A Swedish influencer, Bianca Ingrosso, is facing serious backlash after she recommended followers drink their own period blood to shorten periods and relieve symptoms. Viewers were appalled she would advise this “remedy” with no scientifically proven benefits.
Ingrosso was giving fans tips on how to alleviate period pain in a Q&A on YouTube, where Ingrosso has 343,000 subscribers.
Ingrosso recommended eliminating sugar, coffee, tobacco, and alcohol to help with cramps and other symptoms. She also said exercising can help relieve cramps.
But Ingrosso then said drinking your own period blood was the fastest way to alleviate pain.
“[Drinking your own period blood] should make periods go away faster as you get all the vitamins you otherwise lose by drinking blood,” Ingrosso said.
Ingrosso said she has never drank her own period blood, but she has heard from others that it is highly effective.
“I haven’t tested this yet, but I know that a lot of people do it and then their period only lasts six hours,” she said.
Viewers were disgusted with the advice, and angry Ingrosso would give such a suggestion with no medical evidence supporting her claim.
“Drink your own p*** to get rid of a urinary tract infection. Drink your excrement to get rid of diarrhoea. What do you think, will I make it to become an influencer?” one YouTube user commented.
Ingrosso is not the only influencer to suggest drinking period blood has health benefits. An Australian healer, Nadine Lee, also faced scrutiny for encouraging followers to drink their blood.
“Drinking your blood can be a way for women to clear your vision and energize themselves by awakening spiritual centers,” Lee said.
But despite what YouTubers might tell you, there is no proven benefit to drinking period blood. In fact, ingesting blood can be dangerous, because of the blood-borne pathogens that could infect you, according to Well + Good.
