The Ugly Truth About Pads and Tampons
Candice White • April 21, 2025
Let’s have a real conversation about something many of us grew up thinking was normal—pads and tampons.
For years, we’ve been sold the idea that these mainstream menstrual products are safe, hygienic, and the most convenient way to “deal with” our periods. But behind the colorful packaging and the discreet marketing lies a harsh truth: most conventional pads and tampons are loaded with harmful chemicals that can negatively affect our reproductive health, hormonal balance, and overall well-being.
What’s Really Inside Your Pad or Tampon?
Most commercial pads and tampons are made from cotton, rayon, and plastic—but it’s not the materials themselves that are the biggest issue. It’s what they’re treated with.
Here’s a closer look at some of the toxic ingredients often found in store-bought pads and tampons:
- Dioxins: Created during the bleaching process, these chemicals are known endocrine disruptors. They’ve been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, immune system suppression, and endometriosis.
- Pesticides: Non-organic cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world. Traces of these pesticides can linger in tampons and pads, and are then absorbed through the delicate tissues of the vulva and vaginal canal.
- Fragrance & Deodorizers: Many brands use synthetic fragrances to mask menstrual odor—but these chemicals can irritate sensitive skin, disrupt the vaginal microbiome, and even cause allergic reactions.
- Polyethylene, Polypropylene & Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs): Common in pads, these plastics trap moisture and heat, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. They also don’t allow your womb space to breathe.
The truth is, our yoni is one of the most absorbent parts of our body—what we put there matters. It’s not just a surface-level issue; it’s an energetic one too.
Health Risks of Using Conventional Pads and Tampons
Over time, continued use of chemically-laden products can lead to:
- Hormonal imbalances
- Increased cramping and heavier bleeding
- Yeast infections and UTIs
- Vaginal irritation and dryness
- Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)—a rare but life-threatening condition associated with tampon use
Beyond physical health, these products can also interfere with our energetic womb space. The womb is a sacred portal of creation, intuition, and feminine power. When we block or suppress it with unnatural materials, we disrupt its natural rhythm.
So What’s the Alternative?
Thankfully, more and more women are awakening to healthier, more sustainable ways to care for their womb during menstruation. Two of my favorite alternatives are reusable (washable) cloth pads and the diva cup (or other menstrual cups).
🌿 Reusable Cloth Pads
These pads are made from breathable, soft fabrics like organic cotton or bamboo. They’re free of harmful chemicals and fragrances, and they allow your womb to breathe and bleed naturally.
Benefits:
- Gentle on sensitive skin
- Reduce odor and irritation
- Washable and eco-friendly
- Save money in the long run
To care for them, simply rinse after use and wash in hot water using a non-chemical, all-natural laundry detergent. This keeps your pads clean without exposing them (or your body) to more toxins. Avoid synthetic scents, bleach, or fabric softeners—your womb deserves better. All-natural laundry soap is truly the best way to go.
Washing them becomes a beautiful ritual of honoring your blood and reconnecting with your body. It becomes less of a burden and more of a sacred practice.
🌊 Menstrual Cups (like the Diva Cup)
Made from medical-grade silicone, menstrual cups are inserted into the vaginal canal and can be worn for up to 12 hours. They collect rather than absorb blood, preserving your vaginal flora and reducing dryness.
Benefits:
- No risk of toxic chemicals
- Can last up to 10 years
- More freedom during movement and sleep
- Less waste in landfills
If you’re ready to deepen your connection with your body and your cycle, these alternatives are powerful tools to help you do just that
Reclaiming Your Cycle is Reclaiming Your Power
Choosing what you use during your period isn't just about comfort or convenience—it's about taking your health, your choices, and your womb wisdom back into your own hands.
Our blood is sacred. Our womb is sacred. We deserve to treat ourselves with the care, love, and reverence that we so freely give to others.
If this topic resonates with you and you’re ready to start healing your relationship with your womb, I invite you to connect with me for a womb healing session. It’s time to detox not just our products—but our patterns, our trauma, and the ways we’ve been taught to disconnect from our feminine essence.
Let’s start with one small choice—and from there, everything changes.
