The history of women’s day

 

August is women’s month in South Africa and the perfect time to take a moment to thank all the women in our lives for their nurturing love and care, for the unseen sacrifices, for getting up and showing up every day with only the strength and grace that women can. We celebrate women’s day on the 9^th of August every year as it was this day in 1956 when more then 20 000 South African women of all races staged a protest march to the Union buildings in Pretoria to protest against the ‘pass laws’. The women stood silently for 30 minutes and then started singing a protest song with the lyrics, “You strike a woman, you strike a rock”. This phrase has come to represent women’s courage and strength in South Africa.

Health care for South African Women

Women’s day also now serves to highlight the many issues women still face in South Africa today such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, gender-based violence and unequal pay. There is still a lot of work to be done and it is important to observe women’s month to tackle some of these issues. With big gaps in our healthcare system, women are paying the price! Pregnant women and women with cervical cancer are struggling to get the help they need. Not only this, but women in rural areas not only lack access to reliable health care but also lack access to adequate sanitary products. Some young women are even missing school due to lack of menstruation products. Females can expect to pay R500-R600 a year on sanitary products and for a large majority of the population, this simply is not feasible. Sanitary products are also damaging to our planet. The average woman may use approximately 11 400 tampons in her lifetime, and it can take between 500 – 1000 years for each one to biodegrade. There is a better solution which is why Nature’s Relief has teamed up with Alocup to create a sustainable hormonal health package for women. This pack includes a reusable period cup, CBD pain drops to help with inflammation and CBD muscle rub to help with cramps.

A sustainable alternative

A menstrual cup is a type of reusable feminine hygiene product. It is a small, flexible funnel-shaped cup made of rubber or silicone that you insert into your vagina to catch and collect period fluid. Cups can hold more blood than other methods, leading many women to use them as an eco-friendly alternative to tampons. Menstrual cups are a much greener alternative as one menstrual cup can be reused for up to 10 years. Think about all the tampons, pads and panty-liners that you won’t be contributing to our landfills and oceans. Alocup menstrual cups were developed for the busy women, saving you time and money. The menstrual cup is the perfect solution for those who lack access to sanitary products.

Managing period pains

Do you know that in one study up to 14% of women reported taking sick leave due to unmanageable period pains.  Period pains should never get in the way of you living your life and luckily there is a natural alternative solution to help manage the pain. Just before your period starts, your progesterone declines but inflammatory chemicals called prostaglandins increase. This can cause inflammation, pain sensation, uterine contractions, and heavy bleeding. Recently scientists have discovered that CBD inhibits the prostaglandin-producing enzyme. This has an anti-inflammatory effect and can reduce pain and cramps. CBD also helps to relax the muscles which eases the contractions of the uterus. Nature’s Relief CBD pain is a high dosage of CBD that is excellent for assisting the symptoms of period pains.

Massage

A gentle massage over the abdomen can relax the pelvic muscles and alleviate cramping. Using Nature’s Relief muscle balm as your massage oil can help ease tight and contracted muscles. Topical CBD can address the pain and inflammation at a specific area of your body.  Using CBD muscle balm to target the area of sensation can be beneficial. Get your partner to give you a massage during this time to send a little extra love to your body.

Create, nurture, and transform

Research has shown that when watching other’s in pain, women’s brains show more empathy. Women care deeply for those around them, they are the eternal nurturers and mothers of the earth. Women often neglect their own health to care for others. We encourage all women to give themselves the love and respect they so freely give to others. “A woman is the full circle, within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Women%27s_Day
https://www.health24.com/Lifestyle/Woman/Menstruation/spotlight-on-sa-womens-menstruation-plight-but-still-not-enough-being-done-20180528
https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/menstrual-cup
https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/womens-brains-show-more-empathy
https://www.foriawellness.com/blogs/learn/natural-pain-relief-cramps-cbd