Being that I am an herbalist who specializes in women’s health I spend a lot of time talking about hormones and how they affect our lives. Let’s face it, it can be quite a rollercoaster ride for women from the time they first begin menarche until menopause, or moonpause, has really settled in. Just a note here on linguistics. I use the phrase moontime in my own life when talking about my period as it feels empowering to me. The connection between the moon and our cycles is a great source of strength as it is a reminder of our deep connection to nature. Just as the moon pulls on the oceans and creates predictable tides we are affected by that great waxing and waning orb in the sky. I sometimes refer to menopause as moonpause for that same reason but interestingly the root word “meno” means month or moon in Greek.
Hormonal Roller Coaster?
Skin break-outs, pain, mood swings, irritability and headaches are just some of the things that clients say they deal with on account of their monthly cycle. Just when things have begun to balance out and feel manageable it all starts again. Sound familiar? As teenagers unpredictability is to be expected as it is during the time frame referred to as perimenopause (although there are ways to make this time frame smoother). Yet, there is a hope for a sweet spot for 25 years or so when we are free from unpredictability. However, it seems that this is not the case for many and even for those whose cycles are usually quite regular there are still times when stress affects our equilibrium.
The Good News
So what can we do? Here’s the good news because there is a lot that can help in every phase of life. Part of the solution is a foundational shift than can be really hard… taking time to care for yourself! So many of us are running ourselves ragged trying to make ends meet and care for the ones that rely on us. It feels nearly impossible to get, what I Iike to call, the building blocks. These are adequate sleep, proper nutrition, exercise, pleasure and joy.
Nurture Yourself
A simple first step in the days leading up to your period, or at the very least on the first day of your moontime, is to carve out a little time to nurture yourself. Journaling or talking to a dear friend can both be amazing ways to process thoughts and feelings that are often magnified at this time. When they aren’t expressed they can come out with force or get turned inward resulting in depression or anxiety. A lavender bath (or footbath if you don’t have a tub) is a simple and nurturing treat. Just add some dried lavender in a tea ball or 10 drops of lavender essential oil to your bathwater. Don’t forget to make a cup of herbal tea to wrap your hands around. Ginger tea is great for cramps. Lemon balm, chamomile and lavender, on their own or in combination, are stress relieving and mood lifting. Play and see what feels good to you..be led by your senses!
Trash the Toxins
On looking at root causes, which is an important focus in my herbal practice, we want to make sure all excess sources of estrogen are cut out of our lives. Often chemicals in the environment bind with estrogen receptors in our bodies to wreak havoc. Cutting out toxic health and beauty products, cleaning supplies, non-organic meat and dairy and plastics from our lives is tremendously helpful.
Nutrition and Herbs
Additionally a diet with adequate protein and lots of vegetables helps the body to process hormones and environmental toxins. Aim for lots of leafy greens, broccoli and as many different colors as possible from fruits and veggies each day. There are some wonderful herbal allies for supporting the liver like dandelion root, turmeric and burdock to name a few. They can be enjoyed both in your cooking and as a tea and are especially helpful in the week before your period.
Sleep for Resilience
Getting eight hours of sleep each night may seem excessive but it is scientifically proven to be the crucial number to support resilience in mood, immune health, memory, stress levels-the whole package. Treat yourself to a cozy sleeping environment, that is dark and free of devices. When you begin your day if there’s anyway to give yourself a few minutes of deep breathing or meditation that would be amazing!
Herbs to Support Our Rhythms
Some supportive herbs that are important for women include crampbark, black cohosh, wild yam and motherwort. The first three can be used as tinctures to help with cramping and discomfort. Motherwort is known to support mood and also has hormone balancing properties. Adaptogens are wonderful in smoothing out the ups and downs too. You can read more about this amazing category of herbs here ( http://www.dreamkeeperbotanicals.com/adaptogens-for-resilience/). If you’d like to learn more about herbs for women please reach out and we can create a class, schedule a consultation or simply stay in touch through my FB page https://www.facebook.com/dreamkeeperbotanicals/ and blog.
Here’s to taking care of yourself first and honoring the ebbs and flows that come with your cycle!
