by Rachael Hertogs www.rachaelhertogs.co.uk
From Red to Green!

Have you ever considered using a more environmentally friendly form of sanitary protection?

Moon Times aren’t a step back in time but a positive step forwards towards our planet’s well being!

Even if you only use ‘moons’ at night it will reduce the amount of sanitary waste we women produce with ‘disposable’ products.
We spend an average 6.5 years of our lives bleeding. Most women in the world have no access to the luxury of disposable sanitary towels and tampons but the average woman in the 'developed' world uses about 17,000 of these products during her life.
Taboos about menstruation have led to expensive, wasteful, polluting sanitary items, which bring unnecessary health and environmental problems. Today we have a wide choice of ‘disposable’ pads and tampons as well as washable ones such as sponges, cloth pads and the mooncup.

Disposable pads cost the Earth. What are they costing you?

Some of the ‘disposables’ are more eco-friendly than others. If you don’t fancy washables then switch to organic cotton pads- Natracare make these and they are available in most health shops and some supermarkets. These organic pads and tampons don’t have the harmful chemicals that produce Toxic Shock Syndrome and are made from non GM cotton. They are also safe to put in your compost bin!

Some environmental and health facts from the Women’s Environmental Network

The Facts

• Toxic Shock Syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal illness which particularly affects younger women, is linked to tampons.
• Tampons and towels are NOT sterile, despite their glowing white appearance.
• It takes a tampon six months to biodegrade, a plastic sanitary towel liner lasts indefinitely.
• The plastic components litter our beaches, causing harm to coastal and aquatic wildlife.
• Flushing sanitary protection causes 75% of blocked drains.
• Dioxins released during chlorine bleaching and plastics manufacture have been shown to cause cancer, miscarriages and damage to the immune system.

Why do I make them?

I first came across cloth pads when I was researching alternatives to disposable nappies 17 years ago- I thought it was great- save money and the planet! (I’ve been using washable pads since then and have calculated that I’ve saved over £600- based on spending £3 per month on 'disposable' products!)
It was the late 80’s and advertising was telling us to shove a tampon up us and get on with life- and my body told me to rest, regenerate and reflect while I was bleeding. So I made my own Moon Times- choosing pretty coloured and patterned cotton flannelette for the top layer and using eco friendly organic cotton for the bottom. They felt more like attractive underwear than a huge sticking plaster! For the past 17 years I have happily bled on to my cotton pads, and washing them has helped me to reconnect to my cyclic nature.
I am the only UK manufacturer of washable pads- and mine are ORGANIC and FAIRTRADE!
Also, when the pads have been used they are soaked  in cold water and then the ‘blood water’ can be used to feed your plants- it makes an excellent fertiliser!!!

Try an alternative and feel more connected to your cycle, your body and the earth, Moon Times Washable Pads- handmade by  Rachael Hertogs.

I support sustainable living and so use sustainable fabrics such as fair trade organic cotton and hemp. I also have a set of pad liners made from recycled towels; I'm a masseuse and never know what to do with my towels when parts of them get oil stained! So I began to make 'recycled liners'- which are popular for women with a heavy flow!
Moon Times empower women in body appreciation, environmental awareness and self-respect through the use of eco menstrual products. I believe a healthy appreciation of our bodies and ourselves as women can be learnt through menstruation. I believe when women are aware of the benefits of a sustainable, healthy, economically viable and comfortable alternative, they appreciate the contribution they can make by choosing alternative menstrual products.  I also believe women deeply appreciate learning about alternative and positive ways to think about their bodies.
Make a difference by taking a huge step towards making our planet a cleaner, safer place!
Contact Rachel by email - info@rachaelhertogs.co.uk