When you live in a dorm with 10 teenage girls there is always some one who is experiencing “that time if month” or as they refer to it in Mexico, “El Regalo” or “The Gift”. Here are some simply ways that my girls and have found to make that week more comfortable and add nutrients to our bodies.
1. Women’s Tea
This tea is full of nourishing herbs that will strengthen your body while on your menstruation. Full of lots of vitamin that help your body such as vitamin C, magnesium, iron and calcium.
2 tsp Red raspberry leaf- Good for relieving cramps
2 tsp Yarrow- Good for heavy bleeding
2 tsp rose hips- High in Vitamin C
2 tsp oat straw-Rich in Calcium and magnesium
2 tsp peppermint- Aids in relieving cramps and nausea
2 tsp nettle- Aids with diarrhea and heavy bleeding
2 tsp horsetail-Heavy Menstruation
Bring water to a boil and then add the herbs, turning water down to a low simmer for 30 minutes. Strain herbs and drink tea warm or cold through out the day. Add a little bit of raw honey is desired.
2. Tinctures
Last summer I formulated two tincture that my older girls and I have found to be very helpful in relieving cramps and lessening bleeding. I will be sharing those next week.
3. Reusable Feminine products
I mentioned these in a post about good stewardship a few months ago. I say it again I absolutely love them! Not only are they better for your health, environment and budget but they are more comfortable as well. There are many great places where you can buy cloth pads on line or you can make your own. There are some blogs that give you a tutorial on how to do that. Menstrual cups are a wonderful alternative to tampons. So far I have found Amazon to have the best deals.(None of the girls have wanted to make any yet, so they just use ordinary pads.)
4. Hot packs
My wheat bag is one of the main reasons that I have yet to ditch my microwave, I know I really should but it heats my wheat bag up so much quicker than it does in an oven. They are warming and relaxing when those cramps. Wheat bags are so easy to make and can stay warm for a long time. You can add different herbs such as lavender, rosemary and white willow bark that are relaxing and healing. I’ve been given ones before made with rice but the wheat holds heat much longer than the rice and doesn’t burn as easily. While I known that hot bottles and electric heating pads are good too but I I love my wheat bag!
5. Warm Bath
If you you have the luxury take a warm herbal bath. In a small muslin bag add a TBS of lavender and yarrow. Place it over the faucet to let the water run over the herbs. When you turn off the water add the muslin bag add it to the bath water.
You can buy all the herbs mentioned from Bulk Herb Store and Mountain Rose Herbs. Mexican Wildflower is an affiliate for these store and may receive a small sum from your purchases through our links.
This post is part of Simple Lives Thursday, Week Long Blog Hop@ Homemaker By Choice, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Frugal Ways, Sustainable Days, Teach Me Tuesdays,
I seriously love your blog! And this post is SO informative! I just love herbal rememdies:) Thank you so very much for linking up to Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways:) It is my sincere hope that you will continue to make Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways a part of your Wednesdays! Keep the great posts comin’:)
Blessings,
Andrea
http://www.frugallysustainable.com
Maria, that wheat bag sounds amazing!! I need to figure out how to make one!
I have a wonderfully clever wheat bag that I got as a gift during my second pregnancy; it is like a belt, with velcro at the ends and the bag bit in the middle, so I can wear it around my lower back or stomach whilst going about my daily tasks. It can also be put in the freezer to use as a cold pack for other types of pain.
Lucy and Kierra, I’m so glad that you have such great plants growing in yor area! It is amazing how God provides for us in so many differnt ways. He is so creative! Yum, huckleberries! 🙂 I wish I had those. One book I love that is about a wide veriity of herbs is “Practical Herbalism”. It’s one of my favorite resorces. I don’t know of any specific ones for foraging. I’m sure they are out there though. With my herbal bath I just used the blossoms but the stems are fine as far as I know. I buy my yarrow and lavender so it just comes with the blossoms.
Thanks for responding to our question. Yes, that’s Northern BC Canada. 🙂 We have an abundance of yarrow as well as dandelions. I have to start using those too! I’m just starting to become more interested in wild herbs — it’s amazing what God has provided for us if we just pay attention. Last year I discovered wild red and blue huckleberries growing 10 feet from my property. I made so much jam. This year I want to try dehydrating them for granola bars. Do you know of any good books on foraging for wild plants/herbs? Also, for the herbal bath using lavender and yarrow I assume just the dried blossoms or stems too? Thanks.
Lucy & Kierra
Hi Kucy and Kierra, I’m glad you stopped by! I’m assuming you live in Northern BC, Canada? I live in Northern BC (Baja California), Mexico. 🙂 I The flower is yarrow, I don’t have any of those around here. So you can use them in the women’s tea recipe or in a warm bath mentioned on this page.
Hi, I just found your blog through GNOWFGLINS Simple Lives Thursday. Great site! My daughter and I were just looking at your recipe and were wondering what kind of flower is posted? We have a ton of those in Northern BC and it would be great if we could use them somehow.
Thanks,
Lucy & Kierra