By ALESHA CADET
Tribune Features Reporter
acadet@tribunemedia.net
A new company has set out to make a woman’s most uncomfortable, and often painful, time of the month as pleasant as possible.
Meredith Johnson of The Women’s Haven told Tribune Health her company is all about the organic approach to “yoni” wellness, a Sanskrit word that has been interpreted to literally mean the womb, and the female organs of generation.
All of the products offered by The Women’s Haven, she said, are natural and organic alternatives to traditional women’s health care products. The product line presently consists of sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual cups, detox pearls, period-proof underwear, and vaginal steams.
Meredith was inspired by her own issues with her menstrual cycle; from cramping to irritation and clotting. She told herself this could not be her only option as a woman, to endure pain like this on a monthly basis.
“I know they say God cursed women with the period for eating the apple, it should not be like this every month. Then I started doing my research on birth control, as well as how the materials used in sanitary napkins were not regulated and it had been linked to excessive irritation, clotting and fibroids in women. Initially, I would have to purchase online and pay exorbitant fees just to get what I wanted to try. And I tried more than a few organic brands,” said Meredith.
After partnering with a friend in Grand Cayman, who is also a distributor of the Cherish brand of sanitary pads in her country, Meredith made the necessary connections to collaborate and offer the brand in the Bahamas at a lower rate.
“Eventually, there we were, three women – my partners Melesia and Mona who are located in Grand Cayman and Barbados respectively, who had the same story and wanted to offer better products to women. We predominantly sold Cherish products to now becoming The Women’s Haven, offering a variety of products from organic and eco-friendly companies,” she said.
Speaking of the benefits of the products, she claimed, for example, that the sanitary napkins reduce the inflammation and irritation during a woman’s menstrual cycle. She claimed many women also notice less clotting.
Another product, the detox pearls, she said, are great for women that are prone to yeast infections, as they help the body to dispel any residue from an infection.
“One of the many debates is over the use of tampons. We can answer questions regarding how tampons can be used properly and offer an organic tampon, which reduces odour associated with the menstrual cycle. Overall, the products give you a happier ‘yoni’, and therefore, a happier you,” said Meredith.
Her goal is to see more Bahamian women make the switch to organic products and join the conversation about what is negatively affecting the female body, and especially women of colour. Meredith said she knows of so many other women who have issues with their menstrual cycle and suffer in silence due to lack of information in a male-dominated society.
“We want to take it public and tell women of some of the dangers your most intimate area is exposed to, while providing them with the best options to protect themselves. In the future we would also like to have a storefront that is just as our name implies, a haven for women; offering all-organic products, hopefully collaborating with local vendors for oils and soaps, eventually incorporating other services directed at and for women, including massages, saunas and steam rooms, prenatal and postnatal consultations; collaborating with holistic care providers and even traditional doctors,” said Meredith.
She is happy to note that many Bahamian women have given her products positive reviews and even jokingly call her a “pad pusher”.
“The organic pads, just like anything that is actually good for you, has a higher price point compared to the mass produced traditional sanitary options, but many Bahamian women still choose to go organic. The thought of a healthier you is catching on in the Bahamas. We love posting the reviews from our clients and welcome the product reviews,” said Meredith.
Meredith said the team has recently partnered with another organic, eco-friendly and vegan brand, and is presently promoting with that brand.
“We would like to get better with arranging our deliveries and participate in wellness fairs and pop-up shops throughout the year. We want to be more accessible to all women in the Bahamas by giving every woman the opportunity to join the movement and protect their yoni,” said Meredith.
Check out The Women’s Haven on Instagram.
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