also please understand, I don’t disrespect doctors. But I don’t think I should rely on them all the time. I can learn things on my own. I am woman hear me learn and tell you about what I’ve learned!

     I think period discomforts fall under what is safe for me to experiment with. After a ridiculous amount of reading I no longer feel helpless. I don’t have to take pills to ease the pain in my belly. The name of my game for my period is proactiveness – yes I made up a word. First thing I did was to prioritize the irritations. Cramps are the most irritating for me. Then the horrible tired feeling for about week prior. After that the general shortness of temper.

     It’s fairly easy to remember when I need to be proactive, I can feel a lot more now that I’m not taking the pill. When I feel heavy, bloated or more tired than normal I pull out my raspberry leaf tea. For the last several Moon Times I’ve had at least two cups of raspberry leaf tea a day until cramping stage was almost over. It’s amazing how quickly it works. And how long it lasts. I’ll make myself a cup of tea, just as I’m starting to feel uncomfortable. Then within a few minutes the deep cramp I feel releases. After a couple of cups I’m usually fine for the rest of the day.
I’ve also noticed that my period keeps getting easier. Less pain, less craziness, less general yucky feelings. It’s even strange. I feel alive, like parts of me that never really moved before are doing what they are designed to do.

     Perhaps part of the reason I’m seeing an improvement is because my general attitude has changed. I’ve decided that rather than having a “get through it” attitude, I’ll make it “me time”. I’ll sit and watch a movie, take a hot bath, or sleep in more than normal. Of course there are the times when the cramps start at more inconvenient times such as while I’m working or out with friends. While I’d love to go directly home, I do have to finish my massages or hang out time. When this happens breath work helps a lot. Slow deep diaphragmatic breathing is best. A few calming breathes later and I can momentarily lose myself. Something I learned in massage school is when you are stressed your “fight or flight” nervous system is activated. When this happens things seem to feel more painful. Doing deep breathing will help to activate your “rest and digest” nervous system and allow you to relax, and not fight against the discomfort.

     For those times when I’m not working, I find the best thing to do is to take time away from the world – to let go. Something that our society has lost is the ability to step away from everything and relax, repair, and live in the moment. For me, my period is the perfect opportunity to live in the moment and acknowledge a very important system of my body. And perhaps read a good book.

Ideas for treating the unpleasant things related to Moon Time:

Drink raspberry leaf tea
Use heat on your belly to ease cramps
Stay warm
Take a hot bath or shower
Use essential oils geared for relaxation and hormonal changes such as lavender and geranium rose
Combine the hot shower or bath with an essential oil blend
Turn off your phone
Read a book
Do a relaxing project
Take a nap
Diaphragmatic breathing
Procrastinate! (Yes, I said it. Why make yourself suffer today when you can do it tomorrow or the next day when you feel better?)
Get a massage, acupuncture
Find an herbalist or naturopathic doctor to get some herbs if needed
Say “No” and don’t feel badly about it

     Through every bit of research I’ve done, every book listed under “consumer education”, I’m reminded that pills don’t cure – they only treat symptoms. Lifestyle changes be it food, work, recreation can often give you lasting results without unwanted side effects.
Though I still have cramps at least one day, it’s okay. I’m not polluting my body or the city water system with synthetic hormones. It’s one more guilt free step in the right direction.