Rules Ancient Women Followed On Their Period
to enhance beauty, energy + fertility!
Until recently, I dreaded getting my period. Until I learned that some studies show we actually detox through our menstrual blood- releasing forever chemicals, heavy metals, BPA, pesticides, phthalates, and that ancient cultures understood this. They saw menstruation as a sacred time and utilized deep rest, warm teas, nourishing foods, and other things to enhance this detox.
I wanted to do a deep dive into ancient cultures- what did they actually do during their period? What did they believe it was for? And what could I take from that and bring into my own life?
The first month I tried it- this is TMI but my flow was so much more intense than normal. I was so confused because I didn’t expect to see such a massive effect. But when I looked into it, I found out that it’s a sign of increased detox.
And after that? My cycle balanced out. And I just felt better- in ways that went way beyond just my period.
Now I treat it like this cozy, inward detox week- a mini built in wellness retreat if you will. And it’s completely changed my life.
It’s anti-aging. It boosts your fertility, your energy, your glow- for the rest of the month, not just during your cycle. This doesn’t just make your period easier. It upgrades everything: metabolism, digestion, hormones, even your mood and skin.
And science backs that up- studies show that lowering stress and supporting liver function during your period can improve estrogen clearance, thyroid function, and cellular repair.
It’s one of the simplest but most powerful things I’ve done for my body.
And I don’t know why more people aren’t talking about it!
(ps: should I make a period week plan?! Filled with teas, easy recipes, beauty rituals, grocery lists, and more? Let me know!)
Traditional Chinese Medicine
In TCM, menstruation is seen as a monthly shedding of excess heat, toxins, and stagnation.
Blood is sacred- and it's called “Tian Gui”, the Heavenly Water
They recommend slowing down, keeping the womb warm (no cold drinks!), and sipping on warming herbal broths like red date, goji berry, and angelica root to nourish Blood and Qi.
Rest isn’t laziness- it’s laying the foundation.
And doing too much during your period was believed to weaken the kidneys and steal vitality from future fertility.
What they said to do:
Sip only warm herbal teas + drinks: red date (jujube), goji berry, dong quai (angelica sinensis)
Eat congee, bone broth, and softly cooked eggs with ginger (you’ll see hot soupy foods to be a patter here!)
Keep your feet and abdomen warm (get cozy wool socks!)
Use moxa (mugwort heat therapy) on the lower belly for cramps (I’ve never tried this!)
Rest as much as possible to preserve your kidney essence
Avoid:
cold foods or drinks (ice water, smoothies, raw salads)
overexertion- don’t run, lift heavy, or push through fatigue
emotionally charged situations- this is a time to ground
Ancient Beauty Tip:
Drinking goji + longan tea was believed to brighten the eyes, smooth the skin, and restore hair shine when sipped during your period. BRB- off to go make goji jujube tea!!)
Ayurveda
In Ayurveda, menstruation is a natural detox driven by Apana Vayu- the downward energy that governs elimination. Science now confirms this to be true!
It’s considered a time of purification, where the body clears out physical, emotional, and energetic waste.
Women were encouraged to avoid spicy or drying foods, and instead eat soupy kitchari, drink cumin-fennel tea, and rest deeply while avoiding loud music or overstimulation.
Pushing through was seen as a fast-track to hormonal imbalances and premature aging.
Do:
Favor soupy, warm foods like kitchari, steamed root veggies, dates, and ghee
Drink cumin, coriander, fennel tea to support gentle detox
Rest, reflect, journal, meditate- your intuition is heightened
Keep the body and mind warm and undistracted
Increase self study/reading!!! My fav one.
Avoid:
spicy, overly salty, or dry foods
loud environments, sex and over-socializing
suppressing emotions- this is a sacred purge!!
yoga
Ancient Period Beauty Tip:
Eating dates soaked in ghee with saffron was believed to build ojas- your inner vitality and beauty glow. Dates with butter inside are incredible too!
drink 1 cup of nettle tea per day! It’s an alkalizing mineral rich diuretic that's excellent for gently removing excess fluids and flushing waste from the blood and lymph.
Traditional European Folk Healing
In medieval and pre-industrial Europe, women knew that menstrual blood carried potent energy.
Menstruation was linked to the moon cycle, and women would retreat, rest, and spend time wildcrafting herbs or making broths.
Hot compresses, mugwort, nettle, and raspberry leaf teas were used to soothe cramps, replenish iron, and support the womb. If you do one thing, just try to have a pot of warm tea daily!
Some villages even saw it as bad luck for a woman to cook or bake bread during her bleed- because she was meant to receive, not give.
Do:
Warmed stones for cramps- my friend got me the BEST wool and natural rubber compress.
Eat beef broth, liver, dark leafy greens, and barley soup
Rest by the hearth, sit in the sun, or tend to soft tasks like weaving, journaling, or breadmaking if energy allows.
Don’t:
Avoid baking bread or fermenting during your bleed (energetics can interfere!)
Don’t fast- this is a time to receive nourishment
Avoid bathing in cold rivers, ice baths, or letting your hair stay wet
Ancient Beauty Tip:
Yarrow tea was used to strengthen blood and enhance feminine beauty- its use during menstruation was considered beautifying and spiritually cleansing.
Slavic + Eastern European Traditions
Slavic folk medicine held the womb as sacred and powerful -menstruating women were actually considered to be in between worlds, with stronger intuition and sensitivity.
They were protected during this time- kept warm by the hearth, given fermented foods, bone broth, beet kvass, and warm millet or buckwheat porridge to nourish blood and vitality.
Herbs like yarrow, red clover, and viburnum were used to ease pain and restore balance.
In some traditions, women buried their menstrual cloths in the earth- offering it back as a sacred return.
Do:
Eat warm grains: buckwheat, millet, sour rye porridge
Sip beet kvass, fermented cabbage soup (shchi), or warm berry compotes
Burn herbs like juniper, wormwood, or birch bark to cleanse energy
Use red thread around the wrist for womb protection during your period
Spend time outside wrapped in wool or linen if weather permits
Avoid:
going barefoot, especially on cold ground
handling pickling, dough, or ferments (it was believed your aura could interfere!)
Cut your hair or nails- seen as removing sacred strength
Ancient Beauty Tip:
Drinking warm raspberry leaf and honey tea while sitting by the fire was believed to make skin clear and keep the womb youthful.
Isn’t it wild how all these ancient cultures- separated by oceans and centuries- said the same things?
Wear wool socks.
Eat warm, soupy foods.
Rest deeply.
Sip warm herbal teas.
It’s a monthly wellness retreat built right into your biology-
and honoring it might just be the most productive thing you can do for your health.
Yes please make a period week planner!!❤️