Adamya Chetana
It is International Women's day but more than business as a women led enterprise, my thoughts are with history as my daughters are in grade XII and X. Elder one is in the Karnataka state board hence we are jointly learning about Pulikeshi, Amoghvarman and how important Kanchi was a town to various kings. I also feel anger and sadness thso much that is important to us as Indians was never taught to us. So when I hear the cry for changing history books, I say start yesterday! With mom as yoga teacher, we have adopted 70% indian system of medicine and 30% western.
We did take vaccines but also did kadha and rasams. As I slowly transformed from IT professional to an activist, what I had learnt about menstruation also started changing by learning new facts and has now a mix of learning from our amazing Ritukala ceremonies to Louise Hay, from cloth pads to menstrual cups! So as I listen to our Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, I feel that we as Indians have finally started feeling comfortable in our skin and are willing to relook at what we have been taught and build our own perspective, to take our stand based on our interests without always seeking comfort in a camp.
Let's go back to history again and guess who else is missing from history books. Women! History would have us believe that it is men who carry civilisational load but look around! Men from every part of the world look similar but it is women in their colourful dresses - sarees and salwar kameez for us Indian women, who are standing on world stages bringing their culture proudly with them! As my colleague Rupal brings to office food, a Gujarati married to someone from Kerala, she ensures their kids celebrate both the culture and festivals. I predict that in the next decade, women will arrive in the business world in their own skin and can stop pretending to be a better man! or play by their rules! I feel we have lived in a work world designed by men for too long. Who says women have to be like men, forgetting home and kids and working 12-18 hours if they want to rise to the top! In Stonesoup, PTM is a good enough reason to change review date and time. Why have a second parent also going missing from our kids' lives? We care for different things and corporate culture will reflect that. We like collective credit and decision making and nurturing rather than alpha being rising up thru pack kind of atmosphere. We don't need to mould women as men, nor do reverse, going forward, the ideal is when each individual functions according to what feels natural to them on their journey to success.
Back to women and leadership, Data confirms that women led organisations are being treated poorly, being starved of finances. Vineeta Singh, of IIT and IIM pedigree, was still asked about her husband before the cheque! https://youtu.be/C1pQE1aLX7A And she was a woman founder talking about women's makeup products! Imagine us at Stonesoup in a men dominated space of waste! To top it, we don't want to manage waste better, we want to eliminate it - change the industry like Steve Jobs did! Looking at our insta feed u didn't find waste pics but more of fun and celebrations? That's how we women have learnt to teach our kids about good food - talk about taste but keep focus on nutrition!
btw, just love this video.. Aapna time bhi aayega!
Back to our team, we were an all women team and Karon during the UNO Seed program talked about diversity doesn't mean just more women but building an organisation that works for both. It has taken some learning and changes (most women in stonesoup work till 12-4pm, men till 6pm, salaries always determined by value they add). UN Women Industry Disruptor taught us to be comfortable in our women's skin. We care for people, the planet and profits. Survival and thriving of the company has to go hand in hand with that of our children and community. Compostable pads, 24 hour composters, two most popular greenwashing solutions in our categories, we wouldn't even touch. Fruits like us will always win even when Mcdonalds creates more noise. Like fruits, we will also nourish the producer and the buyer and not make super profits for producer at expense of buyer!
Feeling sorry for us fruits? Don’t! We are a set of 3 companies, 2 for profit and 1 non profit. Rekke became self-sustaining in 2020 and this year Aaditi will become self-sustainable too. Trust is winning the confidence of CSR to do path breaking work. This takes a ton of load off our head and we know we will continue to grow slowly but steadily. Not by money raised from investors but by that paid to us by customers. Big Funding would have allowed us to make more mistakes faster, and yet, starved of funding, has increased our creativity. We will live. And thrive. Remember, we as women have lived for decades without our stories in history being written and yet all culture wars are being fought over what we wear - bindi or burqa. Ask us please, It is not wars we want or work towards, we are getting ready for joy and celebrations. Let me now stop, make Gujiya n thandai n get ready to celebrate holi. And the year ahead, there will be one celebration after another. See pictures of our work and you wouldn't see wars but celebrations. We bring community together and in that moment, we as human beings are able to think beyond our wins but become one for all. We will not win any wars as that is not our thing. We will have co opted everyone and before you know it, we will be in a sustainable world where each takes responsibility for their waste, and at times that of few others too..
Rupal
When I took a mommy break, I lost my confidence. Funnily enough, my in-laws were supportive of me going back to work but most women on my side stopped working post children. I had to un-learn that. I was told home business like network businesses were for me but going out of home for 9-5 would make me a bad mother. It took me a long time to find myself again.
Enough of guilt I would say! I am a great mom and can be a great woman leader. Some days mom role has priority and some days work. But staying close and living deeply is where a lot of ideas for business have come. When my husband Ralph was undergoing treatment for cancer 7 years back, we were asked to use only chemical free and natural personal care products. I used 100s and found for myself home soapers whose products I trusted. And this, many years later became stonesoup’s personal care product range.
I had worked for 18 months in a work environment but had been tough where managers demanded and berated for mistakes. Coming to stonesoup, I found supportive colleagues. Each one openly discussed the mistakes they made and everyone supported each other. I could try new things, many didn’t work, some did and I gained confidence as I learnt from my mistakes. From joining as Stonesoup saathi in 2016, i am now CEO of Rekke - the personal care business of Stonesoup. I am full of life and energy and want a full life. I love teaching dance in my community during Navratri, I volunteer for tons of community events, am RWA president this year, am a master chef daily and each festival I give a taste of my roots (born and adopted) to all those around me. My friends call me google devi as I know the use of weeds and natural remedies - I love learning and want to know it all!
Tazannum
At 32, as i look back at Tazannum at 25, she had her whole world around her son, husband and relatives. Home to school 1 km away was her limit of solo travel. Her seat in her husband’s BMW was always passengers. I would tell her to work on her own, be independent. Stand for herself.
I was totally dependent on my husband and after his sudden demise during covid, I was reduced to a state where I didn't have Rs 10. This made me realise that all girls should be independent, and be able to handle their finances. I had a BCom degree but had no working skills. I found it difficult to find work. I joined Stonesoup as part time work to send messages to customers. I was given many other tasks which didn’t go well till I found myself in Stonesoup Trust where I found my home! And I started to learn with the help of my colleagues. I remember the jitters I had before I was supposed to go to Siddipet for a project. I didn’t have the confidence to travel along with my son in a bus so I only travelled when someone else from office was. From there, I have come a long way as i recently did a trip to Jwahar, adivasi belt in Maharashtra, solo. I am still learning but am already leading programs and these are something I enjoy. I didn’t have the confidence to talk to 2-3 strangers, now I can do sessions with 100s and talk about sustainable menstruation. I want to take bigger and bigger responsibilities and one day head the organisation! My ‘to do’ for next one year is to improve my managerial and financial skills. I am still battling depression and stress and don’t find that I am able to sleep a full night but compared to post death of my husband, I am half up through the deep emotional pit I had found myself in. I have confidence that I am going to survive and thrive.
Harini
When I felt my kids were old enough, I asked the universe to be part of something meaningful. I joined Stonesoup Trust but quickly found myself handling social media in Rekke due to my creative ability. Starting my journey with Stonesoup, I found a girl gang who loved packing lunch boxes and also changing the world in every beautiful way. To new leanings and new destinations!
Want to share your story or join us to nurture the world and yourself, drop us a message on our social media handles.
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Post puberty, age never defined the size of our vaginal length. And birth no longer defines the muscle tone of women anymore - their fitness regime does.
Between a Bell (or V shape or cone) and a Cylindrical (or U shape), if you have done basic geometry, you would always choose cylinder over cone as in the same width and height a U shape gives you 3 times the capacity.
Would give 1/2 mark for this. Silicone is the safest option but there could be 1 in million who could be allergic to silicone. Also the diamond polish could make it safer is additional information that you could mention!
This deserves negative marks esp as tampon users believe the purpose of stem is to remove like for tampons! Cup creates a suction with walls of vaginal canals and pulling without breaking suction can cause scratches or even prolapsed uterus! A reason why we at Stonesoup.in removed the stem completely but left grip lines so women can locate the base of the cup and as soon as they hold it, it pinches the cup releasing the suction!
This is halfway right. You should choose a cup that matches the firmness of your muscles. A professional athlete should choose the Tough cup. A couch potato soft cup. Young girls though have firmer muscle tone, should choose a soft cup till they are comfortable using the cup and then switch to regular cup!
Capacity- why will anyone choose a cup of lower capacity unless the size of a large cup intimidates you! With our U shape, we have the size of a small cup, capacity of a large cup!
The Brand - Stonesoup.in cups have a patented design and reliable customer service. Yes, choose a brand that understands women, their anatomy and also is ethical! If a cup has a copycat design and they are playing around with IP rules, don’t you wonder where else they are taking a shortcut! Most women need support to transition successfully - Stonesoup has 3 layers of support - Saathis, access to gynecologists and formal support groups for pre and post cup purchase. The extra you pay is the difference between a successful and unsuccessful cup-version!
What had ChatGPT got to say about inserting the cup and removing the cup?
This is almost correct. Except 6. If you are a stonesoup cup user, you have only 1 size and we will make sure with our support you successfully transition to cup.
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The menstrual cup can hold more blood and is the best eco-friendly alternative when compared to other menstrual products available. You could wear a cup for up to about 12 hours.
The best reusable menstrual cups made from medical grade silicone are available at Stonesoup Shop. Buy Reusable Menstrual Cups Online India – Stonesoup Shop
Stonesoup's menstrual cups are patented for its unique U shape design, double platinum polished to have a smooth surface and have a strong support system to help customers for a smooth transition.
How does a menstrual cup work?
Unlike other menstrual products, a menstrual cup does not absorb the menstrual blood; instead, it collects the menstrual fluid. When your menstrual cycle begins, you need to tightly fold the menstrual cup and insert it into the vagina. There are different types of folds. The most commonly used is the punch down fold. In punch down fold, the cup is folded using the thumb so that one part becomes very small and can be easily inserted inside the vagina. When inserted properly you would not feel it. It is like putting a diaphragm or birth control ring in place that forms a seal to prevent leaks. The menstrual flow drips into the cup. To remove the cup, the bottom of the cup needs to be pinched to release the suction and then the cup can easily slide down. The cup needs to be emptied, washed with clean water and reinserted.
Pros:
Budget-friendly: Menstrual cups are both eco-friendly and wallet-friendly. A reusable cup can easily last from 8 years up to 10 years. It prevents you from buying disposable sanitary pads which is a recurring expenditure. On an average if you are using 10 disposable sanitary pads a month , for 12 months it will be 120 pads resulting in 1200 pads for 10 years. Just imagine the amount of expenditure incurred by multiplying with cost per pad. Spending on Stonesoup stemless cup will be just investing an amount of 8rs per month for 10 years.
Menstrual cups are safer: A menstrual cup can be worn for upto 12 hours depending on the flow. Although; other menstrual products would need a change for a maximum of every six hours; however, cups could stay for a longer period. They are most suitable for overnight use and protection from leakage. Once inserted there would be no need for any other backup pad or panty liner. They hold more blood and you could be comfortable even on days of heavy flow.
