Growing up in India, I was raised by progressive parents who sometimes fell back on old wives’ tales for certain regulations that did not make sense to me. I used every opportunity to flout them. However, over the years, after looking for answers to some of these regulations, I have found answers, some scientific, some common sense, and some that were not regressive if I were honest. I have tried to list them in the order that I remember them and provide the reasoning as well. I may be wrong, and if you have a reason to counter my reasoning, do so, so I can update the list as well.
This is a list I’ve compiled, and I will continue to add to it over time. The list is not definitive and is more like a guiding/starting point. If you’ve been raised with a ‘set rule for behavior’, identify the why before you follow it with the ‘are you crazy?’.
Menstrual cycle/Period related:
- Putting your hand inside the pickle jar and eating pickles during your periods
There are two points here, the first is the spoiling of the contents of the Jar and the second would be eating the pickles.
The Mid 70’s was when sanitary pads were introduced in India, or that’s when they were accessible. Until then, most women used cloth, during menstruation. This meant that the cloth had to be washed and hung out to dry. The hormonal imbalance that occurs during periods often raises the core body temperature and, in some instances, even affects the taste buds. Typically, this resolves in 3-4 days’ time after which you feel normal again. So, dipping your hand in the pickle jar, in this altered state, where your body temperature was high would mean introducing humidity into the jar which could spoil the contents.
Hormonal imbalance during your periods can sometimes affect your sense of taste, so the pickles would taste weird for some during this time. The excess salt used as a preservative in pickles could cause dehydration which could accentuate the feeling of malaise/lethargy in a woman during her periods. Also, excess salt is known to aggravate cramping, fluid retention, and bloating during menstruation.
- Being ‘locked out’ of the kitchen during periods – extended in some situations to being locked out of the house.
While I would like to believe that this was more because of the care provided for women during this time so they can rest and recuperate, over the years, this practice seems to have been perceived as being regressive. The conservative reasoning for this practice was that most homes had prayer or puja rooms in the kitchen. That’s where the women prayed, and offerings were made as the food was prepared fresh. Periods were considered unclean. And hence women were not allowed to enter the kitchen during this time. In some instances, every nook and cranny of the house had pictures of Gods and Goddesses where offerings were made, hence the practice of keeping menstruating women out of these ‘holy’ places. Also, remember menstruating women meant, having the ‘used’ cloth washed and hung out to dry. So preferably this had to be out of sight.
Now, as a woma n today – who is prone to severe cramps and heavy bleeding during my periods, I would gladly enjoy a couple of days away from the kitchen or even the house. Ideally, it’s that time of the month, when I need to give my body some time to rest and recuperate from all the hormonal chaos it’s being bombarded with and just take a step back. This does not mean that I cannot achieve the targets I have set for myself or that my career or family is less important. It just means that I am self-aware and prioritize self-care above all else.
- Don’t do Yoga / Surya Namaskar during your periods.
This again comes down to the hormonal imbalance that occurs during menstruation. The human body is affected the same way as an injured person suffering from heavy blood loss. The body does not have reserves of blood that can be used when there is blood loss. Bed rest is advised and eating foods rich in iron and magnesium that could help the body cope better.
Yoga is the practice of breath control to enhance the flow of blood to various parts of the body. This movement of blood when you already have a loss during mensuration could cause dizziness or loss of consciousness. Therefore, it is not recommended to practice yoga during menstruation.
- Don’t wash your hair on the first three days of your period.
According to Ayurveda, a head bath is had to cool down the body. However, during menstruation, a woman’s body emits heat, and cooling the body down at this time may cause an impact on the hormones and may end up causing cold and fever. I am not a practitioner of Ayurveda so I would not be too aware of this concept. Again, this would work if you used cold water for a bath. I’ve always used hot water, and yes, I am aware of the chaos that causes on the hair yet, I thrive. As for this myth, let me reassure you, I have spent most of my teenage years flouting this one. My immunity is decent, so I did not get a fever or cold every month when I washed my hair during my periods. But there were times when it did happen, and I could not blame my periods for it. So, go ahead, wash your hair, have a shower, and just ensure you maintain good hygiene.
In conclusion, your period is nature’s way to ensure you remain healthy. So, use the excuse to take the time to focus on yourself. Be aware. Don’t dismiss a practice because it doesn’t sound right or seems regressive. Keep your mind open and explore the reasoning. And understand that if you have been restricted from an activity, then that activity will be better performed when you are not going through any major changes in your body. Of course, if you find that you have an alternate point of view or a differing perspective or reasoning, please feel free to drop in a line, and let’s start the conversation. Ciao!
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