Cow Dung, Sand, and Sacks: Traditional Menstrual Absorbents and Their Hidden Health Risks

Menstruation is a natural biological process, yet for generations, countless women and girls across rural and economically disadvantaged communities managed their periods in conditions marked by silence, shame, and severe lack of resources.

Today, sanitary pads, menstrual cups, and reusable cloth pads are increasingly discussed in schools, clinics, and online platforms. But not very long ago, many menstruating individuals had no access to safe menstrual products at all. In some remote areas, women relied on materials that were never meant to come in contact with the body including sand, old sacks, ash, hay, newspaper, and in extreme cases, even cow dung.

These practices were not based on comfort or preference. They emerged from poverty, lack of education, deep-rooted menstrual taboos, and the absence of healthcare access. Understanding this history is important because menstrual health is not only about hygiene. It is closely connected to dignity, education, gender equality, and public health.

The Silence Around Menstruation

For decades, menstruation in many Indian households was treated as something impure or embarrassing. Girls often entered puberty without knowing what periods were.

When menstruation began, many were told:

• Not to speak about it openly

• Not to let men know

• Not to dry menstrual cloth outside

• Not to enter kitchens or temples

• Not to touch food items like pickles

This silence created fear and confusion. Because menstrual health was rarely discussed, women often used whatever absorbent material was available nearby without understanding the health risks involved.

In many rural regions, affordability was another major issue. For low-income families struggling to afford food and daily essentials, sanitary pads were viewed as unaffordable luxury items rather than basic healthcare necessities.

Traditional Menstrual Absorbents Once Used

1. Old Cloth and Torn Rags

The most commonly used menstrual material in rural communities was old cloth.

Women reused:

• Torn saree pieces

• Old towels

• Blouse fabric

• Cotton scraps

• Worn-out garments

Reusable cloth itself can be safe if cleaned properly with soap, dried completely in sunlight, and stored hygienically. However, due to stigma and lack of privacy, many women dried cloth secretly indoors in damp corners where bacteria and fungi could grow easily.

Improperly maintained cloth increased the risk of:

• Vaginal infections

• Skin irritation

• Urinary tract infections

• Reproductive tract infections

Even today, studies show that reusable cloth remains common in several rural regions due to cost and accessibility barriers. (frontiersin.org)

2. Sand as an Absorbent

In certain extremely under-resourced areas, dry sand or mud was used to absorb menstrual blood.

Women sometimes wrapped sand inside cloth or sacks to create makeshift absorbents. While sand could temporarily absorb moisture, it carried enormous health risks because it could contain:

• Dirt

• Parasites

• Bacteria

• Sharp particles

• Chemical contaminants

The rough texture also caused friction and skin damage in sensitive areas.

Community reports and menstrual hygiene studies have documented the use of sand and soil-based materials where commercial menstrual products were unavailable. (business-standard.com)

3. Gunny Bags and Old Sacks

Another practice involved cutting pieces from old jute sacks or grain bags.

These rough materials were:

• Poorly absorbent

• Difficult to clean

• Harsh on the skin

Since sacks were often previously used for storing grains, fertilizers, or agricultural products, they could contain dust, fungal spores, pesticide residue, or dirt.

Prolonged contact sometimes caused:

• Rashes

• Itching

• Chafing

• Allergic reactions

Many women continued using these materials simply because there was no alternative available nearby.

4. Cow Dung: One of the Most Dangerous Practices

Among the most alarming traditional practices reported in some marginalized communities was the use of dried cow dung mixed with cloth or other materials.

Cow dung has historically been used in rural settings for fuel, flooring, and agricultural purposes. In certain communities influenced by poverty and traditional beliefs, it was mistakenly considered “natural” or “clean.”

However, medically, cow dung is unsafe for intimate use.

It may contain:

• Harmful bacteria

• Parasites

• Fungal organisms

• Environmental contaminants

Direct exposure to such material near the genital area can significantly increase infection risk.

Healthcare experts have repeatedly warned against the use of animal waste products in menstrual management because the genital region is highly sensitive and vulnerable to microbial contamination.

While this practice was never widespread across all communities, its existence reflects the extreme lack of menstrual resources and education faced by some women.