Eco-friendly: Reusable menstrual cups can last for a longer time without frequent change; thereby, preventing more environmental sanitary waste. As the cup is reusable for 10 years will obviously generate no disposable sanitary waste resulting in a cleaner environment to all.
Easy-to-use: Menstrual cups from Stonesoup are available in the following variants.
Menstrual cups produce less odor as the menstrual flow only smells on exposure to air. The cup forms an airtight seal.
Cons:
At times, finding the right fit may be tough. There are multiple brands available and generally come in different sizes. Finding the right size depends on your age, menstrual flow, and physical activities done on daily basis. However, StoneSoup' s unique design cups are available in different hardness with the same size and capacity. The teal cup which is also known as blue cup is of medium hardness and is suitable to 95% of women. The vagina is totally elastic and when the cup is inserted, the muscles just cling to the cup to form a suction.
Cup insertion and removal is a new skill that takes some time to learn it. Inserting and removing the cup can be very easy if your pelvic muscles are totally relaxed. You may need two or three cycles to get a hang of using the cup. To insert cup stand in half squat position with one leg on a stool. Fold the mouth of cup in required fold and insert. To remove, stand or sit in half squat position, same as when you inserted. Now use your pelvic floor muscles to push the cup down, like putting pressure while pooping, it comes down. Reach up and pinch the bottom of the cup. Pinching the base helps to break the seal and should angle the cup slightly back to prevent the menstrual flow from spilling.
Read on How to Use a Menstrual Cup - Insertion, removal and wash care
We always suggest to try the Stonesoup cup when you are at home so that you are comfortable with the space and time available. After getting the confidence of the usage, you can use it anywhere.
When you are outdoors the cup would need to be emptied in the restroom. It is recommended to rinse it out with clean water and then wipe it clean using toilet paper. If you are not sure about the source of water, then use drinking water to clean the cup.
Many think that the menstrual cup could interfere with an IUD.
Women who are using a copper T for contraception can use a menstrual cup without fearing that the copper T will get displaced. The negative suction pressure of the menstrual cup is not strong enough to displace the Copper T. And one pinches the base of the cup to break the vacuum, before removing the menstrual cup from the vagina. Thus there is very little chance of displacing the Copper T/IUD contraceptive device.
For more details contact: StoneSoup Shop
Website:https://stonesoup.in/pages/contact-us | Call us: 9108462846
]]>Here are a few cutlery banks across Bangalore that lend re-usable cutlery against a deposit. Some of them charge a basic rent, some others refund the entire deposit. Click here for cutlery banks in other cities.
Name | Area | Contact Details |
Adamya Chetana |
Gavipuram, Bangalore |
080 26620404 |
Adams |
Shivajinagar, Bangalore |
080-25592660/1/25593533 |
APR |
Devarabisanahalli, Bangalore |
8861160310 |
AswathNarayana (MLA) Steel bank |
Malleswaram, Bangalore |
8150077777 |
Green Celebrations Padmashree |
HSR Layout, Bangalore |
9845541927 |
KR Puram Rising Reusable Cutlery |
TC Palya, Bangalore |
9886751129, 9535665000, 8880884999 |
Lalithamba |
Somasundarapalya, Bangalore |
9448063776 |
Mukunda |
K R Puram, Bangalore |
9591863400 |
Laksmi Sankaran |
Sarjapur Road, Bangalore |
9731211364 |
Meena |
JP Nagar, Bangalore |
8073538846 |
Green Utsav - Rishita |
Whitefield, Bangalore |
9591195277 |
Vasuki/Vinayaka |
Jayanagar, Bangalore |
9845690778 / 9620469577 / 8971902760 |
RRR Tent House |
Gandhinagar, Bangalore |
9343866704, 22260642 |
Spillsavers |
Hennur Road, Bangalore |
99800 87898 |
Yelahanka Steel Cutlery Bank |
Yelahanka New Town, Bangalore |
9739764333(Padma) / 9811821636(Sarbani) |
Do we require Stem on menstrual cup?
Is it normal to feel the stem of menstrual cup?
Is stem or tail or ring on a menstrual cup required when it can hurt and is not supposed to be used to pull out the cup?
Should I cut the stem of my menstrual cup?
Stem on Menstrual cup / Period cup looks like our Vestigial organ, appendix, non-functional remnant of evolution. Why design a cup with a no use tail or stem and later advise to file or chop it off?
Have you ever thought why this small wonderful invention called Menstrual cup comes with an extension in the bottom like a stem or ring? So, the obvious answer is, it ensures cup doesn’t go anywhere in the vagina, it’s not lost, easy to pull it out. Yeah, this is the answer for many who are not aware of the latest design and female anatomy. Having used the stemmed cup majority of them come back with tales like, 'I can feel the stem of my cup, it pokes', 'It hurts when the stem rubs my wall when I sit" and many more.
Let us dispel the misconception regarding stem or ring in a Menstrual cup.
Many are confused, few have joked on our social media pages, when they view soft, round bottom Wings Menstrual Cup by Stonesoup.in. Not a surprise as almost all cups in market come with a stem or ring like extension and some are conical in shape with slight pointy edge.
Questions that arise are, Such odd design! How will one pull or remove the menstrual cup from vagina, without a stem or ring? How can I reach it, where is the grip?
What if it gets struck in the vagina? Doesn’t this menstrual cup get lost in the canal and go up into the uterus?
Well, well! Here are the answers for all your queries.
For a beginner a menstrual cup is a reusable feminine hygiene product. It is a small, flexible funnel-shaped cup usually made from medical grade silicone that needs to be inserted into the vagina during menstruation to collect menstrual fluid. Check on how to use a menstrual cup?
Stonesoup’s initial cup, Pratham, was a regular stem cup similar to what we see in the market. Picture below is Pratham menstrual cup. It was quite a trend initially when cups were launched.
However, majority of women who used the stem cup, voiced their opinion that the stem is a hindrance, it obstructs, pokes and hurts. Many felt terrible while sitting. Not all women have high cervix. Many have medium to low cervix too. Even if they have high cervix, cup tends to come down slightly with pelvic movements while walking, sitting etc
Next solution was to ask them to cut the stem off the Menstrual cup. Trimming the stem gave relief for few while lot more said the rough edge down still hurts. They were even asked to flip the bottom part inwards. This reduced cup size and gave the blunt feel down.
Here comes the analogy for tail like stem in menstrual cups and human appendix!
Our design team along with gynecologists' realized stem or tail or any extension is of no use. Customer comfort was the utmost need so that women who use menstrual cup should have a happy, blissful period. Also Menstrual Cup should never ever be removed or pulled using the stem, tail or ring without releasing the suction as it may put pressure on pelvic floor muscles. Females unknowing or involuntarily tend to pull the stem. Now coming to the point the stem or tail on a menstrual cup looked like a appendix in our body, which we inherited from our evolutionary ancestors but turned non-functional. Even when that remnant gets infected and swells up to burst, surgeons operate it off!! So why design a cup with a non-functional tail or stem and later advise to file or chop it off. After enough brainstorming the team was up for new innovation in design. What is that thing most naturally and comfortably inserted into female vagina. Obviously, it is the male genital organ, penis, that goes in a normal sexual intercourse. Hence the idea to design something to mimic human organ came into existence. Ergonomics played the role and the earlier non-functional tail gave way to round soft bottom. Patented Wings Menstrual Cup was born with soft round bottom. Wings was right name as it makes one fly with freedom.
How will one pull or remove the cup out from vagina?
Using the stem / ring to remove or pull the cup is a total misconception. Menstrual cups sell on stem concept and have compelled huge percentage of women to think that cup should be removed using the stem. Cup should never ever be removed or pulled using the stem or ring. Stem or no stem, it should be pinched or squeezed in the bottom, suction released and then slowly removed. Someone who uses stem cup or ring cup generally tends to pull cup using the extension as it is easily reachable. There are chances of hurting the pelvic floor muscle which may cause vaginal prolapse. It can happen with no stem cup too if one pulls cup without releasing the suction. But the chance of pulling is high with stem or ring cup due to lack of awareness. Stonesoup wings Menstrual cup design is perfect to squeeze or pinch the bottom, so suction is released and cup removed. Stonesoup does creates awareness regarding cup insertion and removal be it their stem or no stem cup.
Check YouTube video Story of the Stem, https://youtu.be/3TWNpGACrgU
Conical shaped stemless cups are much better than stem or ring ones. But they still have a pointy edge that may touch the vaginal wall and hurt. Stonesoup wings is utmost bliss!! Glad that many of our customers have ditched the earlier stem ones and switched to stemless comfort of Stonesoup Wings.
We still have stem cup Pratham on our online shop but would suggest it only on economical basis or someone is bent on stem.
How can I reach it, where is the grip?
My cup is lost up in my vagina! I am not able to reach it!! Don’t panic. Rest assured. The comfort is when the menstrual cup is lost up in vagina, and is snugly nested and fitted to the mouth of cervix. When it is so, one doesn’t feel the cup inside. To remove, half squat or sit in same position the way you inserted and slightly put pressure like pooping. Bear down like you do while potting. Cup comes down, now grip the bottom and pinch to release suction and remove.
Will the Menstrual cup get struck in my vagina? Or go into the Uterus?
Why use a stem cup when it is outdated and non-functional? Isn't it like our appendix, a remnant of our evolutionary history but of no use!! It is time to let go the tail and switch to a No stem Wings Menstrual Cup. Stemless Comfort with soft round bottom.
For more details contact: StoneSoup Shop
Website:https://stonesoup.in/pages/contact-us | Call us: 9108462846
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HOW IT ALL BEGAN...
I’ve been extensively researching online about menstrual cups ever since I got to know of their existence in October 2014.
I was absolutely fed up with the whole torture of periods. I’ve used sanitary napkins since I reached puberty at the age of 12 and it was utter harassment for me. (That was about 8 years of disposables then, and I’d still be grudgingly using them for 2 more years before finally finding a savior in the form of my first menstrual cup but more on that later). The constant chafing, the horrid odor, the all-consuming fear and possibility of staining while doing even the most mundane of tasks, had all really gotten to me. I hated periods, hated being a woman, abhorred the whole concept of menstruation and detested “The Creator” for bestowing this harrowing thing on us, even animals (yeah I was that frustrated!)
Now let me tell you, I have always had a very normal menstrual cycle: always on time, doesn’t last too long, no cramps as such; so I really shouldn’t be complaining so much considering the kind of problems/medical issues many menstruating women have. But managing the blood was such a nightmare that I googled “Hysterectomy” at an extremely young age.
I knew about tampons since my mom used them, but I had also read about Toxic Shock Syndrome so hadn’t considered that option. I came across plentitudes of articles stating how they are chemical-laden, absorb the vaginal fluids leading to dryness and what a pain it is to remove a dry tampon. Great! My quest for period sanity had come to a dead end, or so I thought.
Then I came across this word menstrual cup for the second time in an article, so I finally googled it.
