MENSTRUAL BLOOD & STEM CELLS
The more I continue to learn about the female body, the more I am completely in awe and amazement in her intelligence.
Menstrual blood is more than just the shedding of your uterine lining each month, AKA your period. Menstrual blood contains stem cells called Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MenSCs). These stem cells are involved in the growth and regeneration of your endometrial lining each and every month!
During your bleed, the top layer of the endometrium (functionalis) sheds. Leaving a residual raw basalis layer exposed. Basalis overlays the myometrium (uterus muscle). The raw exposed surface layer regenerates and the new layer functionalis starts to grow under the influence of estrogen. The MenSC are involved in this process!
Stem cells play an important role in the cyclic regeneration and repair of the endometrium. The stem cells work on the two distinct layers which are involved in growth and regeneration, listed above- Basalis & Functionalis.
Over your reproductive lifetime, the endometrium undergoes 400 cycles of regeneration, re-modelling and shedding. On an energetic level, this is many cycles of death, growth and re-birth. (this is the power of your cycle!).
The surface markers related to stem cells are also intimately connected to the expression of immune markers – which is interesting for immunological fertility, specifically receptivity of the uterine lining.
What’s exciting is stem cells are now being used in re-generative medicine.
As we move into the future, there is a deep calling to remember that we as women and people with wombs hold an intelligence deep within our wombs. Menstrual blood is regenerative with each cycle. Your endometrium is the fastest regenerative gland in your body. Now is the time to start to develop healthy relationships with your blood and break the stigma related to periods. Our blood needs to be celebrated. PERIOD.
Amanda is the founder of Angea and has over 12 years of experience working with women to support their health journey. In addition to being a registered doctor of Chinese medicine, Amanda is a yoga teacher and founder of Mindful Pregnancy Yoga Training. Amanda offers acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and womb healing treatments at Angea.