Body & beauty

Emma Cannon: How to be more in-tune with your menstrual cycle

Our periods can give us insight into our wellbeing

Our periods can tell us so much about our health and fertility, and when we pay attention to the ebb and flow of our monthly bleed, we can really learn a lot about our general emotional wellbeing too. Whether your period is long, short, irregular or some months doesn’t appear at all, pay close attention and keep a track of what’s happening, as it may hold a vital clue to what’s going on inside. Here are some common period problems and how to manage them…

Common period problems

If you have a long cycle (five to seven days bleeding) it may mean ovulation is not occurring regularly. Irregular bleeding and prolonged bleeding can also occur. Bleeding between periods or prolonged bleeding may be caused by polyps, fibroids or infection within the uterus or cervix. In severe cases it may also indicate cancer, so if this becomes a regular problem, it’s important to see your GP or gynaecologist. If you have no periods or irregular periods, it may also mean you’re not ovulating. It is common in women who are considered underweight. The body requires a certain level of body fat for reproduction and ovulation to occur, and many women who are able to gain weight will see the return of their cycle.

3 Natural ways to manage minor period problems

1. For moodiness: keep a diary and try meditating

Start to keep a simple diary where you record the days of your cycle. Day one is the day the period starts. Mark this in your diary and make a note of your emotions throughout the cycle. Address any areas in your life, or any past issues, that may be impacting your present-day happiness. Once you have identified the patterns, you can try meditation, affirmations or a similar practice to help calm the mind.

2. For exhaustion after your period: try my Post-Period Tonic

Based on traditional healing from the East, this is simply to drink bone broth or add bone broth to other dishes. If you don’t eat meat you could also try adding more of the following to your diet: darkened, but not charred, ginger root warms and nourishes the blood of the uterus, and black sesame oil or seeds (if difficult to find, then substitute regular sesame seeds) and eggs nourish blood.

3. For irregular and/or painful periods: consider acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used for many years to help women manage minor and not so minor period problems. Acupuncture stimulates the hypothalamus; the part of the brain that controls hormones, so it is very good at regulating the cycle. It is also the most effective treatment for period pain and PMS.

Emma Cannon is an integrated women’s health expert, registered acupuncturist and author. Check out more of Emma’s fantastic work at emmacannon.co.uk