All those articles glorifying menstrual cups in ways I couldn’t imagine. That one could actually forget being on my period. I could not find a single negative review or shortcoming of the magnificent menstrual cup. I was enchanted! But then I found two not so glorious accounts of the cup: one was when it had got stuck and the lady had to go to an emergency room to get it removed and the other was about a lady who had forgotten it inside for almost a fortnight and how her body shot it out at the most inopportune time. That got me a bit worried, especially the first story. So I started frantically searching for more negatives about the menstrual cup. But that was it. So I relaxed.
I had read and re-read enormous amounts of literature online about how to use, maintain and troubleshoot problems with the cup. But I didn’t have the nerve to go ahead and buy one since no one in my close circle knew anything about it or even heard about it. It was a radical idea to my conventional self. It took me almost 10 months to gather the courage and confidence to decide to buy one. I checked on an online shopping portal and it cost Rs. 600 after the 40% discount. I was worried that if it did not work I would waste so much money (I think I may be a borderline miser). Anyhow, I discussed with my mom. She had never heard of it but she told me I could at least give it a try if I was so convinced. And so I placed the order in August 2015 and eagerly awaited the cup. I ordered the Silky Cup M for the following reasons:
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE
I received the cup earlier than expected and I was all crazy with excitement! I opened the box and guess what, I was shocked with the size of the cup. My first reaction upon seeing a menstrual cup face to face was like “Holy #%@$! How in the world is it supposed to go where it’s supposed to go?!” In spite of having compared all the dimensions with a scale before ordering, I couldn’t digest the size of it in my hand. So I just put it back in the box, in a corner of my cupboard and mentally chided myself for wasting the money. But when Aunt Flo appeared that month, I decided I might as well try it since it had been paid for.
That first time was a disaster to say the least. In spite of having read number of articles and tips for virgin beginners, I couldn’t get the cup to even go 1/3rd of the way in. And in my over-enthusiasm in making it work, I got myself sore. So I put it off till the next month. This drama went on for about three months after which I erroneously concluded that I wouldn’t be able to use cups until I lost my virginity (which didn’t seem like it was happening any time soon), so I pushed the cup in the back of my cupboard again and forgot about it. Now I knew cloth pads were an option but the whole washing thing seemed like a big deal to me and I couldn’t handle it so I grudgingly stuck to my disposables.
THE BEGINNING
In August 2016, a year after I’d bought the cup, I was having a particularly bad period and was extremely sick and tired of chaffing. On the night of my 2nd day I had dinner and prepared my bed and was getting ready to sleep when suddenly on whim I decided to give the cup another try. And this time, it went in, like all the way in without much discomfort! I almost squealed in joy! I went to sleep peacefully that night, knowing that this finally has a chance of working out.
In the next few days and months I realized that the stem would stay out and hurt me so I snipped it off bit by bit until there was nothing left to cut anymore. Still the base would irritate me. This was around the same time I’d chanced upon this group called “Sustainable Menstruation India” on Facebook.
Everything was discussed in detail and it was a treasure-trove of information and tips. I spent endless hours reading through each post down till the last comment because I was hell-bent on making the cup work for me. So after reading about flipping cups inside out I gave that a shot and that was it, period bliss!
But then I realized that this did not solve the cup’s leaking issues. I tried different folds, angles everything but the leaking wouldn’t stop. So I started looking into buying another cup. I was worried that it might have the same issues and again won’t work so I obsessively went over the cup comparison chart on HygieneAndYou website. Then came the launch of Stonesoup Wings cup. It was stemless, the dimensions seemed to be perfect for me plus it had a much higher capacity compared to the MeLuna shorty range which I was considering. Also, it was way more affordable too. So again, a lot of overthinking later, I placed an order for the Stonesoup Wings Green cup in Feb 2017.
GOLDILOCKS FINDS HER BED
The cup arrived pretty soon just in time for my period. It seemed quite tiny compared to my old one but considering all the calculations I’d done, I just knew this was going to be it! Yes, the first two months were a slight learning curve, since the cup had no stem. So the removal was a little different than regular cups, but it was just a matter of technique. I figured it out soon enough and I have never looked back again. I had found my goldilocks cup! In fact I started looking forward to my period so I could make it an even better experience each time. I realized how much time I had been wasting, dreading my periods earlier. My life changed completely. I started looking at it for what it was, just a normal bodily function, no big deal. And for the first time in my life I experienced body positivity. And all this in spite of being a virgin!
In this euphoric state of body positivity I decided to do something for my body. I was the sort of person that hated any kind of physical activity which was in fact really doing more harm to my body. So I joined a gym. A major reason of not joining a gym earlier had been what about when I’m on my period? But that was not an issue anymore thanks to my cup! I don’t have to miss a single day thanks to my cup. In fact I’ve realized that workouts during my period are much more satisfying than other days. So getting the cup has touched my life in more ways than I can begin to comprehend. (I know all this might sound totally utopian and overdramatic but I swear this is exactly how it changed my life!)
I wanted everyone to experience the freedom of a cup so I introduced my friends and cousins to the concept. But even though they showed interest I couldn’t get them to actually take the plunge. However, surprisingly, my mom turned around and told me to buy one for her! I got her to measure her cervix and got a cup for her too. She instantly took to it and I couldn’t be any happier! We now have a sanitary-trash free house!
TRAVEL CARE-FREE
Another advantage of the cup, you can travel the world trash and worry free! I work for our family business in corrugated box manufacturing and had an opportunity to attend SinoCorrugated 2017 exhibition regarding the corrugation & packaging industry in Shanghai, China. When we flew out, I was on my periods. On the flight journey, I was pretty nervous about being able to manage. The flight was some 6hrs and then 3hrs with a layover of 3hrs in between. Even though I trusted the cup, I hadn't yet tested the limits of the cup since this trip was before I started gymming. But the travel went as smoothly as it could ever go. Since my heaviest days were done I had to only check on the cup twice a day and I could go on with my day as if I wasn't on my period. Imagine the freedom of not worrying to change or dispose pads and clean up in public toilets! It gave me a new sense of freedom!
AND IT’S MY CUPVERSARY!
Now it’s been a year since I’ve been using a menstrual cup and I think I’ve pretty much become a pro at it (I don’t intend to brag, or maybe I do! LOL) but the point is, since I’ve tried a lot of things to make it work I can now help others troubleshoot their problems and make their transition easy. I don’t want another person to waste all the time that I wasted in finally cupverting.
A SMALL PIECE OF ADVICE
I see so many people asking questions like “am I doing it right?”, “is this the way it’s supposed to be done?”, “the instructions state this but I am not able to do it so is this not for me?” or something like that. To all those filled with such questions – There is NO right or wrong way to do it. You gotta do what works for your body. Everyone is unique so what works for one may not work for another. So try out various tips but listen to your body in the end. You’ll figure it out. Just be patient and open to suggestions. I believe if I can do it, then anyone can do it.
If you’re still reading till here thanks a lot! This is my first attempt at writing an article since school. I hope it was fun to read and that it made you to at least consider trying the menstrual cup. Sorry for the long post. Good luck!
Suruchi Prabhu
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If you still haven’t gotten a menstrual cup for yourself then you haven’t experienced a true hassle free period yet! Thousands of women are ditching sanitary napkins and using cups.
A slow but sure revolution of sorts is taking place. Many women swear by it and they say that it’s the best thing that ever happened to them😇
The trash creating sanitary napkins that not only drains our cash regularly but also causes painful rash(es) have never improved our period woes for decades except that you can throw them anywhere you want leaving a trail of stinking mess wherever you go!
What more? You can swim, run, drive, trek and do whatever you want with a cup inside, not having to worry about a shifting napkin that chafes your skin while pursuing an active lifestyle.
Such a natural phenomenon that every woman in the world experiences for at least 30 years of her life should not be responsible for so much trash! A big Indian city creates as much as 100 tons of non biodegradable trash EVERYDAY!!
Cups and cloth pads are not only sustainable, they are also cash free, rash free and above all trash free😇
The feeling of not having to leave your sanitary napkin in someone else’s dustbin is indeed a big relief!
The biggest thing here is that a cup user has ensured that her periods don’t contribute a single piece of trash to the mountains that are getting created every second..
One good quality menstrual cup lasts for 8 to 10 years! Imagine not having to buy a sanitary napkin ever again..
Stonesoup’s uniquely designed U shaped cup that holds more period blood than than most cups available in the market is made with feedback of hundreds of cup users. Many women didn’t like the stem or knob that most cups have. The stem is essentially there only to locate the cup. Many women used the stem to yank the cup out which caused discomfort in the vagina. Once the cup creates a vacuum seal inside, the vacuum can be released only by pinching the base of the cup making the stem unnecessary. A Stonesoup cup not only ensures a happy period but also ensures you have the support of hundreds of cup users via a support group! All your questions will be answered, all your fears will be allayed. So dump the napkin permanently and get ‘cupverted’ forever and experience period joy😇
Author- Anupama Harish, Environmentalist and a concerned ecowarrior working toward solid waste management
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When i was growing up in 19XX, we were discarding all that was traditional and adopting all western technologies and mindsets. Everything west brought was modern, everything our culture threw up was toxic, superstitious and quackery. I was in 9th standard when my mom introduced me to tampons so i could do Taekwondo and swimming with ease.
Cut 201x and I was a mom with two girls and also a horrified waste volunteer looking at our footprint and its resultant impact on our health. I found a single tampon could create 1 ton blockage in the drain and clearing of these drains was killing people! My elder one started her periods early and after a cycle with disposables she started using cloth pads. 18 months later, a “life skill class” in school and she started using disposables and also experiencing severe cramps. So bad that she would faint and had to be rushed to emergency. Trip to gynecologists told me that it was a common complaint among young girls and a tablet could help control pain. Elimination of it was not a possibility. And that is when I started looking for alternatives and found Ayurveda and Yoga. Today she has pain free and trash free periods normally (stress and overthinking according to her does bring a little pain occasionally!) She has also discovered that her best timings are during her periods. So from one mom to another, have created this list that was useful to take my daughter from pain to joyful periods.
Author- Malini Parmar, Co-Founder of Stonesoup.in
www.stonesoup.in
Call us- 091084 62846
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Clean the reusable sanitary pads with the following steps
Prewashing: Before the first use, prewash your reusable sanitary pads. The fabric material of the reusable sanitary pads is such that the absorbency will increase with washing and will attain the maximum absorbency after about five washes. Prewashing also has an advantage wherein the reusable sanitary pads will fluff up thus making it more effective for regular use.
Storing to prevent stains: If you are outdoors for a few hours or out at work, and you would want to consider changing the sanitary pads, they can be folded such that the soiled part is placed in the middle. Use the buttons on the flap to lock it and then store it in a leak-proof bag or ziplock cover. Keep it in your bag and bring it back home to be washed.
You could order reusable sanitary pads online at an affordable price on StoneSoup Shop
Soaking before wash: It is essential to soak after use, to prevent stains. As prevention is always better than cure, it is highly recommended to wet the pad and rinse the menstrual flow off the cloth pads in running cold water, than allowing the menstrual flow to dry up and cause stains. Immediate rinsing is most preferred as it avoids the growth of microorganisms; thereby, preventing any skin infections, and allergic reactions. The rinsed cloth pads need to be soaked in cold water for at least 30 minutes and then hand washed or machine washed.
