27 things you must know about your period

Irritability, lower abdominal pain, menstruation always brings all kinds of discomfort to sisters, so much so that they dread the arrival of those days every month. Let the editor of Yiwang.com take stock of 27 things to pay attention to during menstruation.

1. Do I need to take fewer showers and wash my hair during special periods?

Elderly people always like to say that you shouldn’t bathe during menstruation. The reason is that the pelvic cavity is congested and the amount of blood in the head is reduced. If you accidentally catch a cold, the amount of blood in the head is even less, which can easily lead to dizziness and headaches. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the water temperature of the shower at this time. In fact, you sweat more during menstruation, so it is also important to keep your body comfortable and clean. Adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to your bath can help soothe your body and mind. Massaging your head while washing your hair can relieve stress on your nervous system. Remember to dry your scalp with hot air immediately after washing your hair.

2. Can I still take Chinese medicine at this time?

Whether it is appropriate to take Chinese medicine during menstruation should be judged according to the situation. It is best not to take Chinese medicine that is too warm or too cold. For example, it is fine to take tonic medicine for regulating qi and blood; but if it is medicine for promoting qi and blood circulation to treat freckles, it is not suitable to take it, otherwise it will cause too much blood and damage qi and blood; cold medicine for clearing away heat and detoxifying is also not suitable for taking during menstruation.

3. I have had back pain for the past few days. It didn’t hurt before, but now it hurts a lot. Do I need to see a doctor?

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the waist is the home of the kidneys, which means that the waist is where the kidneys reside. So lower back pain may be a kidney problem. If the lower back pain is severe, please seek medical attention immediately.

4. Are special dietary guidelines required?

Yes, it is best to eat small meals frequently at this time. Some people like to overeat because the body's metabolism is accelerated at this time, so they feel a good appetite; but in fact, overeating will also cause the problem of obesity.

It is suitable to consume high-carbohydrate foods during menstruation: such as whole wheat bread, fruits, vegetables, potatoes, etc., which can maintain blood sugar stability and make the mood calmer. Carbohydrates can increase the level of serotonin in the brain, which can improve mood and regulate sleep.

Everyone knows that during menstruation, you should avoid eating raw or cold food, including cold lettuce, watermelon, icy food and drinks, so as to avoid constriction of blood vessels in the abdominal cavity, insufficient blood flow and aggravated pain. Traditional Chinese medicine advocates avoiding eating raw and cold foods on a daily basis. When the liver meridian is hot, your mouth will become dry and you will want to eat ice, which will cause cold spleen and stomach and form a vicious cycle. Many young girls suffer from menstrual pain due to eating ice, and eating ice for a long time will worsen their physical condition. It is especially taboo to drink cold drinks during menstruation, as it will cause coldness and congestion in the reproductive system. In severe cases, it may even lead to various gynecological diseases and infertility.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that food can be divided into cold and hot types, and cold food should not be eaten.

5. Can I eat some crispy fried food when I am under the double blow of my body and mind?

Fatty, sweet and greasy food is taboo during menstruation. Because high-fat foods can affect the changes in estrogen in the body, and high-protein foods can hinder the synthesis of serotonin, it is better to avoid them.

At this time, the smart way is to drink more water, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and eat more fiber-rich foods. Cellulose can help eliminate excess estrogen from the body. Eat less oily foods and foods containing sugar, caffeine, alcohol, artificial sweeteners and other irritants. Eat more foods containing vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, as well as calcium and magnesium chloride, which are nutrients the body needs during menstruation.

6. Should we give up the seafood that makes us crave so much?

Not necessarily. Seafood should also be treated differently. Crabs are a food that is associated with severe cold and should be avoided during menstruation. Shrimp is a warm food, so you can eat it with confidence.

7. What is the reason for nipple swelling and pain before sex?

Premenstrual nipple pain is caused by hormone fluctuations in the body. Some people experience itching. If the pain is severe, you can go to the breast clinic to check whether there is breast fibrocystic disease.

8. Can delicious desserts comfort painful menstrual periods?

Sorry, but less dessert. Sweets can cause blood sugar to fluctuate dramatically, make your mood more unstable, and also consume B vitamins and minerals. High-sodium foods can easily prevent water from being excreted normally, causing edema and breast swelling. Caffeinated beverages like coffee, cola and tea can also cause mood swings and breast swelling, deplete B vitamins and disrupt carbohydrate metabolism. High-fat foods also increase the body's need for minerals, while frozen desserts can easily lead to poor blood circulation. So, if you really need food comfort, choose low-fat, high-fiber foods, nuts, grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Whole grains and nuts are rich in B vitamins, which can soothe premenstrual anxiety and irritability, and regulate symptoms such as abdominal pain, breast tenderness, and fatigue. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C, which can also relieve depression.

9. Why can yoga help fight against menstrual cramps?

It is true that practicing yoga can reduce menstrual problems. Yoga training mainly targets the spine, which can promote blood circulation, nourish spinal nerves, and balance the internal organs. Yoga has many exercises for the lower limbs, which can help eliminate blood stasis in the pelvic cavity. Yoga exercises can make the autonomic nervous system excited, thereby relaxing the body, relieving back pain and tension. In short, the function of yoga helps to regulate menstruation and make us and our "old friends" feel happy. He Jie, a senior yoga instructor, said: "If you keep doing yoga for one month, your dysmenorrhea will be relieved. If you practice for more than three months, the improvement of dysmenorrhea will be particularly obvious."

10. I feel lazy and don’t want to move. What should I do? Can I still exercise?

It is best to engage in continuous, gentle aerobic exercise during menstruation. Examples include stretching, walking, jogging, biking, or swimming. As long as you are still able to move and are willing to move, give yourself a chance. Staying stiffly curled up at home will only make you more tense and uncomfortable. Exercising more than 3 times a week is definitely a good habit that you should stick to at any stage.

If you experience period pain, exercise can actually help. At this time, you can do some stretching exercises and flexibility exercises moderately. When the pain is so severe that you cannot go out or walk, do not curl up into a ball, as that will make your muscles tighter and make the pain worse.

If you don’t want to move or go out during your period, try a different method. In fact, menstruation forces us to communicate with our bodies. At this time, you can examine your health problems, or calm down and think about something. You can sit at home and feel sorry for yourself, or you can pick a book to read, a movie to watch, or write a letter to a friend you haven't seen for a long time. These are all good reasons to look forward to your period. But don't choose tragic novels or horror movies that challenge your ability to control your emotions.

11. Is chocolate therapy, the favorite menstrual therapy among girls, reliable?

Let me tell you sisters a good news. Chocolate can induce the brain to release endorphins, which make people feel happy. In addition, every gram of chocolate contains about 1 mg of magnesium (magnesium can control appetite, stabilize mood, and help regulate the concentration of estrogen), so chocolate is suitable for consumption during menstruation. But don’t think that girls who are menstruating can eat and drink as much as they want. High-calorie sweets can easily make you fat and also cause acne.