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This Trust Is Guiding Rural India On Menstrual Health & Embracing Their Practices

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin
May 26, 2021

Highlights

Mythri Speaks has been dedicated to the cause of propagating women’s issues since 2014, and has earned its reputation as a grass-root development organization, based in Karnataka.  

Their Animation film ‘Mythri’ on menstruation, has reached over 4 million adolescent girls in government schools. Their content is available free of cost in 9 languages and has been used by governments, educators, researchers, NGOs, medical professionals and others. 

Their workshop “Super Science Behind Menstrual Practices” covers Menstrual Science, especially the science behind traditional menstrual practices, and its important role in prevention of menstrual disorders, through the lens of Ayurveda.

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Mythri Speaks has been dedicated to the cause of propagating women’s issues since 2014, and has earned its reputation as a grass-root development organization, based in Karnataka.  

With menstrual & reproductive health being one of its important programs, the organization has oriented thousands of rural adolescent girls and women through awareness workshops, across the states of Karnataka, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Tamil Nadu.  Sinu Joseph, an engineer by qualification, started working in the social space in 2009. Her first book Women & Sabarimala: Science behind Restrictions, has been a bestseller. In her book Rtu Vidya: Ancient Science behind Menstrual practices, she attempts to explain the scientific & logical reasoning behind the origins of ancient practices using two frameworks: Science & Dharma

Their Animation film ‘Mythri’ on menstruation, has reached over 4 million adolescent girls in government schools. Their content is available free of cost in 9 languages and has been used by governments, educators, researchers, NGOs, medical professionals and others. Their workshop “Super Science Behind Menstrual Practices” covers Menstrual Science, especially the science behind traditional menstrual practices, and its important role in the prevention of menstrual disorders, through the lens of Ayurveda. 

The Menstrual Health & Anemia (Screening, Treatment And Prevention) initiative is largely undertaken in rural areas, in association with the government Primary Health Centres (PHC).​ Women in rural India have been resorting to their own ways for many years. “You should keep an open mind when you come across methods that are different from what you are familiar with. 

The focus should be on whether or not women are being affected by the method they follow rather than force them to change practices just for the sake of social engineering, says Sinu.

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Women in rural India have been resorting to their own ways for many years when it comes to menstruation practices and menstrual health. There are methods that are different from what we are familiar with. Sinu Joseph, the Managing Trustee of Mythri Speaks Trust, gives us an insight into menstrual practices in rural India.

The narrative on menstruation is changing and more awareness is being created on this topic to help first time bleeders understand the concept. The urban narrative on this topic is often laced with the word’s stigma, taboo, pain, traditional / cultural practices and the like which often create a negative attitude towards it. But is it the same rurally? 

Founders and Trustees- Sinu Joseph with Vyjanthi

Sinu Joseph disagrees there is a stigma surrounding menstruation. “From my observations on interacting with women across different sections of society and various communities across India, I have found that the attitude towards menstruation has turned negative or indifferent as women moved away from culturally centered ideas of menstruation”.

Sinu Joseph, an engineer by qualification, started working in the social space in 2009. She has done extensive action-research in the areas of Menstrual & Reproductive Health, Urban Civic Issues and Rural Development. She is a three time TEDx speaker and a writer. Her first book Women & Sabarimala: Science behind Restrictions, has been a bestseller. In her book Rtu Vidya: Ancient Science behind Menstrual practices, she attempts to explain the scientific & logical reasoning behind the origins of ancient practices using two frameworks: Science & Dharma. She feels, “The effects of the Tri-Doshas on menstruation which can culminate into reproductive and gynecological issues if Ayurveda prescribed practices and regimes are not followed”.

Sinu learnt that rural and tribal women who have not been through a formal education system or have had minimal exposure to the urban way of living, exhibit a positive and sometimes (seemingly) exaggerated enthusiasm towards menstruation as nature’s gift to women.

“My observation on the variations in attitude towards menstruation was corroborated when my team and I undertook a study. Majority of women interviewed expressed a positive outlook towards menstruation, breaking the stereotypical assumption that Indian women associate shame with menstruation”, says Sinu.

Rural women would often smile, sometimes feel shy, but mostly say that menstruation was a positive occurrence in their life. In stark contrast, the urban women I interviewed would arrogantly shoot back a question asking ‘why on earth would anyone feel positive towards menstruation?’

“Stepping aside from the popular narratives which focus on menstrual products, our work has explored native methods and cultural practices around menstruation”, reveals Sinu.

Mission of the Trust

Mythri Speaks has been dedicated to the cause of propagating women’s issues since 2014, and has earned its reputation as a grass-root development organization, based in Karnataka. With menstrual & reproductive health being one of its important programs, the organization has oriented thousands of rural adolescent girls and women through awareness workshops, across the states of Karnataka, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Tamil Nadu.

