A Historical Timeline Of Menstruation Periods

Once more, it’s that time of the month. It’s a pain even with modern medicine and menstruation products. In the past, when these products were less common, how did menstruators manage? As menstruation has been a natural part of human culture for so long, we are not aware of the difficulties that menstruators once faced. This article will demonstrate how menstruators have handled their periods going all the way back to ancient civilizations!

Menstruation was regarded as a sign of fertility and a good omen for the home in the Babylonian, Hindu, and Chinese ancient civilizations. The menstrual lady was regarded as the most significant individual and was shown respect by society, according to the Aztecs and the Mayans. Yet, menstruation was linked to many tales about witchcraft and the power to fend off storms in other civilizations. Sadly, there wasn’t much information on the subject previously, but what was discovered revealed some incredible truths!

The Ancient Civilizations

Menstruating women in ancient Greece also utilized tampons made of sea sponges and lint-wrapped pieces of wood, which is an unusual tradition that is being practiced today! Roman women were also known to use wool tampons and pads.

Medieval Times- England

It was a difficult time since there was a lot of religious stigma associated with menstruation in this country. Ladies who were menstruating frequently took precautions to allay any concerns. They frequently carried the remnants of a burned toad at their waist as a cramp medicine and wore fragrant herbal pouches around their waist or neck to cover off the smell of blood.

In the past, menstruation was less frequent or regular for those who had periods. This has been influenced by a number of things. In the past, menopause was experienced by menstruating women much earlier than it is today—in some cases, as early as their late thirties. In addition, there were fewer periods because the majority of women at the time ate poorly. Many were underweight, which caused their cycles to be erratic or nonexistent (oligomenorrhea) (Amenorrhea). Sadly, individuals suffering from eating disorders like anorexia and athletes with very low body fat percentages are typically afflicted by these illnesses.

Menstruating women throughout the middle ages had a variety of ways to collect menstrual blood despite the “rareness” of menses. Menstruating women in the medieval age produced tampons similarly to the Romans in antiquity by wrapping wool or cotton around wooden sticks. Pads were still utilized at this time, but they were made of slightly different materials.

Blood moss, also known as Sphagnum cymbifolium, was used to absorb menstrual blood. Because blood moss is so absorbent, it was frequently employed as a filler in menstrual pads (and even toilet paper!). Interesting fact: Blood moss earned its name because it was frequently used in battlefield first aid to treat wounds, but some people think the name comes from the fact that it was also used as a menstrual pad device.

Rags were frequently utilized to manage menstrual bleeding. Using a rag for periods was problematic since menstrual women struggled to keep it in place because underwear was not commonly available at the time. It was therefore quite challenging to prevent spills and stains. According to archeological excavations, some people wore shorts underneath their clothes to hold the rag in place. Women would just wear red because there was still a chance of stains in spite of this.

The Tudor Era

Providing some history on the Tudor era, it encompassed the Elizabethan era and lasted in England and Wales from 1485 to 1603. It is common knowledge that throughout the Tudor era, the bulk of Europeans transitioned from catholic to protestant religious views. Because religion played a significant part in Europeans’ daily lives, it was frequently utilized to provide an explanation for a range of issues, including why women menstruate.

Menstruation was perceived as Eve’s due compensation from God for giving in to temptation in the Garden of Eden. Women who were menstruating were prohibited from using painkillers by the church because they were thought to be filthy and unclean. Menstruating women consequently turned to herbal medicines to relieve menstrual discomfort. They were forbidden from receiving Holy Communion when they were having their monthly periods, and some even believed that menstrual blood was harmful. The procedures used to collect menstrual blood during the Tudor era were nearly comparable to those used during the medieval era.

Although menstruation was a taboo topic during the Tudor era, it was an everyday occurrence. All girls at the time anticipated getting their period, and when they did, it was thought that they had reached reproductive age and were capable of getting pregnant. The menstrual cycle was a significant aspect of Tudor society, despite the fact that it was rarely mentioned. The ability of a woman to procreate was essential to the continuity of a family line.

Victorian Era to the late 1900s

The Hoosier sanitary belt was first made available during the Victorian era. It was a cloth belt with a place to fasten a sanitary pad that could be washed and used again. They enjoyed enormous popularity between the 1890s and the 1970s. Curiously, the Hoosier sanitary belt was invented in 1888, two years before the first disposable pads, known as Lister’s Pads by Johnson & Johnson. Because pulp bandages are a very absorbent substance, they were used in these pads.

Tampons were also a common choice in this area. Dr. Earl Haas created a brand-new model that included cotton and two cardboard tubes. The tampon was put together using these tubes, which simplified installation.

The self-adhesive pads that we know and use today were invented in the 1970s.

Modern Day Period

There are now more possibilities than there were in earlier civilizations because of how far we’ve come! Research and modern medicine have made managing one’s monthly menses easier than in the past (though it may not always feel that way!). It is crucial that we do our part and support environmentally friendly feminine products as more study is undertaken and we learn more about the effects of period products on the environment.

Although the idea of menstruation being taboo in some places still lingers, we believe that by spreading awareness, we can all work to eliminate the stigma attached to the subject!

Conclusion

This site was created to shed light on how the idea of menstruation has changed over time; as eras and civilizations changed, so did the items that were utilized. Many people are now pushing 플레이테크 for environmentally friendly menstrual products in light of the present global environmental catastrophe.

The menstrual cycle will likely continue to change throughout time, perhaps for the better for menstruators around the world.