Washing: Most reusable pads have care labels and could have wash instructions to be followed; however, it is suggested to wash at a maximum of 40-degree temperature. Washing powder would be rather preferred when compared to liquid detergents.
Avoid using any fabric softeners as they could prove to be harsh on the reusable pad fabric.
Reusable pads could be washed with the household laundry clothes only after they are thoroughly rinsed and stain-free. Do not use laundry softeners as their use will decrease the absorbency, in the long run leaving a residue on the fabrics.
Drying: Ideally, drying your pads in the open fresh air or sun drying will help to keep your pads in better condition and prevent bad odor. Reusable cloth sanitary pads are designed to be more environmentally friendly. Most reusable pads will easily dry overnight. Quicker in open air or sunlight. Some pads can be tumble-dried in a drier on a low heat setting; however, this could be best avoided. Tumble dry will shrink the material and there are chances of fabric damage as it could remove the fibers that form the fluff in the filter.
If you take good care of your reusable sanitary pads they will remain in good condition and can last for up to four years.
StoneSoup Shop provides hassle-free, convenient solutions for sustainable menstrual care.
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Menstrual reusable sanitary pads are reusable cloth pads that serve the purpose of absorbing menstrual flow during your menstrual cycles. They could be used for about four to five hours without frequent change; however, depending on your menstrual flow.
Reusable sanitary pads would require a good wash and have to be well-dried before reuse of the same pad again. These super pads contain several absorbent layers of cotton, hemp, or bamboo, without the use of any harmful chemicals that could harm your skin and cause infections and skin allergies.
Everything you need to know about reusable sanitary pads and why washable sanitary pads might be a good fit for you is mentioned below:
Reusable cloth sanitary pads are environment-friendly. During a lifetime, a woman will use about 12,000 sanitary pads which are not biodegradable and would take several decades to decompose. Hence, we end up generating a lot of toxins that contaminate the environment.
Reusable cloth sanitary pads are skin-friendly. They are free from chemicals that harm your skin such as plastics, artificial fragrances, chemical gels, and adhesives; hence, you will not feel itchy and it is good for your body.
Reusable cloth sanitary pads are incredibly soft, comfortable, and convenient for use keeping in mind the young women who need a frequent change of menstrual products during their menstrual cycles. These sanitary pads can stay on for about four to five hours depending on the kind of flow; whether heavy or light.
Reusable cloth sanitary pads are not just eco-friendly but are also wallet-friendly as they can easily last up to four or five years if they are well-maintained and kept in good condition. Most women have reported that their pads have lasted much longer.
You could order reusable cloth sanitary pads online at an affordable price on StoneSoup.
Reusable cloth sanitary pads are best suitable for women with any skin type, more so advantageous in women with sensitive skin. They are chemical-free, hypoallergenic, bleach-free, and are usually made from breathable cloth; your sensitive skin gets a chance to breathe; hence, preventing a skin rash from developing. The reusable pads keep you well-prepared for the arrival of every menstrual cycle as they are handy, and easy-fit, and you could just wash them and keep them in your bags or purses even when outdoors.
Prevents bad odor: The benefit of using washable cloth sanitary pads is that they stay a lot fresher as the fabric is breathable, allowing moisture to evaporate; thereby, preventing the growth of bacteria. This avoids bad odor.
**Reusable pads have a washable holder that snaps around the crotch piece of your undergarment. You just need to toss the fabric into the wash to clean it.
Washable sanitary pads from StoneSoup are the best reusable menstrual pads, that are economical, absorbent, hypoallergenic, foldable, compact to carry, and easy to maintain. They can be hand-washed or machine-washed, leak-proof, rash-free, easy-to-use, and waste-free.
Switching to reusable sanitary pads will ensure safe, happy, stress-free, and reliable menstrual protection for many years to come.
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Anupama Singh is one of our Saathi (network partner) who is an ecowarrior and is passionate about composting and sustainable menstruation. She has penned down this beautiful poem about composting. Please read, comment and share .
A deadly wish!
It's like a song I wish to sing every day...
It's an art I like to put together with all my heart!
It's a science that mother of all mothers is expert in and I am learning with my baby steps..
Cause I know how exciting it is to see waste turn into life!
I do wish that someday when I die,
I am treated the same way,
Buried in the layers of browns and greens...
As each cell of my body disintegrates, Into organic matter,
I know I will sprout with life again ,
A plant or a tree or a flower or fruit
How rewarding would that be,
Life giving life!
Offcourse if I am comatose at any point,
Harvest my organs first before you let me sleep
In the thicket of earth, my mother, my Mother Earth💚💚💚
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A menstrual cup is a reusable feminine hygiene product. It is a small, flexible funnel-shaped cup usually made from medical grade silicone that needs to be inserted into the vagina during menstruation to collect menstrual fluid.
The menstrual cup can hold more blood and is the best eco-friendly alternative when compared to other menstrual products available. You could wear a cup for up to about 12 hours.
The best reusable menstrual cups made from medical grade silicone are available at Stonesoup Shop. https://stonesoup.in/collections/menstrual-cups
Stonesoup's menstrual cups are patented for its unique U shape design, double platinum polished to have a smooth surface and have a strong support system to help customers for a smooth transition.
Before you insert your menstrual cup: When your menstrual cup is used for the first time, it could be uncomfortable. But lubricating or greasing the rim with water or water-based lube or lubricant makes a wet cup a lot easier to insert. We also suggest wearing the cup only during your period days as the period blood acts as natural lubrication. Please avoid dry runs.
How to insert your menstrual cup/?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaAsuMr4qeI
Inserting the menstrual cup is relatively easy. The following steps need to be followed to use a cup.
When to take your menstrual cup out
You can wear a menstrual cup for 6 to 12 hours, depending on whether you have a heavy or light flow. A menstrual cup could be used for overnight protection. The menstrual cup could be used for a maximum of 12-hour mark; although, you need to empty it before it becomes full. It has to be emptied whenever it becomes full to avoid leaks irrespective of no. of hours. A normal bleeder can wear the cup up to 12 hrs. The cup is so comfortable that the user will forget about periods. Many of our customers keep an alarm to get notified to empty the cup.
When to remove your menstrual cup?
When you use the menstrual cup from StoneSoup.in Shop all you need to do when the cup gets filled or you have worn it for 10 to 12 hours is pinch the base a little to release the suction, remove it and empty the contents into the sink or commode.
How to remove your menstrual cup?
1.Wash your hands thoroughly before removing the cup.
2.Be relaxed and calm. You can also take couple of deep breaths to let your muscles relaxed.
3.Sit in Indian squatting position or stand in half squat position with one leg raised on the commode (use the commode as a stool with flap closed).
4.Pinch the base of the cup to release the suction and easily it will slide down. If you are unable to locate the base, don't panic, just give a slight push using your pelvic muscles to push down the cup (like you are pooping). The cup will easily slide down and you will be able to hold the base of the cup. Pinch the base to release the suction and then slide down the cup carefully so that the blood contents don't spill. Empty the contents, wash the cup and insert again. StoneSoup' s unique design cup is very easy to remove. It may take two to three cycles to get a hang of using the cup.
Cup care: The cup needs to be soaked in hot water in a small mug for about 10 minutes before and after the cycle. In between periods only washing with cold water is sufficient. After the period cycle, wash it clean and dry it before storing in the cloth pouch given and then inside the tin provided.
Please follow the youtube video where Dr Nishi Singh (UAE), a renowned microbiologist and consultant to the UAE government talks about infections and menstrual cups. The talk gives a clear idea as to why a cup need not be sterilized and also why women don't need any vaginal wash products.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRaU80kpPTw
For more details on Menstrual Cups contact:
StoneSoup.in Shop
Website:https://stonesoup.in/pages/contact-us |Call us: 9108462846.
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Mother is what we call this beautiful planet we live on but do we, the human race treat her like we ought to treat a mother? Sadly no..
The greed of feeding ourselves with more than we need is literally killing our planet and yet most people in the world are oblivious to the impending doom of we continue to do what we’re doing.
Soil is one of our most important natural resources without which we can’t grow the food that sustains human life.
With our ever increasing population that demands more and more with each passing day, usage of toxic pesticides and chemical fertilisers have reached dangerous levels that has noticeably been affecting our health and also the health of the soil that our food grows!
It’s proven that unregulated usage of chemical fertilisers and pesticides not only harm us but harm our soil too.. soil can go barren if we don’t begin take care of it!
Each person thinks what can I do as a single person in a world that has 7billion people? What we fail to fathom is the power each individual has in impacting our soil positively.
We only need to start and influence a small group of people around us to see results.
Sadguru is on a ‘Save Soil’ mission which is global movement to highlight the importance of protecting our soil and creating awareness among people of all countries to stand up for their soil by fighting for policies that encourage sustainable and environmental friendly ways to cultivate food. Sadguru is travelling to all corners of the world spreading this all important message to protect this precious life sustaining resource. Sadhguru will be embarking on a journey to meet citizens, leaders and experts as a lone motorcyclist covering 30,000 km across 25 nations from the United Kingdom to India in 100 days.
For more on his mission click on this link!
https://www.consciousplanet.org
The movement has had quite an impact and each and everyone of us should carry forward this message to as many people as we can. There’s nothing that we collectively can’t achieve.
What is the easiest thing we can do immediately?
1. Segregation of waste at source
2. Composting wet waste
3. Using reusables to avoid plastic waste getting generated
4. Using reusable sanitary products like menstrual cup and cloth pads to eliminate reject waste.
60 percent of household waste in India is organic and the best way to take care of that is to compost at source! So many tried and tested methods to compost organic waste are easily accessible now. Choose the method that suits your needs the best. Composting in turn leads to organic terrace gardening which in turn leads to chemical free fresh produce! It’s a win win situation to all the stakeholders. You will be surprised which how much one can grow even in a small balcony. All we need is the will to change!
Another benefit of composting is that waste gets segregated at source and we all know that segregated waste is much easier to handle. We’re losing thousands of acres of land to unscientific and highly polluting landfills which are destroying the soil and water in the surrounding areas. The same chemical laden water is used to grow our food and we’re stuck in this vicious toxic cycle and we have all the power to break this cycle with a simple action. The joy of seeing your kitchen waste turn into sweet smelling compost that yields organic produce is a prized bonus.
Stonesoup is one company that provides complete solutions for individual and community composting. Our team is a one stop solution for all sustainable ways to manage waste! We have perfected the art of composting with years of on-ground experience and our passion towards the environment is infectious to say the least.
Stonesoup’s CAAS (Composting as a Service)
The most common issue in community composting is who is responsible for composting organic waste generated in a community?
House keeping has a million other things to manage, volunteers cannot sustain the amount of work and monitoring that goes into managing everyday composting.
To be conscious of your waste is one thing, and managing the waste of a community is an entirely different thing.
