Re-Indigenise & Decolonise Menstrual Health Day
This week we re-Indigenise and decolonise the migrant menstrual justice space and extended community for #MenstrualHealthDay 2025.
We centre traditional teachings and ancestral practices that care or commemorate our varied menstrual cycles.
Testimonials were warmly and gratefully received from individuals of different cultural backgrounds, exploring traditional and Indigenous practices and perspectives passed down to care for one’s menstrual health, including, what they feel is missing in the menstrual justice space.
Dr. Taq Kaur Bhandal, CEO of I’m With Periods:
“My family is from the state of Punjab in India and Pakistan, two sides of a border that was drawn at the end of British colonial rule in 1947.
For centuries we have practiced an ancient healing methodology called Ayurveda that is centered on plants and herbal remedies and seeing the gut and digestion as one of the root causes of health (and illness).
One of my favourite practices for menstrual health is drinking tea made with cumin, coriander and fennel (aka CCF).
All you do is take the whole seeds of each of the plants (about 1 teaspoon each) and boil in water for 15-20 minutes. Strain and enjoy daily. I especially like to use this during Menstrual Autumn/PMS or Menstrual Winter/Period to alleviate any symptoms like bloating or nausea”.
What do you feel is lacking in the MJ space?
“A general positive mindset towards periods, menstrual cycles, and menopause. Even though we are making changes towards this, I still find when I am talking to people that there is a general sense that menstrual cycles, peri-menopause, or menopause are to be dreaded, dealt with, or suppressed.
I feel that in the menstrual health space we can do a better job of showing the everyday women and menstruator that periods and menstrual cycles in general are something to be valued, cherished, and looked at as something positive that add joy, change, and magic into our lives rather than experiences that just need to be managed”.
Anahita, Humanitarian & Migrant Women’s Project Manager:
“Afghan cultural practices have been passed to me.
My mother used to make me herbal tea consisted of fennel seed plus powdered ginger and cinnamon.
For pain management the use of hot water bottle and rest was recommended.
She used to cook an Afghan sweet soup called Leti. It was something like Halwa but more liquid with crushed walnut, ginger and Gur or white sugar.
She believed the liquid will help with pain, blood flow and healthy pregnancy in the future.
Since I had a heavy and irregular period my grandma used to make me a hot beverage called Chawa (water, ginger, crushed walnuts and Gur (Jaggery)”.
What do you feel is lacking in the MJ space?
“Unfortunately due to our culture, access, accurate and age-appropriate information is lacking as well as access to water and menstrual materials.
Most of the girls do not know what to do and expect when they get their period for the first time.
There is a lack of trust and periods are seen something as sin, dirty and shame”.
Deena, Writer & Creative:
“I’ve been deeply curious & in a longtime love affair with my period.
My mother taught me what she knew during my early bleeds (legs up the wall & apply heat), a mentor showed me the way of herbs, energy work & to always use pads because that blood wants to come out. The rest I learned by curiosity. I learned to slow down & ritualize my period with cinnamon in my chai to help with the inflammation, saying prayers, connecting with nature & resting.”
My lineage are Suraye from Iraq who were raised on natural healing methods, but periods were a taboo topic & little discussed, leaving me all the more interested about this universe shapeshifting in my own body.
What’s been passed down has been gathered & resonated from all around. My periods have always been physically & emotionally difficult--cramps, nausea, vomiting, clots, heavy bleeds & later came the endometriosis & auto-immune flares. My solution in the chaos is to go inward, give thanks, create & ground.”
What do you feel is lacking in the MJ space?
“Education, destigmatization & solidarity. We need to eradicate shame around periods. We’re conditioned in society to discredit/not take seriously periods & I think many of us internalize that sentiment, so we ignore or despise our fluctuating emotional & physical bodies.
I’ve found that menstruation & the days leading to it are the greatest revealers of truth. Emotions ride high, telling us something. Thoughts run awry, revealing us deeper. Body bloats & slows, leading us somewhere to rest & listen, if we’re so lucky.
We also can’t talk about the mystique of periods without acknowledging the imbalance of resources across communities & contexts.We need to collectively continue to work towards expanded access of period products so that no one misses out on work or education opportunities due to a lack of resources, allowing for equal opportunity & mobility”.
Jyoti Rani, Yoga Teacher & Menstrual Cycle Coach:
“There are many practices I’ve learnt from my Indian roots, particularly through Ayurveda — a wisdom tradition that honours the cycles of nature, including our own.
One simple practice that’s stayed with me is keeping your feet warm, especially during your period. Growing up, I didn’t question it — it was just something we did. But now I understand the deeper wisdom behind it: warmth supports circulation, soothes the womb, and helps the body feel safe enough to let go.
It’s a small act, but one that reminds me how caring for our bodies can be deeply intuitive and ancestral”.
