Herbal Elixirs Customized for Your Cycle
Do you wonder if there’s something natural, like an herbal remedy or supplement you can take for your hormone or cycle issues? Have you searched the internet for solutions, only to get more confused? If so, you are not alone! Women often ask me what they can take for symptoms such as:
- PMS
- Heavy periods
- Irregular periods or PCOS
- Low libido
- Cysts bursting midcycle
- Short luteal phase and early periods
- Long cycles, with never knowing when a period is coming
- Spotting
- Cramping and pain
- Hot flashes
- Mood swings, anxiety, irritability, depression
- Fatigue
- Migraines
- Sleeplessness
- Vaginal infections
- Unexplained infertility
You may have been offered drugs to mask these symptoms, such as birth control hormones or antidepressants. Or you may have been told to just suck it up and live with these symptoms, that they are normal. Truth be told, none of these symptoms are normal! In fact, they are signs that something is out of whack. And you know this. You know your body and you can tell when something is not right โ when you don’t feel like yourself. And, it’s likely you can resolve these issues with natural and effective methods, but a cookie-cutter approach may not work.
Every woman is unique
The bottom line is that there isn’t one single herbal formula or supplement that will fix any given symptom for all women. Let’s take PMS for example. You can’t simply take Chaste Tree root or a vitamin B complex for PMS, and expect to call it a day. It’s far more effective to find out what is causing your PMS โ the etiology (root cause). For women with PMS, there’s a myriad of different root causes that can lie underneath. PMS is the result of something that’s awry on a deeper level.
This is where Chinese medicine comes in. Chinese medicine is a root-cause, systems-based approach that is highly effective for regulating hormones and cycles. In fact, Chinese herbs and acupuncture are so effective, I expect significant results within 3-4 months.
Tailored to your cycle
The beauty of Chinese medicine is that we can bring your hormones and cycle into balance by influencing what ideally should be happening during the three phases of your cycle:
- Four days of menstruation (goal is bright red blood, changing a tampon/cup/pad once every four hours, no clots, no spotting, no cramping).
- Cycle day 5-14 leading up to ovulation (goal is to grow healthy follicles, build a plump uterine lining, make abundant fertile cervical mucus, ovulate on day 14, and keep basal body temperatures between 97.2 and 97.4).
- Cycle day 15-28 post ovulation (goal is to feel warm, energetic, and be free of PMS so that you’re surprised when you get your period. Basal body temperatures should be 1ยบ higher, averaging 98.4).
So with each cycle phase, we identify what needs to improve or change and customize acupuncture and herbs accordingly.
Conceivable herbal elixirs
It is conceivable to have a healthy menstrual cycle! Read more about what this is here. I’m getting great results with a line of herbal tinctures called the “Conceivable ProLine.” These are clean, strong, and highly effective herbs, decocted with alcohol so you can easily absorb them through mucus membranes. You don’t need to break down pills or have a perfect digestive system.
This line was developed by a fertility specialist; however, these potent formulas can be used for all hormone and cycle needs, including menopause. There’s even a “male factor” formula. Practitioners who use the Conceivable line formulate the right mix that matches exactly what you need during each phase of your cycle.
I include this service for all my acupuncture and functional medicine patients. If you haven’t taken advantage of it, I encourage you to give it a try. Enjoy the healing powers of Chinese herbal medicine.