This is where Team Stonesoup comes in! Did you know you could outsource your entire composting to us? Yes! We’ll manage your segregated kitchen waste and convert it into sweet smelling compost and what more? We will also ensure that the surrounding area is clean and trouble free while you are at peace knowing that your waste is being managed responsibly by experts! It can’t get easier than this😇
Watch how we convert your waste into black gold!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YewxRBfywWc
Do join us in this mission to save our soil. Click here to know more about us.
https://stonesoup.in/pages/composting-as-a-service
Just to give you an idea of what our passion has achieved, Stonesoup’s Menstrual cups and cloth pads are responsible for 15 million sanitary pads from not reaching landfills, 10 tonnes of wet waste is composted everyday in our composters and there are a million less plastic bags thanks to our cloth bags.
If each and everyone makes a conscious decision to manage our waste responsibly, we can turn the situation around in no time.
Do you want to be a part of the solution? We are just a call away.
Contact - 91084 62846
email-support@stonesoup.in
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Here are a list of reasons it is a bad idea:
All incinerators are a massive waste of energy. Due to the low calorific value of waste, incinerators are only able to generate small amounts of energy while destroying large amounts of reusable materials. In contrast, recycling and composting conserve three to five times the amount of energy produced by waste incineration. Detailed Report.
The setup cost and the operating cost is insanely expensive. The power requirements are higher. 240 crores is being spent for a WTE plant for Bangalore's waste. For a fraction of this cost, investments in recycling, composting and remanufacturing would create significantly more business and employment opportunities.
All incinerators pose considerable risk to the health and environment of neighboring communities as well as that of the general population. Even the most technologically advanced incinerators release thousands of pollutants that contaminate our air, soil and water. Many of these pollutants enter the food supply and concentrate up through the food chain. Incinerator workers and people living near incinerators are particularly at high risk of exposure to dioxin and other contaminants. Myths vs Facts on WTE
Many state governments have tried and invested crores of rupees in setting up plants and not many are operational today. The most famous one to be shutdown is Okhla WTE plant near Delhi. Details
Questions to ask when faced with a WTE proposal : here
We present a few best practices that are stepping up to this challenging and are ensuring the risk to waste workers is minimised as is the burden on landfills.
1. Purva Sunshine (Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru)
The managing committee procured 20 Te composting kits. Every time a household reports a case, they are given a bin and a brick to add their wet waste. Housekeeping does not collect their waste. The household continues to layer their organic waste in the bin with the compost maker powder every day during the 14-day quarantine period. The high temperature created during the composting process ensures the virus doesn't survive. After 14 days, the bin is kept in the balcony/utility area of the house for a month, after which the organic matter that would have turned to compost and is used by the household or added in the green area of the apartment complex. Post that the household washes and returns the bin to the committee and it is sanitised and re-used for another household. So far 7-8 households have used it.
2. Paying Guest in Whitefield, Bengaluru (name withheld on request)
This private co-living space houses 25 girls of the age group 18 to 29 years. Some are students, some others are working women. When a few inmates tested positive, they had to rearrange their living arrangement to create quarantine spaces. The food was cooked at a central kitchen, but sanitary waste was a problem - no one was willing to touch it. They gave a Ladli cloth pads kit to every girl who was menstruating during the quarantine period. They would wash it with their everyday clothes and part of the terrace was reserved for drying them. Extra inserts were given on request. The sanitary waste was reduced to zero for the quarantined girls.
3. Dry Waste:
Many good samaritans are providing food to COVID-infected households, mostly neighbours. It would be great if they could give in steel dabbas that could be washed (twice if need be) and reuse. There are organizations providing nutritious and fresh food in steel dabbas to your door step. Sampoorna Ahara is one of them (details below). Apart from reducing the dry waste, another alternative is hoarding it. Clean dry waste can be stored in unused suitcases and duffle bags for a month so that the traces of virus are gone. And then given to Dry Waste Collection Centres.
Also Read:
Citizen Matters: How to dispose waste from COVID households
Official Guidelines for Home Isolation
Sampoorna Ahara: Bringing safe food to your doorstep
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A well meaning tweet by Anand Mahindra earned him a lot of praise and he is someone I have admired over the years on twitter. And yet it caused me a bit of unease and especially as I stare at data that says women have lost jobs 7 times more! f I were to fire, wouldn’t it be a woman to lighten her burden? As a recruiting manager, would I want to hire someone who came carrying a heavy load already! It has been almost 5 years since few working women with young children started Stonesoup.in and it is 80% women with young children. (At one point we were 100% women but Karon of idobro we took your advice about diversity).
It is not charity. We felt it was an opportunity for us to create an organisation where people like us thrive and we have done 3 simple things that have made this possible.
And yet, in our 5 years, we are happy to report following as our achievements
All this is possible even as we are women with children. In fact all of us live a full life - we also have friends and time for them. We are active volunteers in our community and spend considerable time in them. We have active hobbies and pursuits too. I volunteer with SWMRT, Bangalore Eco Team, IIM women for Social Action, read for an hour daily and am learning carnatic music with my children. Rupal ran covid kitchens from her front yard and hopefully will be a corporator in next elections.
We thrive as a company because we have wholesome people. I want to list a few reasons why having wholesome people helps.
Capitalism, communism is passe’. Era of the doughnut economy - we live the principles daily!
In my erstwhile IT job, in a downturn, had been in a room taking decisions on whom to fire and whom to keep. A colleague said, fire the women as their husband will still bring an income. I want to tell all the managers sitting on such a decision today, don’t take a decision based on gender. The job also gives us at times our freedom, identity, empowerment and feeds a whole ecosystem! And now go back and look at the picture from Anand Mahindra’s tweet again - As someone hiring or firing in covid times, do you want people who are trained to run on smooth paths only or who can do an obstacle course! I want to end with what the new Dove ad means us to do - Don’t look at what is holding us back but look at what is lifting us up!
Dear Monica Lennon,
Many congrats on leading this programme and making Scotland the first nation in the world to provide free period products to all menstruators. That is truly a great achievement.
But Madam Lennon -instead of giving single use disposable sanitary napkins and tampons that are a recurrent expense of 8.7m pound sterling (85.6 crore rupees) yearly -why don’t you consider giving the women of Scotland reusable menstrual cups.
Each menstrual cup of good quality (Made in India) will cost 10 Pound sterling (945 rupees) and will last 10 yrs . -the same that you would pay for one month of single use disposable pads/tampons. Your expenditure will be reduced tremendously. The " Period Poverty " will be completely eliminated by your government and you will save money too. The Scotish women are already used to tampon usage during periods -for them to shift to menstrual cups will be real easy.
The Modern Menstrual Cup...
is made of medical grade silicon, an inert non reactive material. It is a device that is inserted into the vagina and acts as a receptacle for the collection of blood. As it fits snugly in the vagina and there is nothing between our legs thus making it completely rash free. It can be removed every few hours, emptied, washed and then reinserted into the vagina. A more comfortable device than this has not been invented for women's periods. Each menstrual cup can be used for a minimum of 8-10 yrs, and is most cost effective. There is a small learning curve to inserting it into the vagina and removing it – but once learnt, one will never get back to using single use disposable sanitary napkins or tampons. Women can use this from around the time they begin using tampons up till menopause, which is for over 30 years.
10 Advantages of menstrual cup
1-One time purchase –lasts 8-10 yrs, extremely cost effective (saves 90% of the money that you would use)
2- Requires less frequent removals as compared to the number of times a pad/tampons has to be changed.
3- Produces no trash
4- Increased feeling of cleanliness,
5- Doesn’t feel like you’re wearing anything
6- Cleaning is very easy and takes only a few minutes –water required for this is very little- WASH and WEAR
7- There is no need to remove it for passing urine or stools unlike with pads.
8- Can swim, run, dance, trek –without any discomfort, Not affected by rain.
9- Dysmenorrhoea is reduced, White discharge per vagina is also reduced, less chances of bacterial vaginosis, less rash in the groin
10-Duration of bleeding is less as there is no spotting
With the above advantages –it will be a great injustice if women are not made aware of this advance and use this to have a HAPPY PERIODS.
Once again -reiterating :
We must move away from the practice of donating single use disposable pads/tampons and incinerators but instead, take up to giving the more cost effective, comfortable and healthy menstrual cups. Because the former is costly, needs to be bought every month-every single pad needs to be disposed after use and produces a lot of trash that is an environmental hazard.
We look forward to a Rash free, Cash free and trash free period for all the women in Scotland.Thus we need to explore these newer products for the health benefits that it provides to the women and also the environment.
Menstrual hygiene management is a key issue for women from adolescence to menopause, with implications to their health, privacy, dignity, safety at school, home and workplaces.
If you will agree- we will be happy to work with you.
Written by
Dr Meenakshi Bharath
Gynaecologist
Bangalore India.
The author is a renowned gynaecologist with over 40 years of experience in the field. She is a member of the Solid Waste Management Round Table, and a strong proponent of sustainable menstruation movement in India and beyond.
]]>Author is an educator and career mentor
I am writing this article after using the menstrual cup for the first-time this month!
I have known about the cup for the past 3-4 years, but never went through a YouTube video, or never read about it enough to try and use it.
I thought, I'm already 40+, max another 10-12 years to menopause so what big difference could it make. Why change?
Due to the covid, there were so many webinars that I was attending about my own topics (futuristic careers, education policy etc), so I was a part of many whatsapp groups on various workshops.
One of the workshops was about alternative menstrual products by Stonesoup's Smita.
I attended it only because it was between 2 other workshops, and my son and husband were busy with exam and meetings, so they wouldn't venture out of their rooms!
But in the webinar, I asked a lot of questions, the way Smita spoke about the products & the support of the whatsapp group made me order the product immediately.
I watched several videos about it. In telugu, tamil, malayalam, english, french, russian, kannada, hindi - by doctors, housewives, professionals, young teenagers! I watched them all!
Really! I’m not joking!
I received the order on time and used some hot boiling water to clean it.
I tried inserting one day without period it was difficult! It took a few trials to understand what to do. I was a bit sore, but at least I understood where & how to insert and what my posture should be, to insert it easily.
When I saw I started my period, I washed it & immediately inserted it. I also wore a pad - for safety sake. I had to try it 3-4 times, but then I walked carefully, I just couldn't feel it at all.
Told my husband to use my son's bathroom for the week as I dont know how this is going to go!
Advantages:
Concerns:
Tips:
So, go ahead. Whether you work at home or office, you’re 25 or 45, student or professional, doctor or police woman, full time worker or part time, heavy flow or light flow – the cup is a wonderful way for a comfortable, happy, odour free period while also enjoying environmental and financial benefits.
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The author is a gynaecologist with 40 years of experience and a member of Solid Waste Management Round Table, Bengaluru.
There is nothing wrong with using cloth pads. They are actually good for women’s health, cost effective, great value for money and trash free too!
The Covid-19 crisis has brought many problems to the forefront. Many previous ignored solutions have suddenly emerged as cutting edge innovations.