Why Did Women Use Such Unsafe Materials?

Poverty and Lack of Access

For many rural families:

• Pads were too expensive

• Nearby shops did not stock menstrual products

• Women felt embarrassed buying pads from male shopkeepers

• Transportation to towns was difficult

As a result, women relied on locally available materials regardless of safety.

According to menstrual hygiene studies, affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to safe menstrual practices in rural India even today. (frontiersin.org)

Lack of Menstrual Education

Many girls simply did not know:

• What materials were hygienic

• How often absorbents should be changed

• How infections develop

• Why drying cloth in sunlight matters

The absence of menstrual education allowed unsafe practices to continue for generations.

Mothers often passed down methods they themselves had learned during childhood because no better information was available.

The Hidden Health Risks

Unsafe menstrual absorbents can lead to serious health problems, especially when combined with poor sanitation and limited healthcare access.

Common Health Risks Included:

• Vaginal infections

• Fungal infections

• Reproductive tract infections

• Urinary tract infections

• Skin ulcers and rashes

• Chronic irritation

When infections remained untreated, they sometimes became severe enough to affect daily functioning and reproductive health.

Experts also emphasize that poor menstrual hygiene can negatively affect mental wellbeing, confidence, mobility, and educational participation.

Emotional and Psychological Impact

The emotional effects were often invisible but deeply painful.

Many girls:

• Felt ashamed of menstruation

• Missed school during periods

• Avoided social gatherings

• Feared staining clothes publicly

• Experienced embarrassment while changing absorbents

Periods became associated with secrecy and restriction rather than health and self-care.

In communities where menstruating girls were isolated or forbidden from participating in daily activities, feelings of inferiority and stigma became deeply internalized.

How Healthcare Workers and NGOs Changed the Conversation

Over the last two decades, healthcare workers, NGOs, teachers, and women’s groups have played a major role in improving menstrual awareness.

ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers began conducting menstrual education sessions in villages and schools, teaching:

• Safe menstrual hygiene practices

• Importance of changing absorbents regularly

• Hand hygiene

• Safe disposal methods

• Infection warning signs

Government programs also introduced subsidized sanitary pads for adolescent girls in several rural areas.

Public Awareness Through Media and Influencers

Social media campaigns, documentaries, and films helped break long-standing silence around menstruation.

The film Pad Man became an important cultural moment by bringing conversations about menstrual hygiene into mainstream Indian society.

Public health advocates and influencers also began discussing:

• Period poverty

• Sustainable menstrual products

• Reusable sanitary pads

• Menstrual health rights

Organizations across India started manufacturing low-cost pads locally, often employing rural women and creating community-based menstrual health solutions. (glamour.com)

The Situation Today

India has made meaningful progress in menstrual awareness, but challenges still remain.

Many girls in remote areas continue to face:

• Lack of clean toilets

• Limited pad accessibility

• Social stigma

• Poor disposal systems

However, one important change is visible:
Menstruation is no longer completely hidden.

More schools now conduct menstrual awareness programs. Mothers are becoming more open with daughters. Healthcare professionals are encouraging safe practices and breaking harmful myths.

The conversation is slowly shifting from shame to health and dignity.

Conclusion

The history of unsafe menstrual absorbents — from sand and sacks to cow dung and ash — reflects the painful reality of menstrual inequality faced by generations of women.

These practices were never signs of ignorance alone. They were symptoms of poverty, silence, lack of education, and absence of healthcare support.

Remembering this history matters because millions of women worldwide still struggle with period poverty today.

Menstrual hygiene is not simply about products. It is about safety, education, dignity, and the right to manage one’s body without fear or shame.

The efforts of healthcare workers, teachers, NGOs, public influencers, and brave women speaking openly about menstruation are gradually changing lives.

And with continued awareness, education, and accessibility, future generations may never have to choose between unsafe materials and their own health.

References

• Frontiers in Global Women’s Health – Menstrual hygiene practices in rural communities (frontiersin.org)

• Business Standard – Menstrual hygiene and unsafe alternatives in rural India (business-standard.com)

• Times of India – Menstrual taboos and changing awareness (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

• Glamour – Grassroots menstrual hygiene initiatives in India (glamour.com)