Menstruating women possess the ultimate power

In Syria, it used to be considered that a meal cooked by a menstruating woman will go bad in a relatively short period of time. People of the South European countries assumed that batter wouldn't rise in the presence of a menstruating woman. People in the South of France were absolutely certain of the fact that even a slightest breath of a menstruating woman was enough to alter mayonnaise quality.

Myths about menstruation could be divided into two distinct categories. The first views menstruating woman as something mysterious, as enigma with supernatural powers. The second one, in contrast, views menstruating woman as a creature possessed by "dark forces."

Early humans viewed monthly bleedings of healthy women as vivid demonstration of their supernatural powers. It was assumed that menstruating women were capable to stop hurricanes and thunders. Monthly blood was thought to possess magical qualities. It was thought to protect people from fire, serve as a good omen, to protect men from getting wounded in fights, and so on. A thread soaked in this blood was used to treat patients suffering from epilepsy and migraines.

According to the second viewpoint, it was considered that a menstruating woman was possessed by evil. Some used to believe that wine goes bad, iron turns to rust and bronze turns green in the presence of a menstruating woman.

Some Indian women were required to wear special gowns for the whole time of the period. Menstruating women were forbidden from attending fishing and hunting sites. She was also required to warn people of her condition, as it was believed she could make a man sick after contacting her. In some cases, women were even isolated for the times of menstruation. They were even fed from special kind of kitchenware, which was discarded afterwards.

During the Middle Ages it was considered that a menstruating woman bore nothing but evil. That is why she was forbidden to attend church and sacred places. Similar tradition remains even today in some parts of the world. For instance, Orthodox women are not allowed to kiss the crucifix, attend church and attend a wedding ceremony during period.

In Italy, scanty menstruation was regarded as the most unhealthy, since the accumulated blood led to aggression and (or) tuberculosis. It was also presumed that intercourse during menstruation polluted sperm. It was thus believed that only sick and mentally retarded children will be born as a result of such love games.

According to the Bible, woman is considered "unclean" during her menstruation. In this connection, religious Jews were not allowed to have sex until the woman had stopped menstruating completely. She was then ought to take a special bath in order to "cleanse" herself. There exists an entire array of rules in the Bible telling women how to behave during menstruations. In Indonesia, menstruating women were not allowed on rice and tobacco fields. People in France and Germany would not employ women to work in wineries and breweries. In Syria, it used to be considered that a meal cooked by a menstruating woman will go bad in a relatively short period of time. People of the South European countries assumed that batter wouldn't rise in the presence of a menstruating woman.

However, all of the aforementioned myths can easily be disputed once a person learns the actual nature of menstruation.