V.
Kuí 葵
Menstruation is a natural process that may be a torture to some. 20% of women and girls suffer from dysmenorrhea, a.k.a excruciating cramps and I am one of them. Sometimes the pain gets so bad that leaving the house is almost impossible and painkiller seem to be the only solution. However, many do not know that there are in fact non-artificial treatments that can help in pain relief and alleviate PMS symptoms such as mood swings and bloat.
Kuí 葵 (translates to sunflower) wish to educate how natural remedies from the knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Diet, Yoga and Essential oils can mitigate the pain of this natural process. The handcrafted hamper includes an information booklet, handmade soap, therapeutic essential oil and more are packaged into a bag that can even be used on a picnic day!
A hamper that provides natural remedies for period cramp relief
As a Chinese who is traditional, I often visit Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic and is intrigued
by the “hot and cold” body conditions. Having period cramps is very much related to diet. A
phrase in Chinese says “病从口入“ which translates to “illness enters from the mouth”. This simply
means that eating the right food and drinking the right liquid is most important in keeping
your body healthy. Therefore, I went in depth in explaining the idea of how one’s body and food
can be “cool, cold, warm and hot” and what type of food is suitable for them to counteract their
current state of body conditions. Nonetheless, the symptoms provided in the booklet are only
based on research and some knowledge I personally have on TCM, thus it may not necessarily
be 100% accurate.
Solutions
My proposed solution is to create a hamper with natural remedies that you can buy for yourself or as a gift for loved ones. The hamper includes a detailed information booklet about period cramps and natural remedies, feminine wash, feminine wipes, heat pack, therapeutic essential oil, and handmade soap made using those oils. The bag is transparent to signify the idea that there is nothing to hide if you are a victim of severe period cramps. Many people are silent sufferers who choose to keep their hush and not take leave from work or school, thinking that this condition is not considered an illness, hence will not receive a medical certificate even if they visit a doctor. The bag is covered with flowers, leaves, and vines which represents the natural element of this project. These flowers also portray delight and comfort, which is how I wish the receiver of this hamper will feel. It is a bag that can even be used as a normal bag for one to bring out on any occasion.
Getting there...
Then I finally settled on a design statement, “period cramps is a natural process
that may become torture for some. However, you don't always have to resort
to painkillers if you knew the natural remedies.”
I have also decided to name my project “葵 (Kui)”, which means sunflower. It is
derived from the word“天癸 (Tian Kui)” , which means puberty, the start of menstruation.
“葵=草+癸”.( The addition of 2 Chinese characters)
Heaven(天) gives birth to Earth(地 represented by land草), Earth gives birth to Human(人). This is nature, like how menstruation is a natural process for the human race to continue.
“天癸” 即 “天水” ， 意为 “先天之水” ， 指来源于父母的先天所得之水。
Translation: The essence of life is the drop of water your parents have given to you.
《医宗金鉴》 言： “天癸， 月经之 源”
Translation: Menstruation is the origin/root of the human race.
Also, I came up with a tagline “ It's all about you, period”, which is a play on
the pun “you & period”. It can mean both “ It's definitely all about you” or “it's
about your period”
The hamper includes an information booklet with information about menstruation, why you get period cramps, and also how to alleviate the cramps using natural remedies. A feminine wash, feminine wipe, heat pack, handmade soap, and therapeutic essential oil.
The packaging is made with the idea of a sunflower opening, representing the users’ feelings after using products of Kui.
Packaging design for the handmade rose soap that can help muscles relax, and reduce cramps.
It is made like a blooming flower, aligned with the name of the project.
This book is titled " It's all about you, Period"
A book that tells you facts about period and natural remedies that can help relieve period cramps.
It is divided into 2 sections, " Know more about your period cramps" which is basically the symptoms, and "Treatments", showcasing the natural remedies.
Since the colour of the period blood is essential in indicating possible hidden health issues, a colour chart printed on transparencies is included, so users can compare it against the colour of their period blood and check if there is a need to visit the doctor.
Take a closer look
Thank you to Professor Jesvin Yeo for her guidance through this class. This project has allowed me to learn more about menstrual cramps, why
people got them and how to treat period cramps using natural remedies.