Seeing the Moon: Folk Menstrual Care

Armenian folk and herbal practices for menstrual care are documented throughout many of the resources I’ve used for armmad, which can be found on our references page. The first blog I wrote here focused on Stinging Nettle, which was used both internally and externally in medieval Armenia to provide relief. In general, our ancestors’ favored medicinal methods included steeped baths, teas and poultices.

For this post, I relied on the menstrual care chapter in Տանու Բճիշկ (Home Doctor) written by Garabed Kochariants.

This chapter opens up with a note on all the different terms that have been used to describe this phenomenon: monthly discharge, period (“tashdan”), feminine order, monthly order or simply, the moon. Throughout the beginning of the chapter, he frequently refers to it as ‘լուսին տեսնելը’ which translates to ‘seeing the moon’, and the phrase is too beautiful to neglect.

Dr. Kochariants emphasized that if one was “fed and merry”, they would not need medicine during their cycle — apart from a recommendation to rest at home and let your feet take you to places that bring you joy. The symptoms that would require herbal or medicinal intervention are described below, along with the recommended prescription. I have taken the liberty of removing the bloodletting and leeches.

Standard symptoms such as general fatigue, fever, headache, breast tenderness, and joint pain could be treated with the following.

• Yoni steam

  • Mix fresh cut grass (likely sorghum) with boiling water and steam yourself. Placing sweetgrass into a muslin bag and placing on shower floor can be an easy way to adopt this practice.

• Foot bath

  • As an alternative to a yoni steam, a foot bath can be prepared in the same way.

• Strong tea brewed with chamomile flowers or alfalfa flowers.

Stomach pains or constipation can be treated with the following medicines—classified as laxatives. These were prescribed along with the recommendation to eat easy to digest foods, to rest and to avoid cold, damp air.

• 8 teaspoons of salt mixed with water, drink on an empty stomach.

• 1 teaspoon ground rhubarb mixed with 1/2 cup of cold water, drink on an empty stomach.

• 3 tablespoons of olive oil/flaxseed oil with two tablespoons of honey, drink on an empty stomach.

More severe symptoms such as loss of appetite, strength, insomnia, stomach indigestion, inflammation and yellowed skin required a different approach. Aforementioned laxatives were recommended along with the following notable concoction.

• 2 parts of iron filings mixed with 3 parts sugar, equal parts of chamomile flowers and turmeric with enough honey or rose jam to make a paste. Eat one teaspoon a day. This mixture could still be made and consumed without the iron filings. This practice does emphasize the importance of consuming iron rich foods however, or taking iron supplements in its stead.

There are times when our cycle is irregular, or we inadvertently skip a month. During this, we may experience swelling as well chest and back pain. The following is recommended.

• Apply warm linen or cloths to painful areas and drink 1/4 of the following mixture mixed into water twice a day: 1 teaspoon of ground rhubarb with 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Incorporating rhubarb extract can be a quick and cost effective way of honoring this practice.

Finally, in cases of heavy flow that present with fatigue, heartburn, dizziness and nausea the following is recommended.

• 8 teaspoons of chicory root, 2 teaspoons of ground mugwort mixed with a half cup of good red wine or water. Cover this and keep it in a warm area for 3 days, then strain. Consume 2 tablespoons, 4 times a day.

• 8 teaspoons of wild oak bark boiled in 6 cups of water until it has reduced to half the original volume. Strain this and mix with an equal part of wine or alcohol. Consume 2 tablespoons, 4 times a day.

• Strong tea made with 1 handful of mugwort or burdock and 5 cups of water. It was recommended to drink a small teacup, 6 times a day.

I included the prescriptions in their original form to honor the text but if you aren’t feeling too interested in creating all these brews, I’ve simplified the suggestions as follows.

• For teas: try mugwort, burdock root, chamomile or alfalfa flowers.

• For steam or footbaths: try sweetgrass, sorghum leaves and chamomile flowers.

• For syrups, tinctures or extracts: try rhubarb, oak bark or chicory root.