With love and womb wisdom,
Candice
Energetic Womb Practitioner
Sudbury Reiki Clinic
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Let's talk fertility.. Fertility... That can be a pretty touchy subject for some women, including myself but we are not alone! Studies have shown that in Canada 1 in 6 couples suffer from some form of fertility issues. With all the "junk" that is added into our foods and sprayed on to our fruits and vegetables its scary to hear that it "messes" with our hormones which can led to infertility! I, myself have struggled with fertility issues since my very early 20's. 13 years of fertility issues definitely gets to you. For years I thought "okay maybe its not meant to happen" which sadden me because I've always wanted a child or children. My diet is not the best, I wont lie. I enjoy my chips and sweetest which have been causing more cyst on my ovaries. For years my diet was absolutely HORRIBLE but I've been getting better. Let me take you back to the beginning of this year... At the beginning of March (2020) I was noticing that I was getting a lot of nausea so I was living off of ginger gravol for a few nights. It was really strange. I thought about taking a pregnancy test but I have seen so many negative tests in the past that I wasn't ready to see another. A few more days went by and now I was waking up in the middle of the night feeling "not so hot". That Sunday morning I decided it was time to take the test... I was prepping myself for another negative test result. Two minutes pass I looked at the test "positive 4-5 weeks" AHH WHAT!?!? OMG I've been waiting so long to get this result!! Being a Reiki practitioner you get very familiar with energy and I could just feel that it was a little girl. I was so excited. Unfortunately 5 days later I had a miscarriage. The OBGYN told me I was about 5 weeks and the baby was still just cells forming. No heart beat cause it was much to early. It was hard news to receive but knowing there was no heart beat made it a little easier. I didn't want to look at this as a negative experience. Even though it was so hard to put a positive spin on it but I figured out how. " Thank you Universe for showing me that I can get pregnant. Thank you for the ability to feel what "morning" sickness feels like. Now what must I do to carry my next baby to full term?". DIET was one message I received loud and clear and also more Reiki for myself and more internal healing. So let me tell you the spiritual steps I took to becoming more fertile . 1. I started receiving Reiki from a close friend. ( Reiki is so incredible for moving energy around. Removing old energy from the body and replacing it with new energy.) Reiki flushes the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus of old built up energy that is not serving you any greater good. The new energy circulates clock wise to repair and heal. 2. I started using crystals that help with fertility (I will list all the crystals below and what they are used for). I lay in bed with the crystals on my stomach for at least 20 minutes, while listening to fertility frequency binaural beats (you can find these on YouTube). I also set up a crystal grid under my bed with fertility crystals. While I'm not at home I will put my crystals in my pocket and carry them without throughout the day. Fertility Crystals: Carnelian - Have a healing influence on the female reproductive organs. Unakite - During childbirth keeps you calm and centered in your heart. Rodonit - Stimulates fertility and can help heal both physical and emotional wounds. Moonstone - Good for regulating menstrual and fertility cycles. It is used for protection, luck, selflessness, hope and clarity. Rose Quartz - Universal love. Also helps in regulating hormones and aids fertility. Amethyst - Celestial wisdom, clears spiritual toxins, absorbs negative energy. Smokey Quartz - Disperses fear, lifts depression and negativity. It brings emotional calmness, relieving stress and anxiety. Bloodstone - promotes healing and strength, revitalizing the body and mind when they are exhausted. It’s believed to prevent miscarriage and is used during childbirth to ease labor pain. 3. MOON WATER ! If you have not heard about moon water, this stuff is amazing! Its sooo easy to make. What you'll need: - Glass bottle - Water (try to avoid bottled water) - Full Moon How to make moon water: On the night of the full moon place your sealed glass bottle of water outside in direct moon light. If its raining I keep mine in the house and just place my bottle on the window ledge. MAKE SURE to remove the water before sunrise. I also take advantage of the full moon to re-charge all my fertility crystals. That's it :) you have moon water! I try to drink it that day. ** I have a "special" glass water bottle that I bought from the holistic fair here in Sudbury. See picture below.
