Science behind Menstrual Practises in India
In India, if you hear the word Menstruation the word Taboo follows up. So we'll see in detail the science behind the practices followed during menstruation. This post does not aim to hurt any individual's feelings and emotions. It is posted only after performing valid studies.
Menstruation is a common process that happens in women every 28 days. But then we frame many rules and regulations for girls during this time. But actually, this isn't rules and regulations but due to cultural changes, it has been transformed to such. These practices have been created by our ancestors for some reasonable cause. But as time passes these practices have been completely changed.
Firstly why provide a separate room? A room is provided to make the women feel comfortable because the first change that happens in women during menstruation is hormonal fluctuation which causes severe mood changes that lead to incomprehensible anger, unreasonable sorrow, irritation on everything around them. The only cure for this state is a peaceful place that can be obtained only by loneliness. And this can also provide the rest as the pains caused for women during menstruation are too difficult to bear.
Next, is why restriction to kitchen and pooja room? And the default reason for this is providing rest to women as a woman has to perform so many tasks in kitchen and pooja room and restricting their entry there will provide them rest for 3 days.
Next is that menstruating women are not allowed to wash their hair for 3 days. Nowadays we follow a fusion culture where we say that by washing our hair all our taboos can be removed. But this practice is a sin says Dr. Rachel who is an Ayurvedic specialist, popularly found in some medical talk shows. She says that, if a menstruating woman takes a hair wash by pouring water on her head, the blood pressure point will change from her uterus to her head, which will cause irregularity in the period flow, which further results in some medical complications. So washing your hair on these three days must be strictly avoided says the doctor. So it is a must that we should avoid hair wash during those days.
And the most controversial practice followed is, menstruating women must not touch anybody, must not step out of the house, and restrictions to garden areas. And the only reason for all these practices is the unavailability of sanitary napkins. People in those days only used cotton cloths as napkins during their periods. This creates a greater impact on whatever we do. Absence of proper sanitary napkin results in the leakage of blood. And we all are very familiar with bloodborne diseases. Blood plays a major role in transmitting hazardous diseases.
Generally, if you go for a blood test, people in the clinics wear gloves, masks and other safety wears to prevent themselves from bloodborne diseases. So my blood will not affect my health, but it has the maximum possibility of affecting the people near me or the person in contact with me.
So menstruating women, being in close contact with their fellow housemates can result in disease spread. And stepping out of the house can result in spreading the disease even to persons we meet. To avoid such, this practice came into existence.
But then, why restriction to garden?? Restriction to the garden is because of the tremendous amount of insects present there. Insects can easily sense blood and get attracted to it, which will further result in a complete nuisance. To avoid that, garden entry was restricted. So the absence of proper and valid sanitary napkins made our ancestors put forth such practices.
And Ayurveda states that the imbalance of 5 elements in our body leads to such practices. And some say that the imbalance of chakra in our bodies during menstruation resulted in this practice. Our ancestral practices are completely meaningful and have a huge amount of science hidden within. But nowadays we don't understand the exact meaning of such practices and blindly follow whatever we feel. All these practices are for our good and wellness. But understanding the real meaning and following it, is very much needed for leading the healthy life our ancestors lead.
And yes this is the science behind menstrual practices.
Next, is why restriction to kitchen and pooja room? And the default reason for this is providing rest to women as a woman has to perform so many tasks in kitchen and pooja room and restricting their entry there will provide them rest for 3 days.
Next is that menstruating women are not allowed to wash their hair for 3 days. Nowadays we follow a fusion culture where we say that by washing our hair all our taboos can be removed. But this practice is a sin says Dr. Rachel who is an Ayurvedic specialist, popularly found in some medical talk shows. She says that, if a menstruating woman takes a hair wash by pouring water on her head, the blood pressure point will change from her uterus to her head, which will cause irregularity in the period flow, which further results in some medical complications. So washing your hair on these three days must be strictly avoided says the doctor. So it is a must that we should avoid hair wash during those days.
And the most controversial practice followed is, menstruating women must not touch anybody, must not step out of the house, and restrictions to garden areas. And the only reason for all these practices is the unavailability of sanitary napkins. People in those days only used cotton cloths as napkins during their periods. This creates a greater impact on whatever we do. Absence of proper sanitary napkin results in the leakage of blood. And we all are very familiar with bloodborne diseases. Blood plays a major role in transmitting hazardous diseases.
Generally, if you go for a blood test, people in the clinics wear gloves, masks and other safety wears to prevent themselves from bloodborne diseases. So my blood will not affect my health, but it has the maximum possibility of affecting the people near me or the person in contact with me.
So menstruating women, being in close contact with their fellow housemates can result in disease spread. And stepping out of the house can result in spreading the disease even to persons we meet. To avoid such, this practice came into existence.
But then, why restriction to garden?? Restriction to the garden is because of the tremendous amount of insects present there. Insects can easily sense blood and get attracted to it, which will further result in a complete nuisance. To avoid that, garden entry was restricted. So the absence of proper and valid sanitary napkins made our ancestors put forth such practices.
And Ayurveda states that the imbalance of 5 elements in our body leads to such practices. And some say that the imbalance of chakra in our bodies during menstruation resulted in this practice. Our ancestral practices are completely meaningful and have a huge amount of science hidden within. But nowadays we don't understand the exact meaning of such practices and blindly follow whatever we feel. All these practices are for our good and wellness. But understanding the real meaning and following it, is very much needed for leading the healthy life our ancestors lead.
And yes this is the science behind menstrual practices.
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