Period cramps are arguably one of the more annoying aspects that come with being a female, but one woman claims she has a method to deter painful cramps, although it’s a little messy.
Self-confessed ‘blood witch’ Yazmina Jade Adler smears her menstrual blood all over her face and lips which she says is ‘empowering’ and helps relieves her cramps.
The 26-year-old shared her unusual healing method on SBS’s Medicine or Myth show, where she brought a jar of her own blood to demonstrate with.
She revealed how she collects her blood using a menstrual cup, before showing how she uses the blood by smearing it all over her face and lips.
But, Yazmina, from Australia, left others on the show horrified when she began painting her face with it, because let’s face it, it’s certainly not for the faint hearted.
She said on the show:
I would normally connect with the blood, and by doing that it instantly does something to me.
I use blood in a way to connect either through putting it on my hand or anointing it on my third eye. Doing this, it has relieved me of discomfort.
I’ve painted my whole face before. Every time is different.
I’ve been using this remedy now for about 10 months to a year and my cramping has gone.
I found is taking that time out, actually be with myself, and meditate, connect with my body, it’s like the pain has gone away.
Yazmina was reduced to tears when describing how her unusual method of ‘connecting with her body’ made her feel.
She continued:
I just want every woman to feel it.
I know what women go through I know that pain, that shame. I feel for the women who are struggling with this.
However, Yazmina did reveal how she’s received a barrage of abuse online since opening up about her pain relief techniques. Adding she’s had to defend herself and remind people she’s ‘not asking’ anyone to copy her methods.
In a video that previously went out on social media, Yazmina said:
I want to share with all of you why I felt the need to share me placing menstrual blood all over my face.
And what power it holds for us as women to fully share this part of self which we have been shaming for so many lifetimes.
Through reclaiming the blood and reclaiming the menstrual cycle, it fully allowed me to embody everything that I was.
It fully allowed me to have the freedom to express who I was in every way.
By putting this up on social media, it kind of gave an invitation to people to know that it’s ok to share this part of yourself and it’s not taboo.
But, speaking out about the abuse she’s since received online, Yazmina said:
It’s been hard to face off all of the negative comments on me doing this because it’s for my own sacred ritual and I’m not asking anyone else to do this.
I’m just saying this has been my experience and it has been really empowering, and it’s felt really good to connect with that part of self.
I’ve shared this on social media to help build awareness around this, I’m not asking anyone go and to smear blood on their faces.
That was just my own personal experience and what I felt I wanted to do through ritual.
Blood is really sacred essence; I invite you all to take a look at that.
Men out there, it’s a natural thing and without the blood you wouldn’t be here.
Well, it’s certainly not for everyone, but if it works for you, Yazmina. Fair play.
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Emma Rosemurgey is an NCTJ trained Journalist who started her career by producing The Royal Rosemurgey newspaper in 2004, which kept her family up to date with the goings on of her sleepy north east village. She graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in Preston and started her career in regional newspapers before joining Tyla (formerly Pretty 52) in 2017, and progressing onto UNILAD in 2019.