One such is the issue of non-availability of sanitary pads for children. The government had been distributing low cost disposable pads to children under various schemes, but with the lock down and the school closures, this stream of supply came to a halt. Women get their periods irrespective of crises - floods, cyclone or Covid-19. Because they lost their jobs, they could not afford to buy food. How could they afford to purchase sanitary pads, an absolute necessity?
Over the last 50 years, the dependency of the modern woman on single use disposable sanitary pads has been increasing. Why? Because the pad making industry has been doing a great job of advertising it. How do you advertise a new product? Either by saying your product is far superior to any others in the market or by giving the competition a bad name. The single use disposable (SUD) sanitary pad industry used the latter strategy and played on the psyche of the women. Women were already taught to be shy and ashamed about their menstrual periods. For hundreds of years, we have used cloth (usually old sarees and soft material) for absorbing menstrual discharge. This was washed and hung inside the house – in the bathrooms to dry, or hidden in dark corners. This resulted in these pieces of cloth catching fungus. The industry therefore said that cloth pads are unhygienic and unhealthy. They visited gynaecologists and told them about SUD pads – extolling about how good and hygienic they are. As the days went by, the pads went from being mainly cotton to becoming more and more plastic-laden. They were bleached white to show that they are hygienic. This was done using substances called dioxins, which are harmful to the body. The trash that these disposable pads produced did not degrade at all, an environmental disaster.
Another disadvantage of cloth pad was that they were not leak-proof and so stained the clothes – which let to further shaming of women. The plastic SUD pads did not leak.
Thus the saga of using disposable sanitary pads started. Now, we are all addicted to this so-called convenience. We have not realised that these pads are a recurrent expense – costing anything from Rs 50-150 every month and from Rs 1000-1500 every year. They also result in women getting rashes in the groin, skin allergies, and foul smell. After just a single use, disposable pads have to be discarded, creating a huge amount of trash. Bangalore alone is estimated to produce over 1,00,000 kgs of sanitary waste in a day - imagine what the bigger cities must be producing!
New age cloth pads are made of fresh new cloth, with a leak proof jacket called PUL (polyurethane laminate) with wings, so that the panty or clothes do not get stained. They are easy to wash, like we wash all our other clothes. They can be dried in the sun and so are hygienic. Sunlight is the best sanitizer available to us, free of cost. We wear cotton clothes all the time, so we cannot call these pads unhygienic, can we?
As part of the pan-India “Green the Red Campaign”, over the last 5 years, we have been empowering every village and district to make their own cloth pads so that they will not be dependent on a centralised supply. Women make these cloth pads in their homes and get employment. Children get these reusable, washable cloth sanitary pads at low cost. ATMA NIRBHARTA, as Prime Minister Modi says, is what we are promoting.
A set of 5-6 pads will last about 2-3 years i.e. 24-36 months. They cost little about Rs 400, thus costing about Rs 10 per month. They are very comfortable to use, resulting in little or no rash. Most importantly, they produce hardly any trash. As when they get worn and torn, they can simply be composted. It’s a RASH-FREE, CASH-FREE, TRASH-FREE programme.
Many NGOs including Rotary have been promoting reusable pads. Bangalore Rotary District 3190 has gifted over 2,000 sets to 2,000 students and women from January 2020. This has saved over 7,20,000 single use disposable sanitary pads from being purchased and then after use going to the landfill. These 2,000 women will not suffer the lack of proper sanitary ware for the next 3 years. By then, they will learn to make these pads themselves, having the capability of stitching complicated dresses.
Let us therefore empower our women to stitch these cloth pads, teach them how to use it hygienically, and be garbage free. This will protect women from many health problems, give them employment and help them be environment friendly too. Thus cloth pads are very good, especially for the girl child from menarche to marriage or age 20 years.
There is an even better solution for adult women – the menstrual cup. But that is a whole new topic that we can talk about another time.
This way we can forever prevent PERIOD POVERTY for women in India.]]>It is a menstrual care product that is placed into the vagina to collect the blood during menstruation. This feminine hygiene product is designed with the purpose to collect the discharged blood (menstrual fluid) from the uterine lining and avoid its leakage on the clothes.
Unlike sanitary napkins or tampons, period cups or menstrual cups do not absorb the blood. It rather collects the menstrual blood.
Usually, menstrual cups are made with flexible medical-grade silicone in a bell-shaped cup with a stem at the bottom. The stem is presumed to help in removing the cup. Au contraire, if you try to pull the cup with the stem you might hurt yourself. The correct way to remove is ALWAYS by pinching the base of the cup to release the suction and then take it out. To avoid confusion, Stonesoup cups come without a stem.
When the period cup or silicone cup is inserted into the vagina, it stops against the vagina wall below the cervix. Depending upon the flow, you can empty the collected blood every 4-12 hours. Make sure you empty the collected blood from the cup, wash it clean, rinse it and reinsert for an unstressed period for another 4-12 hours.
Menstrual cups are promoted as eco-friendly and practical products that reduce toxic waste and other waste associated with period care. As you can reuse the menstrual cups or period cups, the necessity to dispose of the sanitary napkins and tampons also decreases and the tonnes of toxic sanitary waste do not fill the landfill.
These period cups or silicone cups can be reused for up to 10 years. This drastically reduces the spending on sanitary pads and tampons we buy every month. However, initially, the price of these cups may seem expensive, but on average, it is a cost-effective product. Did you know women spend Rs 30,000 on disposable sanitary napkins in 10 years?
Want to know how to use a menstrual cup? Here is a step-by-step process. However, it may take some practice and patience to master the technique of inserting and removing the period cups easily.
Step1: Fold the Cup
There are two ways you can fold the cup.
Option1: “U” Shaped Fold:
Press the sides of the menstrual cup and fold the cup into half to form a “U” shaped fold.
Option 2: “Push Down” Fold
Place your finger on the rim of the cup and press the cup down to the centre at the base to form a triangle. This makes the rim smaller and easier to insert into your vagina.
Step 2: Hold the Cup
Make sure you are holding the folded sides firmly between your thumb and forefinger and is facing the vagina opening.
Step 3: Insert the Cup
Sit in a relaxed position such as squatting, to ease your vaginal muscles. Then, gently separate the labia with your other hand and horizontally push the folded rim of the cup into your vagina until it is fully inside. The cup automatically opens into the vagina and sits below the cervix to collect the blood.
Step 4: Remove the Cup
To remove the cup, insert your thumb and forefinger into your vagina and reach for the base of the cup. Pinch the base to release the cup. Continue to pull down the cup until it is completely removed. Empty the collected blood in the toilet and wash the thoroughly wash the cup with warm water and mild soap. Reinsert the washed and cleaned cup.
Menstrual Cups are an excellent choice of period care products that are easy to use and are made of non-toxic material that lasts up to 10 years. Women with all kinds of physical activities can use these cups and not be worried about leakage, stains, rashes and itching.
]]>
If you can do what quarantined folks have to do and that is the safest option for all. If you can’t, try and give waste out once a week/ month.
Remember, more social distancing, less spread. And giving out waste is also social interaction.
If you have to order groceries or cooked food, buy larger quantities and stock. All takeaway boxes should be cleaned well and then put in recycling bag.
Masks, Gloves, tissues, medicines - all go in reject bin.
Learn to compost and grow. Baby spinach leaves grow in 10 days. Great activity with kids - as those adorable Saif and Taimur pics show.
Container - Take a 10 kg grain bag - Punch holes with a child compass - a hole every 2-3 inches.
Browns - Take dry leaves ,if you have. Otherwise use cardboard delivery boxes, old newspaper etc - Normally we recommend that you recycle these but for now, you can use it.
Microbes - Use really sour butter milk. Bioenzyme if you have. Remember to put only 1-2 tea spoons and not smoother the waste.
Greens - comes from your kitchen waste. With general availability low, please do not waste food. Even with a lot of peels, e.g., ridge gourd, you can make a chutney. Make all purpose cleaner with Orange peels. Look at ur peel n google!
How to compost - In your container, put a thick base of browns. Add greens. Spray microbes. Cover with browns. Repeat everyday. Once in 3-4 days, give contents a good mix to improve aeration.
You can make grow bags out of old cans, bottles and of course plastic grain bags of all size. Spinach and other micro greens are the easiest. If this lasts for months, you can also start growing your own potatoes and other vegetables.
Babies have different diaper needs as they grow
Infants - pee and poop frequently but lesser quantity so a old saree /dhoti can be cut into squares and used as diapers
3-6 months : kids start sitting and moving a bit so a diaper can be made with a liner like the pad
6 - 12 months : can be taken to restroom frequently to potty train and can use same diaper as 3-6 month
12 month and above - just a thick panty is enough and child can be taken to restroom frequently to potty train
Most cloth diapering parents report that their kids are potty trained in 9-15 months.
Read our earlier blog on bioenzymes:
BioEnzyme Natural Cleaners - Magically Decontaminates The Environment
Stitch your own mask from
Fabric (dupattas/sarees/bedsheets): https://youtu.be/sOJ_sm137fQ
OR bras: https://youtu.be/pZkOPwkM_G0
OR
Use a handkerchief or dupatta or scarf to cover your mouth while sneezing/coughing or crossing a crowded street/area.
2. Alcohol based wet wipes for the smart phone, tablets: The Corona virus is known to survive on surface for upto 9 days. Hence people are reaching out to alcohol based wet wipes to clean the surfaces of their smartphone and tablets to disinfect the devices. There is a better way to clean the surface (first, of course, is wash your hands every time before you handle the device). Lightly dampen the corner of a soft, lint-free cloth or a microfiber cloth with the distilled water and white vinegar mix. Again, don't apply or spray the mix directly onto your phone. Gently wipe your phone with the cloth. Use the dry corner of cloth to remove any excess on your phone.
3. Hand sanitisers: Hand washing is of utmost importance now. But the alcohol-based sanitzers aren’t necessarily the way. Here’s an article that lists the dangers of these sanitisers. https://www.thestreet.com/markets/5-hidden-dangers-of-hand-sanitizers-12966410
Children especially should be taught to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and not handed these sanitisers. Try this hand wash made from bio enzymes by BRICS
https://stonesoup.in/products/ecosattva-3r-natural-hand-wash?_pos=1&_sid=b1184adec&_ss=r
4. Travel: Many are avoiding public transport and using private vehicles/cabs to travel. It is best to avoid travel altogether and attained meetings virtually. Here are a few tools that enable you to do just that - https://www.eztalks.com/video-meeting/virtual-meeting-tools.html
More information on the WHO website:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Plastic Bag |
Cloth Bags, Fridge Bags |
Plastic Cutlery |
Rent-a-Cutlery |
Plastic Clingfilm |
Washable Bess Wax Wrap |
Plastic Tooth Brush |
Bamboo Toothbrush |
Plastic Sanitary Pads |
Cups and Cloth Pads |
Plastic Diapers |
Cloth Diapers |
Plastic Take-aways |
Dine-in, Carry your own container or order food that doesn't come inn plastic |
Plastic lining for dustbin |
No lining or Paper/leaf lining |
Plastic Decorations/Wrappings |
No wrappings, green decorations |
Plastic Water Bottle |
Reusable Bottles |
Among the population infants, old people and people with low immunity are the ones who have become an easy target by all pollutants.No new technology or safety equipment can keep us safe from all this unless we get our act together
Don’t wait for the government to do it all for you or else it will never happen or maybe too late.Do simple things that can naturally clean our air and keep our surroundings clean
1)Plant an air purifier:
Yes grow these special plants which clean the air,produce oxygen and improve air quality
HOLY BASIL(Tulsi)- A very common plant in Indian houses,It is an excellent air purifier and has a lot of medicinal values. This maybe the reason why it is worshipped in Hindu culture
ALO VERA- One alo vera plant does the job of nine air purifiers by absorbing CO2 and CO ,It has a lot of medicinal values and is used as a rooting agent for plants
ARECA PALM- Works as a humidifier and filters the air,It can be planted indoors too
FICULA-Can be kept indoors or in indirect sunlight,produces oxygen and is easy to maintain.
