What's the brown spotting with my period?

[Image from Canva.com]

A question I get quite often that we’ve all wondered about at some point in time is…

What is that brown spotting after your period?

Because it can feel like a TMI, we often don’t ask these questions out loud. Worse yet, sometimes we think it’s only happening to us.

So here’s the deal - almost all of us have experienced some brown spotting and/or bleeding with our periods. It’s very common. And, it’s not necessarily something to worry about.

Brown blood is oxidized blood, or period blood that has been exposed to oxygen. This can happen when blood from our previous period is pushed out at the beginning of our next period. It can also happen at the end of our periods when blood is flowing more slowly and has more time to be exposed to oxygen.

A little bit of brown blood at the beginning or end of the period is normal. However, if most of your bleeding is brown, then I like to explore options for supporting flow and alleviating stagnation.

How do I support flow & alleviate stagnation in my own menstrual cycle?

> Yoni Steam - I generally do a single yoni steam within 3 days of the arrival of each menstrual cycle to support blood flow and circulation. Yoni steam is the practice of sitting bare-bottom over a vessel of gently steaming herbs designed to support menstrual and pelvic health. Adena Rose Ayurveda is a great resource if you’re looking to learn more about the practice. I have noticed that my periods are noticeably shorter, brighter in color, and have less brown spotting since doing a monthly pre-period steam.

> Castor Oil Packs - Castor oil packs are commonly used in ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine to support flow, encourage detox, and relieve stagnation. They are commonly used over the liver to achieve this, however when working on menstrual and pelvic health many people like to use castor oil packs over their lower abdomen between the belly button and the pelvic bone. When using a castor oil pack for menstrual health I soak a piece of organic cotton flannel in castor oil, place it over top of my lower abdomen, cover with a rag (it will get oily), apply gentle heat for 20-40 minutes, then rinse clean. I maybe do this 3 times a week when working on a menstrual flow issue. Of course, this isn’t health advice. This is simply how I’ve used castor oil packs to support my own menstrual cycle. I highly recommend working with an ayurvedic practitioner (like Adena Rose, above) or an acupuncturist when exploring the use of castor oil packs.

> Maya Abdominal Massage - This is hands-on massage practice from the Mayan lineage that is designed to support menstrual, pelvic, & digestive health. To use this practice, one meets with a trained Maya Massage practitioner to receive hands-on treatment and learn the techniques. Then you’ll be guided to practice them at home on a basis that best serves your cycle needs. Again, Adena Rose Ayurveda is a great resource on Maya Massage as well.

I’m curious to hear from you… Have you ever used yoni steams, castor oil packs, or Maya massage for menstrual health?

Curious about working with me to learn how to track your cycle and have better menstrual cycles? You can learn all about working with me here.

IMPORTANT - Please always discuss menstrual cycle and period concerns with your doctor, especially if bleeding seems abnormal or unusual. The information provided here is not intended to serve as medical advice, simply an educational resource to help you have more empowered conversations with your health care providers.

Disclaimer: Brandy Oswald, Sauvage Wellness LLC, and her employees are not doctors, nurses, physicians, psychotherapists, or in anyway licensed medical practitioners and information presented here is to serve as an educational resource and not to be interpreted as: (1) medical advice; (2) a 100% effective birth control or pregnancy achievement options or (3) nutrition or health guidelines. By reading this you acknowledge that you understand that as a specialized form of consulting, fertility awareness education is not the same as professional or licensed therapy or medical advice and intervention; and recognize that it is your responsibility to seek such services from a licensed professional. Brandy Oswald is not a medical provider and cannot give medical advice. All information provided by Sauvage Wellness LLC and Brandy Oswald is of a general nature and is intended only for educational purposes to help with your personal health improvement goals and should not be relied on as medical advice. Always consult a physician with any health concerns and prior to changing your diet, lifestyle, supplements, birth control, fitness, or prescription medicine routine. Should you choose to use the information provided by Brandy Oswald it is of your own volition and you recognize that neither Brandy nor Sauvage Wellness LLC is not held liable for any intended or unintended outcomes.

All viewers hereby WAIVE AND RELEASE Brandy Oswald and Sauvage Wellness LLC from any claim, demand, cause of action of any kind resulting from or related to my participation in classes, workshops, and all service offerings provided by Brandy and Sauvage Wellness. As a view you hereby acknowledge that you are fully responsible for any and all risks, injuries, or damages, known or unknown, which might occur as a result of your participation.