With this pandemic event that has come upon us, now is the time to make sure you are taking time to heal, rest and rejuvenate. The studio is still open to clients who feel comfortable coming in for a treatment (we are taking the proper procedures to maintain a clean and healthy environment for our clients.) If you do not feel comfortable coming in but would still like a Reiki treatment, I am offering distance Reiki treatments via Skype, FaceTime, or Facebook video. Distances Reiki is just as powerful and effective as a treatment in person. Please don't forget to take time to heal. If you are interested in a distance Reiki treatment please contact me. How can distance Reiki healing help me right now? Does distance Reiki really work? These are some questions many people ask. Most of us know that Reiki is absolutely incredible for any physical, emotional, mental and spiritual blockages, illnesses and dis-eases. Right now many are suffering from panic, shock and fear. Massive bouts of anxiety is taking over such beautiful souls. It makes sense how easy it is to panic not knowing what is going on, what steps to take next or how long this will all last. Now is the time we have to take to breathe, calm, and heal. In isolation we all have A LOT of time on our hands. This is the time to work on ourselves and heal. Once this tragic time passes and I promise you it will, we will come back stronger than ever! Doesn't that sound so beautiful?!?! So how can I heal during this time if I can't leave the house, you ask. Well distance Reiki healing is that way to go!!! Distance Reiki healing is just as powerful and effective as a treatment in person and the safer option at this time. How does distance Reiki work and how can it calm my anxiety, panic or fear? Distance Reiki works according to the Hermetic Law of Similarity, which holds that we are all connected, as we are all energy matter and part of a larger whole. As such, invoking this law during a distance Reiki session allows myself to link an object to the energy field of the recipient. some practitioners typically use the recipient's photo. Other practitioners including myself, say that mapping an object is unnecessary, as we can send Reiki energy to anyone simply by directing our thoughts and energy. Setting up a mutual time is also helpful, so the recipient is open to receiving the energy. However, distance Reiki can be sent to anyone, anywhere and at any time, though permission should, in some way, be invoked or received. How it calms panic, fear and anxiety, well the reason why Reiki can be so powerful and effective is because it infuses your chakras and your body, with Universal light energy. Your body takes exactly what it needs. My responsibility as a practitioner, is to simply act as a channel for Universal energy to help healing take place, so that your body can heal itself. From a distance i will have all who need healing in mind and sending Universal Light and Energy to enter your crown and heal your body, mind and spirit. Your chest and body may become warm during this time as the Light and Energy fills your body with love, warm healing light. At this time please stay comfortable and in a meditative state. If you feel like your body is closed off you can repeat "receive" out loud or to yourself three times. If you are interested in online distance Reiki healing please let me know either through the website, facebook or call and we will schedule your appointment in for a time that works for you. Take care of yourself my loves and know that we will come back stronger than ever. Please look through the eyes of love and compassion, if you feel panicked try to reground yourself and breathe.
Hello my friends and well-come to eating for your chakras. I am so incredibly excited for this blog! Now if you don't know what chakras are that is completely okay, I will be posting for 7 weeks(1 chakra a week) about the different chakras. So I will start by saying there are 7 chakras in the body (I will name all in a bit) chakras are your energy centres in your body, so think of it as gas stations. If all chakras are align and open your living a very healthy life (you have a high immune system, you know how to handle stress very well, your living in BLISS) Now there are so many things to know about chakras and I promise my lovelies you will learn so much when I do the 7 chakra posts within the next 7 weeks but for today we will take it slow and learn what to eat to strengthen each chakra. So lets dive in! 1st chakra is the Root chakra (Muladhara) This chakra in located at the base of your tail bone. The "I am" chakra. The colour for this chakra is red, so you want to eat a lot of deep reds and dark browns, also root vegetables (organic is best) Food List: Beets, red apples, pomegranates, lean proteins, parsnips, etc. Herbs: Ashwaganda, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, black pepper Vitamin: D 2nd chakra is the Sacral chakra (Svadhishthana) located below the navel. The "I feel" chakra. The colour for this chakra is orange. Food list: Seeds, nuts, oranges, carrots, pumpkins, orange peppers, fish, eggs (since sacral deals with fertility), squash, cantaloupe, fermented foods such as kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut etc. Herbs: Sage, marshmallow, dandelion root Vitamin: B 3rd chakra is the Solar Plexus (Manipura) located in the abdomen. The "I will" chakra. The colour for this chakra is yellow. Food list: Bananas, yellow peppers, lemon, pineapple, mangoes, whole grains, natural sweeteners, etc. Herbs: Horseradish, turmeric, basil, allspice, ginger, hawthorn