Their Animation film ‘Mythri’ on menstruation, has reached over 4 million adolescent girls in government schools. Their content is available free of cost in 9 languages and has been used by governments, educators, researchers, NGOs, medical professionals and others.

Their workshop “Super Science Behind Menstrual Practices” covers Menstrual Science, especially the science behind traditional menstrual practices, and its important role in prevention of menstrual disorders, through the lens of Ayurveda.

Menstrual Health & Anemia (Screening, Treatment and Prevention camps have been undertaken by them in rural areas, in association with the government Primary Health Centres (PHC). Women are screened for menstrual disorders and Hemoglobin tests are undertaken to detect Anemia with treatment and follow up. In 2018, they covered 1000 girls and women across 10 Grama Panchayats.

Over the years, Sinu has worked extensively in this sphere. When it comes to picking the right sanitary product, she believes, “Women are sensible enough to make the right choices according to their circumstances”.  Her experience and studies has made her realize that menstrual hygiene is important but at the same time, this can be maintained by various sanitary products. Studies show that linking menstrual hygiene to cervical cancer or any other menstrual disorder is a myth. 

 “The only thing bad menstrual hygiene can give you is a bacterial infection”, she says. Women in rural India have been resorting to their own ways for many years. “You should keep an open mind when you come across methods that are different from what you are familiar with. The focus should be on whether or not women are being affected by the method they follow rather than force them to change practices just for the sake of social engineering.”

Respecting the Choice of Menstruators

Traditionally, Indian women used cotton cloth during menstruation, because they preferred it and not because of reasons such as inability to afford sanitary napkins or non-availability of such products.

Even now, many women in India prefer cloth to any other commercially available menstrual product. It is necessary to understand rural women have certain challenges while using sanitary products- main being its disposal. Cloth, therefore, becomes their most preferred option.

Knowledge on proper use can be given if we find that some of the practices might be causing problems. In some villages in Karnataka, women can now purchase a red cloth called “Date Batte” (Date refers to periods, and Batte means cloth) from the grocery shops. This is a soft cloth, quite suitable for menstrual blood absorption.

Cloth pads are another option provided women use loose cloth that can be opened and dried in the sun. Tampons and menstrual cups require insertion of the product into the vagina using hands, it is necessary that high levels of hygiene and cleanliness is maintained. Most girls and women in villages do a lot of physical work with their hands. As a result their hands are not the most clean and usually carry germs/bacteria. And this can be a concern.

Nowadays, small-scale sanitary napkin manufacturing units have sprung up in rural areas. But basic hygiene standards and sanitization of the product are not followed in the small-scale manufacturing units.

“We have come across quite a few women in villages who do not use any of the above products and bleed freely”, she says.  

Poor hygiene with any product can result in rashes and bacterial infection and could cause a problem with white discharge but not disorders like dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, PCOS, endometriosis, amenorrhea, etc. “Knowledge on the right way of using a product needs to be shared”, she adds.

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Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin has done her masters in Journalism & Communication and has worked as a senior journalist, editor and columnist for leading publications like The Logical Indian, Deccan Chronicle, Worldwide Media Corporation, The Bridge and Provoke.
With Infano, she hopes to create more awareness about women’s health issues. Suffering with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, she has also been advocating for its awareness through media.

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Infano Care

Salon Treatment At Home With Easy-to-Make Flax Seed Gel

Written By: Infano
May 23, 2021 | 10:00 AM |
938

Highlights

Apart from being a ‘super food’, flax seed has immense skin and hair growth benefits. It can help you to get a healthy scalp and beautiful hair..

Flaxseed gel can be bought as well as prepared at home. Flaxseed oil can be mixed with other oils like Coconut or Olive oil or Sesame Oil and then applied on the hair for nourishment or can be used independently in a small quantity.

You can keep this gel for an hour on your hair and wash it with shampoo or just simply with water to maintain the quality of your hair and keep the naturally conditioned.

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Typically, one tablespoon or 7 grams of ground fax seeds is loaded with nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium Phosphorus, etc. It is a good source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, but it is mainly known for Omega-3 fatty acids which are a substitute for cod liver oil. It is the best substitute for fish for vegans and vegetarians. Flax seeds also help in preventing breast cancer and prostate cancer because it contains a group of nutrients called lignans. Apart from being a ‘super food’, flax seed has immense skin and hair growth benefits. It can help you to get a healthy scalp and beautiful hair.

Flaxseed gel can be bought as well as prepared at home. Flaxseed oil can be mixed with other oils like Coconut or Olive oil or Sesame Oil and then applied on the hair for nourishment or can be used independently in a small quantity. YouTube influencers like Brenda Blanco, Audrey Victoria, Duro Cubillo, all have tested the flaxseed gel and raved about its benefits. They have all given their mixes and recipes for Flaxseed hair masks but one commonality between all of them is the recipe for flaxseed gel.