What do you feel is lacking in the MJ space?
“Decolonisation . The untangling of the structures that have taught us to be ashamed of our menstrual cycles. That have told us to ‘push through,’ to see our cycles as inconvenient, messy, or something to hide. When in truth, they are a powerful source of wisdom.
We need to shift the narrative from shame to reverence. From hiding to honouring. Everyone who menstruates deserves to feel seen, supported and free to live in rhythm with their body — and to reconnect with the ancestral wisdom that’s long been erased or ignored.
Even the inspiration for this post is entangled in colonial thinking. It’s named Menstrual Hygiene Day — but language matters. The word “hygiene” implies that periods are dirty, when they are not. Our cycles are not something to sanitise. They are natural. They are beautiful. They are worthy of care, not shame. And it should be renamed as Menstrual Health Day”.
Yorsalem Feseha,
“In our culture, we use natural, reusable cotton materials for menstrual care. The main reason being period poverty. These are free from chemicals and environmentally friendly. This practice has been passed down from our ancestors and continues to be a trusted method today as it does not affect hormones.
One traditional remedy for relieving menstrual pain is drinking hot flaxseed tea ‘tsedey’. It is known to help ease cramps and support the body during the cycle.
Before going to bed, it's common to have warm drinks like milk, which help relax the body and promote restful sleep. Some communities also use hot compresses or local steaming similar to yoni steaming to soothe menstrual discomfort. These practices reflect the deep knowledge and wisdom within our culture, offering care that respects both the body and the environment.
Culturally, it is still very much a taboo to speak openly about periods/menstruation”.
What do you feel is lacking in the MJ space?
“I believe it comes down to three core issues: access, education, and inclusion.
Far too many people still can’t afford or access safe menstrual products.
Periods are surrounded by stigma, leaving people to manage pain, confusion, and fear in silence.
Education is often limited or completely absent, and trans and non-binary people are regularly left out of menstrual health conversations altogether”.
Robin Orbeta-Lacambra,
Psychotherapist & Founder of GOODBODYFEEL:
“Growing up, discussions about the body, vulvas and beyond were really taboo. The adults in my life kept discussions to a minimum and at a need-to-know basis. My now-self reads this as misplaced body shame (specifically for women and femmes) as an outcome of colonial Christian programming in the Philippines. However, recently, I asked my mom, aunts and older cousins about what practices and teachings they had around menstrual health. I was surprised to hear about certain practices and superstitions for the first time! They shared the following:
Avoid sour foods, peanuts and jackfruit to prevent stomach aches, odour and dark blood. Washing hair, or activities that bring blood to the head should be avoided to prevent headaches. Drinking cold water can lead to headaches and stomach aches.
The meaning I pull from these instructions is: BE CHILL. Nourish ourselves with things that don't tax the body with labour or big sensations. Be soothing and warming with what we ingest. Encourage our energy to flow down and out rather than up and in”.
What do you feel is lacking in the MJ space?
“I dream of a destigmatized relationship with menstruation, everywhere and among all genders.
I wish for unlimited free supply of menstrual products.
I imagine a world where all bleeders get the first 2-3 days of their cycle OFF WORK without question or compromised paycheques”.
Alicia, Early Childhood Educator, Local Organiser:
“I am Ojibwe/Cayuga. Unfortunately my Mom, Aunts and Grandma all suffer(ed) from a degenerative illness so I haven't had much knowledge passed down to me. Only what I have found in community and self study.
I always struggled with very very heavy periods. My period was never talked about and I didn't know it wasn't normal. I came into Indigenous treatment/medicines later in my life. One of my favorites is Raspberry Leaf Tea to help soothe period cramps and keep the uterus toned. What Nimishomis has told me is our moon time is a time to rest. That our moon time also brings us its own medicines so we don't need to smudge during this time of month. I was also told that we used to use moss to collect our period blood. That it was very absorbent and kept the area soothed. I have began to learn about foraging and finding plant medicines on the land. The book I am holding was my Aunt's. "Medicinal and Other Uses of North American Plants”.
What do you feel is lacking in the MJ space?
“There are many things missing. First of all preventative care. How are we ensuring folks who menstruate are healthy and have balanced hormones?? This is a huge question with many solutions. We need community care. We need to reduce stress. We need a society where people aren't worried about living pay cheque to pay cheque. We need to look at what the earth can provide for us to care for ourselves and in return care for her. We need doctors who are not overworked and burnt out. We need doctors who are passionate about the entire circle of health. We need doctors who listen. We need a better system to collect health information so it can be shared across the board between all healthcare practitioners with ease. We need to stop letting people fall through the cracks. We need to teach people to understand their periods... What is normal and what is not. Talking about periods should not be taboo; half of us get a period. We need better support and understanding from people who don't menstruate. We need community”.