Vitamin: K 4th chakra is the Heart chakra (Anahata) located in the middle of your chest. The "I love" chakra. The colour of this chakra is green. Food list: Spinach, broccoli, lettuce, green peppers, asparagus, green apples, kiwi, honeydew melon, green grapes, limes, pears, avocado, etc. Herbs: Basil, cilantro, dill, oregano, parsley, st. John warts, hawthorn, angelica. Vitamin: D 5th chakra is the throat chakra (Vishuddha) located in the throat. The "I speak" chakra. This chakra is the blue. Food list: BLueberries, blue corn, blue potatoes, soothing liquids, water, tea ( herbal, peppermint, chamomile.) Foods that fall from a tree. Herbs: Peppermint, anise, eucalyptus. Vitamin: C 6th chakra is the Third Eye chakra (Ajna) located mid forehead. The " I see" chakra. This chakra can be a dark blue or purple colour. For this chakra you will eat purple foods. Food list: Plums, blackberries, eggplant, purple grapes, purple cabbage, purple liquids (grape, prune, black current), foods in high omega 3, dark chocolate 70%, etc. Herbs: Hawthorn, anise, chia seeds, aloe, dandelion root. Vitamin: E The final chakra (7th) is the Crown chakra (Sahasrara) located at the top of the head. The "I know" chakra. The colour for this chakra is purple. Food list: Fasting, Detox, WATER, WATER, WATER! This chakra doesn't need food. This chakra needs fresh air, sunlight and nature. Herbs: Sage, chamomile, Valerian root, catnip. Vitamin: B-12 The chakras that run our body are absolutely amazing. There is so much to learn about chakras and I truly hope you found this information useful and I look forward to sharing more chakra information with you in the very near future. Namaste my friends.
Hi, I'm Candice owner of Sudbury Reiki Clinic and I want to Well-come you to my blog space. I am so excited to share many thoughts and experiences with you all. It's funny how life brings us right where we need to be. I truly never thought I would be owning my own spiritual practice and never that i would meet the amazing people that I have. This is only the beginning my friends for all of us. The universe will always keep you on the right path as long as you trust that what is happening to you at that time is just setting you up for the highest of good that you deserve. The universe is truly my best friend. In the past I couldn't understand why some jobs didn't work out or why some people come and gone in my life until I learnt that EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. Without noticing i would ask for something "I really want to help people!" Then the universe (without me knowing about the universe at that time) would lead me into a field (at first it was esthetics) to start helping others. In the esthetics course my favorite subject was massage, i couldn't get enough of it. I wanted to be the best, i wanted to help people reach a level of relaxation that they haven't before. I graduated with honors. I was so proud of myself cause school was never a strong point for me. I thought about taking massage therapy but the universe had a different plan. REIKI. My aunt talked to me about Reiki and although it sounded interesting i had no idea what she was talking. Energy healing? Hand placements? How in the heck can energy come out of your hands and heal someone?? I thought of those shows were they follow a healer "bam! your healed" as he jerked their heads back. I know, I know I was being every ignorant, not on purpose. I just couldn't grasp the concept. How did that make any sense??? Well guess what! the universe came into play. REIKI! I was starting to see it more and more then for Christmas my same aunt gifted me "Essential Reiki teachings manual, A companion guide for Reiki healers by Diane Stein" She knew I had a gift. I was excited to receive that gift but for awhile I had no interest in reading it. What I loved most is she never pushed me to read it, she knew that when I was ready I would. Well it took awhile. One day I dug the book out and it was time. Without any thought I opened it a started reading. "WOW, can this be real!" the more I read the more spiritual I was becoming without even knowing it. Things started changing I started understanding more like The secret my mom asked me to watch years before. I thought it was cool and did the things it told me too but I didn't fully understand it and I didn't want to admit that to anyone but as time went on reading that reiki manual "I get it now. Everything is energy. Thoughts become reality. Karam is real." I wanted to be this channel to help people. When I received my level 1 and 2, I felt different, fulfilled, like I was doing what I was meant to! That's when I decided to open Sudbury Reiki Clinic. Everything happened so fast but everything fell into place so effortlessly. Now I sit here typing my first blog as a Reiki master and serving my souls purposes. Always itching to learn more about spirituality and grow my practice. I am just beginning my new journey into a spiritual life coaching and it fills my soul even more! My advice to you my friends is be mindful of your thoughts, the universe just wants to give you what it thinks you want, YOUR THOUGHTS. So think positively even though at times its hard. Keep your head up and know that the universe has your back always and forever. Follow your dreams no matter how scary it may be cause those dreams will lead you to your true happiness and your souls purpose. Make the universe your best friend. Hold tight lovelies cause when you do change your thoughts the universe will take you on a wide ride of love, light and pure bliss. Namaste.