Boil the water in a pot and add flax seeds to it. Bring the mixture to a boil by stirring it continuously, and when you start to notice the white froth begin to form, take the pot off the stove and let it rest. As the mixture will start cooling, it will also get thick. The mixture can be filtered through muslin or cheesecloth, once it is completely cool. Add some Aloe Vera gel or any of the above-mentioned essential oils to the filtered gel.

You can apply this gel daily if you particularly have a dry scalp or battle with lifeless, dull hair. You can keep this gel for an hour on your hair and wash it with shampoo or just simply with water to maintain the quality of your hair and keep the naturally conditioned. This gel can be easily stored in your refrigerator.

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Typically, one tablespoon or 7 grams of ground fax seeds is loaded with nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium Phosphorus, etc. It is a good source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, but it is mainly known for Omega-3 fatty acids which are a substitute for cod liver oil. It is the best substitute for fish for vegans and vegetarians. Flax seeds also help in preventing breast cancer and prostate cancer because it contains a group of nutrients called lignans.

Lignans are a very powerful source of antioxidants and estrogen properties. Adding flax seeds to your diet can improve your digestive health by keeping your regular bowel movements intact. We all know that how flax seeds are packed with fiber which can aid in improving heart health, lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Since it can control the blood sugar level, it can also be very helpful for people who have diabetes.

Making it one of the best plant-based proteins, it is very popular amongst people who do not consume fish or meat. It is rich in amino acids that help with immune function, tumors, and anti-fungal infections. Flax seed is most talked about amongst the people who are trying to manage their weights and doing intermittent fasting. Consuming flax seeds can aid in weight management by keeping you full and controlling your appetite.

flax seed

Apart from being a ‘super food’, flax seed has immense skin and hair growth benefits. It can help you to get a healthy scalp and beautiful hair. Since flaxseed is rich in vitamin E, it can help in repairing hair and reducing split ends. It also keeps your scalp hydrated. Flaxseed gel and hair mask can be easily made at home and can be used daily. It’s so good for your hair that it can easily give a competition to the posh hair salons.

Some Benefits are:

1. It can make your hair lustrous and smooth, without using any chemical treatments.

2. Vitamin E present in Flaxseeds works brilliantly for skin as well as hair. It promotes a healthy scalp that results in hair growth and reducing hair damage.

3. Use of flaxseed can prevent premature graying of the hair.

4. Omega-3 present in the flaxseeds can prevent dry scalp, dandruff, and hair thinning keeping them nourished, especially during winters.

5. Tropical application, as well as consumption of flax seeds, can substantially improve your hair quality and elasticity of hair strands preventing hair breakage.

Flaxseed gel can be bought as well as prepared at home. Flaxseed oil can be mixed with other oils like Coconut or Olive oil or Sesame Oil and then applied on the hair for nourishment or can be used independently in a small quantity. YouTube influencers like Brenda Blanco, Audrey Victoria, Duro Cubillo, all have tested the flaxseed gel and raved about its benefits. They have all given their mixes and recipes for Flaxseed hair masks but one commonality between all of them is the recipe for flaxseed gel.

Things you need to prepare flax seed gel are-

1. Some Flaxseed

2. Muslin cloth

3. Filtered water

4. Aloe Vera gel or essential oils such as jojoba oil, argan, or castor oil. (Optional)

Boil the water in a pot and add flax seeds to it. Bring the mixture to a boil by stirring it continuously, and when you start to notice the white froth begin to form, take the pot off the stove and let it rest. As the mixture will start cooling, it will also get thick. The mixture can be filtered through muslin or cheesecloth, once it is completely cool. Add some Aloe Vera gel or any of the above-mentioned essential oils to the filtered gel.

You can apply this gel daily if you particularly have a dry scalp or battle with lifeless, dull hair. You can keep this gel for an hour on your hair and wash it with shampoo or just simply with water to maintain the quality of your hair and keep the naturally conditioned. This gel can be easily stored in your refrigerator. Otherwise, you can use a small amount of the same gel and apply it on hair and your scalp; it can maintain your natural curls and also protect hair from pollution and dust. But please do make sure to consult your dermatologist if your scalp feels irritated and on the choice and quality of ingredients. Having said that, please also make sure to practice moderation in terms of application.  

beautycgmconditionerface maskflax seed gelhair gelhair maskhaircare

Infano

Infano is a platform that aims to impact every facet of a woman's life - health, career, motherhood, lifestyle, and much more. We are a team of like-minded individuals who wish to be a support to women from all walks of life and in everything they do. Our aim, through our posts and articles, is to bring to light the issues and problems that women face in their day-to-day life, to try and make their life a little easier and a little better, provide the latest news updates of women around the world, and to highlight their big and small achievements. We celebrate womanhood each and every day.

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