IVY PLANT- Comes in a huge variegated and non variegated variety .Removes air toxins within six hours, a must have plant for home
SPIDER PLANT- Easy to maintain and propagate,It filters gasoline,toxins and CO from the air
SNAKE PLANT-Easy to maintain,it can be kept inside , it produces oxygen even at night
2) Use natural resources judiciously
Plant more trees,breathe healthy clean air and live healthy because “ Health is Wealth”
]]>What is compost tea?
Compost tea refers to the mixture of compost with water. You can easily make Compost tea for your organic farm or garden.The Quality of your compost tea will depend primarily on the quality of the compost you use to make it.It is very beneficial to flowers, plants, grass, and even fruit and vegetables.
Compost tea :
You can use this tea all around the garden and can really add to the quality of the plants. It contains microbes and bacteria which are beneficial in keeping plant life healthful. Compost tea is an excellent organic substitute for chemicals and fertilizers in the garden.
The beneficial effects of compost tea are much more extended than tradition compost. The Best part of using compost tea over traditional compost is that you can use it on both soil and leaves.You can spray compost tea on the leaves as a foliar spray,it will reduce the foliar diseases . As it is in the liquid form it will improve the soil quality by increasing the nutrients available to the plant.
Recipe :
Take 250gm of compost in a bit of cloth. Tie it to wrap the compost. Put that in 5 ltrs water and keep passing air in it or keep pouring same water from some height into it against to aerate the liquid. Do this for some time and leave it 5-6 hours and aerate again. That liquid is called compost tea!
TEA MAKING TIPS
There is a huge variety of composting solutions available in the market.Experts recommend to start with aerobic composting as it is the simplest way of composting.
Anerobic or Bokashi composting is a two step composting but is not advisable if you are looking for fill it ,forget it and harvest it style
Let us start by identifying what material of bin you want
A)CLAY POTS/TERRACOTTA POTS:
Traditionally clay pots or terracotta pots were used.
Terracotta (un-glazed clay) pots are made of a particular top layer of soil and are fired in kilns during the manufacturing process. Clay and Terracotta has the tendency to form a white crusty layer on the outside of the pot due to deposit of mineral salts.The salt deposits should be scrubbed off and pot should be repainted for longer use.They are heavy and break easily.
B)PLASTIC BINS
Plastic Compost Bins:
STEP 2 : OUTDOOR OR INDOOR COMPOSTING
Outdoor composter :Choose a site that is flat,aerated and easily accessible . Place the bin over bare soil or have a mesh base to ensure that worms and other beneficial organisms can make their way into the pile but rodents don't.
Indoor composter: Choose a well aerated place like utility,balcony,terrace or any other convenient and accessible place
START COMPOSTING!
Following things are important for composting
A)Right amount of moisture :Remove all extra moisture from food before you add it to the bin.Too little can slow decomposition and too much can reduce air flow.
B)Composting ingredients : These can be divided into two categories
1)Brown Materials such as cocopeat,dry leaves, hay, straw, paper ,cardboard,egg shell,saw dust,wood ash etc
2) Green materials such as food waste,coffee grounds from the kitchen and grass clippings,vegetable trimmings and most green plant cuttings from the garden
Living green leaves are considered "green materials", whereas the dead, dry leaves that fall from the trees are seen as "brown materials".
Correct proportion of greens and browns should be added to maintain the correct mix in the pile, it should be just moist and not wet,if it feels wet then increase the amount of browns a bit.
Summers: sprinkle little water if it gets dry due to heat
Monsoon: Increase browns if moisture is more
Winters: check if the pile is heating enough or move it to a warmer place
Microbes play an important role by making the process faster,hassle free and odorless.We recommend using compost maker block which is cocopeat innoculated with composting microbes
Layering process
Microbes that break down organic matter also need nitrogen to support their proteins; green ingredients provides that
Feed your pile with carbon ingredients to provide the microbes that break down organic matter with an energy source; brown component provides that.
Experts recommend a 30:1 C/N (Carbon/Nitrogen) compost pile ratio; one part “green” to two parts “brown” should provide a balanced mix
Don’t wait anymore,start composting now ,remember your compost is like mixed vegetables curry it is as nutritious as the number of ingredients going into it
Sustainable Menstruation India - a facebook group with 21k + members has been the support group for women to move to eco-friendly options of period care. I joined the group when it was less than 2000 members - why create another when one exists. Veena Rajappa, Claire Rao, Dr Meenakshi Bharat, Shilpi Sahu and I were first few who got together and started promoting it - a media mention by us in early day added 3000 women on a single day! We got a shot in the arm when Sindhu , Smita, and Priyanka Jain joined and Green the Red was formed. We continued using this Facebook group to send women for more information and hundreds of nameless women like us continued to answer questions of newbies there. This is the group where i have personally answered thousands of questions and gained knowledge to launch Stonesoup Wings - first stemless cup in the world. And on April 18th, the admin we didn’t know, decided to shut down the group! No discussion, a unilateral decision. We have decided to open Stonesoup Support to all women - women who use our cups or not. Sustainable Menstruation Support by Stonesoup https://www.
And we asked Dr Meenakshi Bharath, a leading gynecologist, a green soul and our co sustainable menstruation campaigner to answer the questions Preethi has raised. Dr Meenakshi's response is enclosed.
Dear Preethi Sukumaran
I am Dr Meenakshi Bharath. I am a gynaecologist and have been an allopathic doctor for the last 35 yrs.
Congrats to you for starting the SMI group in 2014- and spreading the message about sustainable products for menstruation. This has helped a lot of people understand it and make healthier and more sustainable choices.
I am one of those who believes that cloth pads are good and easy to use-just like you. It has been used for hundreds of years but the only reason the cloth pads got a bad name was because it was being dried in the damp confines of the bathroom and not in the sunlight. The cloth pads have undergone a transformation down the years and have overcome the disadvantages that it faced in the yesteryears. Information about drying the cloth pads in the sun has been given to the entire cloth pad user community; these cloth pads are a great option for young menstruators, unmarried women, women after a normal delivery and others who are less adventurous.
But then I am also of the opinion that the menstrual cup that is now available is a great option for women who are adults, who are sexually active-married or otherwise, and even some younger women who have made the choice to use this for their menstrual hygiene.
I am as already stated, an Allopath and have not studied any of the traditional Indian forms of medicine, Ayurveda, Siddha, Homeopathy, Naturopathy etc-though I am a follower of some of the practices personally.
From my experience of 3 decades of gynaecology and especially since menstruation comes directly under this discipline- I would like to give my thoughts on some of the statements that you have made.
1. “Altered lower blood flow levels” – Pads soak blood across a large surface area and they make it seem like there is a large amount of blood each period. Whereas, only about 60-80 ml is normally lost per period and this is only equivalent to 4-6 tablespoons full of blood-not much. This is exactly what you see more clearly with the menstrual cup. Also the period becomes shorter–as the last day of spotting need not happen. The blood collects in the cup and none is stuck to the vagina to come out later as brownish spotting.
2. “Some suffered from leaks” –leaking of blood from the menstrual cup happens –if the cup has not opened properly or if the cup slips. Leaking happens with cloth pads also if we do not change it often enough. So that is not only a cup phenomenon. This is also something that users overcome once they have learnt the technique of inserting and removing the cup properly. Like with any other new device, there is a learning curve.
3. “Infection is always the bugbear quoted against sustainable practices” - This idea has been used by the disposable pad proponents to promote their products and dissuade us from using sustainable products. The cloth pad if washed properly –like we wash our clothes –and then hung out in the sun gets disinfected hygienically. Direct sunlight is one of the best natural disinfectants available freely to all. And on the other hand, a lot of users of menstrual cups have said that their vaginal infections and irritations have reduced on using the menstrual cup which is made of inert material –medical grade silicone. This material leaves your natural vaginal environment intact instead of absorbing any and all liquids like tampons do.
Also the scare of the Toxic Shock syndrome has been unnecessarily hyped. TSS affects about 1 in a 1,00,000 women, with a significant number of these cases not even being associated with menstrual products. Those that are associated, often come from using a super absorbent tampon for too long. Cases associated with the use of the menstrual cup are not even a measurable statistic yet (Too few cases to give an appropriate metric). Thus as long as you, the menstrual cup user, removes the cup at least once in 12 hrs-washes it and wears it again then the chances of TSS in minimised further. Infection is kept at bay mostly by maintaining good hand hygiene. Remember that the chance of a fatal road accident is 17/1,00,000, 17 times more than TSS and none of us have stopped travelling on the road.
4. “Insertion of a blood collecting device which minutely alters the free flow of menstrual blood –could potentially dry out the delicate vaginal muscle and also subtly alter the strength of the action of the uterus as it pumps out blood” - The menstrual cup inserted into the vaginal canal –just acts as a receptacle for the blood flowing out of the uterus through the cervix into vagina into the cup. It does not change the vagina in any way-actually the menstrual cup helps to retain the vaginal fluid maintaining the wetness of the vaginal mucosa (the vaginal muscles do not get affected by any product we use) unlike the tampon which dries the vaginal mucosa out along with absorbing the menstrual fluid. The cup even performs better on this scale than the disposable pad – which dries out your vulva, causing irritation that can be avoided with the cup. It does not in any way alter the uterine muscular strength. The uterus sheds the endometrium at the end of the menstrual cycle when the hormonal support is lost. Along with this tissue, there is a little blood -this is a passive procedure –not because the uterus pumps the blood out.
Also the cervix –the mouth of the uterus does not allow the blood to flow back to the uterus when you are lying down-it is a one way passage from inside the uterus to the vagina through the cervix. Thus there is no worry that the blood collected in the cup will flow back into the uterus when you are lying down.
Menstrual cup is made of medical grade silicone material which is inert and has been used for ever so many medical devices-from urinary catheters to cardiac stents to intravenous devices–these are all inserted into the body and have not done any harm because of their material makeup over many years.
As for your worry about the free flow of Apana vayu being obstructed by the menstrual cup- it is wrong. Even normally, menstrual blood collects in the vaginal canal and then only trickles out of it. So the cup (inert material) collecting blood in the canal is not different from the normal collection of blood that occurs there. This is in no way harming the woman’s health.
