Hi there,
Thank you so much for joining me today.
My name is Rochelle,
I'm a naturopathic nutritional therapist,
A registered nurse,
Health coach and an intuitive empath and I'm really grateful that you've joined me today as we discuss the interesting synchronicities that have been found in both studies and anecdotally between the female's menstrual cycle and the phases of the moon.
And the word menstruation derives from latin and greek words meaning month.
The idea that menstruation and the moon are somehow in sync likely originated when there were no calendars or digital devices to track periods.
And the average lunar cycle around 29 and a half days became a guide for menstrual cycles too.
Life on the planet revolves around cycles.
Tides ebb and flow,
The moon waxes and wanes and our hormones rise and fall every month.
Environmental cues such as sunlight,
The moon and tides have been known to play a role in regulating menstrual cycles and fertility.
Our bodies are 70% water just like the planet and the moon's gravitational pull affects the earth's oceans causing tides.
This effect is a result of the gravitational interaction between the earth and the moon and the moon's orbit around the earth is elliptical so its gravitational pull on earth varies depending on its position potentially impacting on menstrual cycles.
Many species synchronize reproductive behavior with a particular phase of the lunar cycle to increase reproductive success.
In the past it was thought that an increased number of women even started their period on a new moon and though the recent studies have been inconclusive this may be because we have lost our synchronicity with the moon due to artificial light exposure at night time.
A study done in 2021 found that women's menstrual cycles with a period longer than 27 days were intermittently synchronous with the moon's luminance and gravimetric cycles.
With age and upon exposure to artificial light at night the menstrual cycles shortened and lost this synchrony.
Additionally to support this theory fertility still peaks between the autumn equinox and winter solstice in the northern hemisphere potentially due to the longer winter nights and increased moonlight women are exposed to.
The fact that daylight exposure and moonlight impact on our biological processes has been strongly proven in the past especially in regards to hormonal regulation as is shown by the impact of the melatonin hormone and its contribution to the seasonal affective disorder.
So it's not so abstract to see how it could also be impacting on our monthly cycles too.
We see the most obvious connection with the moon in the way our bodies change in each phase of the cycle just like the moon.
It's noted that each phase of menstruation is connected to a phase of the lunar cycles each with its differing qualities.
Bleeding is said to happen with the new moon.
In this phase both the oestrogen and the progesterone levels drop and for many this can be a painful time both physically and emotionally.
This drop in hormones encourages a time for deep inward focus and nourishing rest.
The shedding of the lining indicates a cleansing of the body potentially triggering urge to cleanse in your life so you may find that you are trying to set new intentions and creatively thinking about new projects.
Pre-ovulation is connected to the waxing moon.
In this period the FSH hormone rises encouraging a cohort of follicles to become recruited in each ovary and as the follicles grow the oestrogen levels subsequently rise until a small spike in the FSH and a large spike in the LH prepare the dominant follicle to prepare to release its egg.
The fluid levels increase in the cervix and the consistency changes ready for the entry of the sperm.
Things are emulated in the rising waxing moon in that often many can feel that they are having this upbeat outgoing energy surge and with a feeling of a growing potential.
It can manifest as a great enthusiasm to materialize new ideas or try something new and for many this can be a time of increased sexual desire and attractiveness and a period where many are attracted to many more people than they normally are.
Ovulation is connected to the full moon.
An abrupt rise in the FSH and LH hormones lead to an increase in oestrogen and the other sex hormones.
The hormones stimulate follicle to rupture allowing the egg to burst out from the follicle and for many this can be when our motivation peaks and our stamina,
Libido and sexual desire are at their highest and competitive nature kicks in.
There's also been found to be a increase in the left hemisphere activity which for many can find they can get an increase in their verbal fluency and how they articulate notions and this is a good time to be able to draw in energy,
Connect and communicate with others.
And the final phase is premenstruation or the luteal phase connected to the waning moon.
As the oestrogen remains high and the follicle transforms into a corpus luteum producing progesterone,
This stops the proliferative phase and it starts a secretory phase preparing the uterus hopefully for the implantation of an embryo.
For many though this is a period of darkness each month as our energy wanes and our life force contracts for a few days and this is a time for reflection,
Introspection,
When you are most in tune with your inner knowing.
It's a good time to recognize and transform difficult areas of your life so you may feel tired or low so it's important to spend time on yourself resting,
Sleeping and nurturing self-care.
So I hope this has been insightful and can maybe give some guidance into how we can support ourselves through the menstrual cycle while using the knowledge of the planet.
Bye for now!
