PMTea
When I first saw this news piece, I found it very funny- a great play on words and something else to supposedly help with the uncomfortable effects of being ‘that time of the month’. Personally I feel; anything that promises to help in this area is a good thing, having suffered for years over this very issue.
Unfortunately, the new product has caused a lot of controversy among women’s online groups who feel that it is a step too far.
Mum Victoria Halle took to Mumsnet to complain. She said: “Just came across this on the internet. Is it really for real or a complete wind up? I can't believe someone would come up with a tea for women with PMT.”
But why not? There are pills on the market, such as Feminax that are specifically designed to target period pain- so how is this any different? They may not have amusing pictures of enraged women on the front but they are designed for women to treat a women’s issue.
I personally would buy this- however more as a joke for someone I know who suffers from really bad PMT and I think the recipient would also find it amusing. And if it really works wonders- bonus!
The tea went on sale last week and claims to contain soothing ingredients that help reduce the stresses of being on your period.
The packaging features images of three different women- one screaming, one sullen and one in tears- and if you are anything like me, you will be able to relate to all of these feelings during this blessed time.
It may be a stereotype, but it’s a fact that any change in hormones can significantly affect a person’s mood- so the likelihood is every woman has felt at least one of these while being on their period.
The hope is that this will be in all the leading supermarkets eventually but for now it remains online for the slightly overpriced mark up of £9.99. That said, Feminax is dearer than Paracetomol, and arguably does the same thing; consequently there has been some question of its placebo effect. But if you are in agonising period pain every month you will try anything, whatever the cost, right?
The tea contains relaxing and stress busting properties, however it begs the question- will a normal cup of tea do the trick? Something comforting to hold and warm you inside- maybe that’s enough for some? PMTea claims to help with mood swings, teary episodes and raging hormones- but you could ask- is the act of sitting down and focusing on drinking something enough in itself to make a woman stop and think? Perhaps encourage them to take some time out and consider their mood and how to pull themselves out of it? If so a supermarket’s own brand might hit the spot. 
The tea’s creator Shed Simove believes this is a product that celebrates women, not something that pokes fun at them.
Product designer Simove said: “This tea has been made for an important higher purpose.
“Menstruation is still a taboo issue in our society and I find that both odd and wrong, because it’s an utterly natural bodily function and actually vital for the health of our species.
I agree with Simove, however do I want to get to a point where period talk is common supermarket conversation? Perhaps not- but I suppose buying your tea with your tampons makes a great ice breaker for those who want to take you on.
“I think it’s a grave injustice that ‘periods’ are not talked about more openly in the media and workplace.
Maybe this is not just a product for women but for couples- a chance to open up and remove the taboo that Simove speaks of when talking about this function of the female form?
“It is a heinous wrong that women aren’t appreciated for the fact that every month, they must endure a physical, and mental, change that involves pain, huge amounts of emotion-changing hormones coursing through their system and all the inconvenience that goes with it.
“For me, women need to be appreciated even more for going through this every month and this item aims to remind society how amazing they are.”
Surely if this man wants to help women suffer less discomfort- then why not let him? If he wants to find another reason to celebrate women folk then that’s not a bad thing. Maybe more men could come to appreciate what we have to go through if we were to talk about it more over a cup of tea. Surely Simove’s efforts are better than him or any other man taking no action at all to relieve the strain of this time in a woman's cycle?
If you don’t agree with it, you don’t have to buy the product. Just remember next time that familiar ache in your lower tummy comes back that you didn’t try at least one other thing to attempt to relieve that unbearable gripe.