Also similar to the vagina holding the menstrual blood for a while, the bladder holds the urine 300-500ml–an excretory product with toxins for hours-before one passes urine. Similarly, the rectum that is behind the uterus and vagina holds the stools, an excretory product of the intestines, for more than 12 hrs before we pass stools. The menstrual blood does not hold any toxins. Thus one need not worry about the cup holding the blood for a few hours before it is removed cleaned and reinserted. The blood is unlikely to pick up any infection while the cup in is in the vagina for a short period of time.
As for polycyctic ovaries (PCOS/PCOD) this condition has been around for the last so many decades when the cup was not in use. It was only after Stein and Levinthal defined it in 1935 that we became conscious of it. It has become more evident in the recent past due to the increased levels of obesity in women, and this is another cause for infertility. It does not lead to endometriosis either. If anything the usage of the menstrual cup will result in improved comfort and health of women.
The menstrual cup has been in the market for the last 20-30 yrs –it is not a new product and millions of women around the world use it. Nothing adverse has been observed with the use of the silicone material. Remember all of us use silicone in so many things-from Baking to our watch straps-Fitbits.
Let me tell you about the benefits of the menstrual cup-
1. It is a no rash programme. One of the biggest problems that women face and face for over 5-7 yrs is the rash that pads cloth or disposable pads produce. 35 yrs x 12 months x 5 days =2100 days of our lives we have periods. That is why tampons became popular as women did not like to have anything between their legs that would give them rash.
2. Wearing the cup helps to reduce the white discharge that women suffer from as the cup does not irritate the vaginal mucosa.
3. You can pass urine or stools without needing to remove the menstrual cup –unlike the pads.
4. It is truly “wash and wear”-remove it, wash it and wear it.
5. The cup holds about 15-20 ml of liquid thus leading to less leakage over the same amount of time as pads.
6. One cup can last for many years -8-10 yrs- so no trash is produced. One cup weighs is about 15 gms of silicone. 5 cloth pads would last a woman about 2-4 yrs –while if you used disposable pads one would use about 180 in a year( 1800 in 10 yrs, equivalent to about 35 kgs of garbage)
7. Very economical –a menstrual cup approximately costs Rs1000 for 10 years , cloth pads would cost about Rs4000 for 10 yrs while disposable pads would cost Rs 15000.
8. Rain or water does not come in the way of using the menstrual cup, while cloth pads and disposable pads cannot be used in the rain or floods.
9. Freedom to do all activities –like swimming, running, dancing, cycling, trekking and everything else.
10. One can sleep in any direction –without worrying about staining.
11. Periods are now a private affair- if this bothers you, no one needs to know that you are having one-and one feels very clean.
12. Being such a practical and economic choice, it gives freedom to a lot of women regardless of their economic status in society. Imagine the freedom that women who do physical labour experience with the cup.
13. Many women have experienced a reduction in their abdominal cramps too. I’m sure this will be proven when enough studies are made.
Of course there is a learning curve. But, if everyone in India has learnt to use the mobile phone and a smart phone at that, then it is not a problem.
This is a NO RASH, NO TRASH, and NO CASH PROGRAMME
So Preethi I hope that your doubts have been cleared. I hope that you will change your opinion about menstrual cups and stop thinking that they are potentially dangerous and harmful. If you have not used the menstrual cup-please keep an open mind and give the menstrual cup a try, I feel that you are missing something highly beneficial to your health and comfort.
<This is a reply to the below message by Preethi on SMI fb group>
Preethi Sukumaran
Admin · 18 April at 00:03
CRITICAL: permanent closure of this group
]]>Dear all,
I started this group to talk about and provide support for those wanting a cleaner and greener period in 2014. At that time, we had very few pad options and cups were non existent.
I was never a fan of cups , preferring to use cloth pads. The benefits of using a reusable option like cloth pads were immense, and I started reaching out and speaking and writing more about it.
As the interest around this movement grew, voices started to rise talking about how inconvenient cloth pads were in comparison to disposables and cups started to get promoted as a better option - not fuss, no mess, no washing / drying.
As my study and understanding of Ayurveda grew, my discomfort around cups grew. I sounded off these concerns with Ayurvedic practitioners, siddha experts, homeopaths, practicing naturopaths, etc.
I also began hearing from cup users who experienced concerns ( a small number). Some of them spoke about experiencing altered, lower blood flow levels. Some suffered from leaks. Some also developed certain infections conditions.
Infection is always the bugbear quoted against sustainable practices. Any remotely traditional practice like using a cloth pad is dubbed unhygienic. The entire movement of sustainable menstruation suffers due to the poor portrayal of the practice by disposable product promoters.
But hygiene is not the problem in the case of cups - not if we practice care.
The bigger problem I believe will come our way is due to the insertion of a blood collection device which minutely alters the free flow of menstrual blood, could potentially dry out delicate vaginal muscle and also subtly alters the strength of the action of the uterus as it pumps out blood.
Please note that we are speaking about subtle altering actions. We may not see the effects of this right away. But I am concerned that we would come to see some ill effects over time.
When I go through this group, I see the most excitement and happiness over cup conversion. Many of you have invested time, effort and research over cups. You have made it work for you. And then proceeded to convince others.
But this doesn't take away from the fact that I believe this practice is harmful and dangerous.
Now that I have concluded this, the options available to me are clear.
I cannot continue to nurture / promote/ support a platform that encourages a choice which I believe is harmful and potentially dangerous.
Therefore this group will be winding down. Transitioning to cloth pads is easy and a no-brainer. This requires minimal support Support is only needed in cups where there is now a large array of choices of brands, sizes, fits etc.
As an immediate step (within a day / two), we will begin by making this an archived group. In this format no new content or members can be added but existing members can go through the content.
I will begin the process of deleting members from May 1st onwards. I expect to be able to shut down this group in 2-3 weeks post this.
I would like to thank all the previous admins, members and every one who has contributed to this group and helping grow this movement.
I hope my intentions behind closing this group is well understood. To re-iterate, the cup movement has grown phenomenally based on groups and fora like this one. But it is clear from the first principles of good health as outlined by Ayurveda and Siddha that this practice is harmful in the long run. Specifically the free flow of apana vayu is vital to women's health and well being - when this is blocked by devives like cups, there is an increase in issues like PCOS / PCOD, infertility and on a smaller level bloating, cramps, etc.
With this information, I do not wish to support a forum which is now primarily devoted to menstrual cups.
Why this dramatic action of closing this group?
I sincerely believe that unless such dramatic action is taken, those using cups will NOT be able to understand the severity of the problems. Only such a dramatic action will make people think and re-consider this choice.
I feel that this dramatic action of closing this group will lead to people re-examining their cup choice - if by this even if one of you finds a positive improvement in your health and well being, I would be happy.
If you are a cup user: do take a moment to re-read what I have said with an open mind. Please consult an Ayurvedic vaidya to take a second opinion.
Cloth pads are a safe, time tested, reusable and are a truly green and environmentally sustainable option. There are no risks or issues associated with them. Please do think about this option.
My best wishes to everyone: I wish you continue to have a healthy and truly green period.
Thank you.
The word “Compost” comes from Latin, “Com” means “together” and “Post” means “to bring”. So Compost means “to bring together”.
As humans, we reap things from the earth along with many other living organisms.It is vital to give it back to the earth.Humus cannot be replaced by artificial fertilizers but can be created through composting
Organic matter is digested by tiny life forms called micro-organisms that make it available for plants in simpler form, much in the same way the microbes live in our gut and help us digest our food.
Aerobic composting:
Aerobic composting is driven by aerobic microorganisms which thrive in plenty of oxygen ( good aeration ) and balanced moisture content.Temperature rises during the process,it gradually cools down when the process is complete.Temperatures can reach up to 140 F in a compost pile, and this is a good thing. High temperatures kill pathogens and weed seeds that may make their way into the pile
1)Aeration:
Air is necessary to encourage growth and survival of aerobic microorganisms to work on decomposition
2)Particle Size:
The size of the particle in your compost pile can affect the length of time it takes to decompose. The smaller the size, the more surface area and the quicker the biological digestion can occur.
3)C:N ratio
The ratio of the elements themselves should be around 30:1. Microbes use C for energy and N for reproduction. So an imbalance of one to the other prevents the microbes the materials they need to be successful.
N is raw element of proteins used to build microbe bodies and for microbial reproduction and digestion
Ex: veggie scraps, fresh grass, green leaves, manure, coffee grounds
Generally speaking, carbon-based material is brown and nitrogen-based material is green. There are always exceptions, coffee grounds are brown but high in nitrogen.
Carbon = “Browns”
Nitrogen = “Greens”
Microorganisms & Macro-organism:that help in composting :
Bacteria
Fungi
Actinomycetes
Earthworms
Insects
Spiders
Nematodes
Compost not only contains the major elements that your plants need for the ultimate growth such as Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (NPK) but also the trace elements.
In the spring, when the plants just started to grow, the microorganisms in compost release the nutrients slowly. As the weather starts getting warmer plants growth become more rapid and so as the release rate of nutrients. Compost is the nature’s way of controlling the release rate of nutrients.
Compost increases the water retention capacity of the soil. They can hold water up to 200% of its dry weight. So you need to water less.
Garden compost adds micro-organism and larger creatures such as earthworms and insects, which are natural soil builders.
Compost binds with cadmium and lead and thus neutralize the toxin present in the soil
Overtime the compost becomes compacted due to continuous decomposition and watering. You might initially get good growth, but then it slows down.This is because roots need to breathe, and compacted compost has little room for air. If you just add new compost to the top, you are condemning the bottom half to a no-grow zone so it is advisable to add some sand and pebbles at the bottom along with compost for better plant growth
Why compost ?
It’s FREE!
Conserves water
Increases organic matter in soil
Improves biodiversity
Helps plants grow
Balances the soil
Buffers soil pH
Moderates soil temperatures
Helps control soil erosion
Increases air quality
Lowers landfill waste
Reduces greenhouse gases
Composting is fun!
Aerobic composting process step by step :
What you need to do?
1.Take a bin with holes which allows aeration,prepare 4 inch base with browns/cocopeat/compost maker powder
2.Remove excess liquid from food waste and add food waste to the bin,layer your waste with compost maker powder and then repeat the process till bin is full
3. Ensure the aeration of the compost pile is good and the moisture content is balanced.
4. Leave the bin to rest for 3-4 weeks once its
's full .Harvest compost after 3-4 weeks and use it for your plants
Advantages of Aerobic Composting
1.No smell,faster compared to other types of composting
2. Easy process, waste gets easier to manage as the days progress no rocket science involved.
3.Compost is ready within three to four weeks
4.Compost maker powder helps compost all types of food waste(veg,non-veg,cooked,raw..)
Common Issues :
1)Odor
Too much nitrogen → add aged brown high carbon material
Compaction → turn or aerate
Too wet → add dry material and turn
2)Pile Not Heating Up
Lack of nitrogen → add fresh green high nitrogen material
Low moisture → add water and feel for heat
As a beginner,it is advisable to start with aerobic composting as it does not require complicated steps or equipments. Its absolutely simple and do-able,no rocket involved .
meme courtsey - itsahappyworld @happyworldtitis
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