Are You Living with a Hormonal Imbalance?
Is there anyone else that have severe menstrual cramps, heavy flow, irritability and other intense PMS symptoms each month? Have you experienced intense menopausal symptoms? While these symptoms are common, they aren’t normal. I’ve had these intense symptoms since I started my period back in the 1990’s. As I started to work on reclaiming my health in 2020, I have learned that it doesn’t have to be this way.
Looking back when I first started my period in middle school, right from the very beginning, I had pretty severe premenstrual and menstrual symptoms. It’s odd because it wasn’t talked about. Around my late 30’s I developed persistent ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids. My endometrial wall was also thickening. My periods became unmanageable; I began spotting during the month and having very heavy cramping along with an overly heavy flow.
After diving deep into the study of Ayurveda and more recently working on my Ayurveda Practitioners Certificate with Yoga Veda Institute, I learned that it doesn't have to be this way. Ayurveda and holistic health systems have known for thousands of years that there is a correlation to young girls and women with severe PMS/period symptoms gradually developing ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids and endometriosis later in life*. More recently, this has been confirmed by Western Medicine but is still not widely addressed outside of using birth control pills.
So what does that mean for those of us in adulthood that already have these symptoms? And although I’m really thankful for Western Medicine, there isn’t much in the way of prevention unless you take a pharmaceutical birth control pill which can give the patient another list of side effects and symptoms to regulate hormones.
Estrogen and Progesterone work together to create a balance during our monthly cycle. Estrogen dominates the firsts half of the cycle; maturing the egg and is a “builder hormone” affecting our heart, brain, bones, immunity and skin going beyond the reproductive tract.* Progesterone dominates the second half of the cycle. You may find that you are more grounded and relaxed during this time and that is from the progesterone as it stabilizes the endometrium, brings balance, vitality and supports pregnancy.*
As we age into our thirties, our progesterone tends to decline naturally, however, due to lifestyle and environmental factors, the decline is rapid causing hormonal imbalances.*
Estrogen Dominance is what tends to happens to cause these intense symptoms. We are either exposed to elements in our environment that cause our estrogen to increase or our progesterone is too low.
What are the causes of these changes?
Stress - Although our progesterone starts to decline naturally around 35 years of age, this is also the time when our lives tend to become more stressful. When we live in a constant state of stress, our body has to produce enough cortisol so our production of steroid hormones stops making progesterone to keep up with the demands of creating more cortisol.*
Diet - Eating foods that mimic estrogen can interact with receptors in a different way causing confusion*
Liver - Is our liver working overtime? Are you having a bowel movement each day ridding the body of toxins? Alcohol and anger also play a role in the function of a healthy liver. What emotions we feel and what we put into our body can result in our liver working overtime*
What are some common symptoms of estrogen dominance?
Heavy menses
Irregular menses
Weight gain
Acne
Breast cysts
Poor sex drive
Irritable / mood swings
Fatigue
Hot flashes / night sweats
Memory problems
Hair loss
Poor sleep
So whether you are just starting your period, in your child rearing years, those that are entering menopause or going through menopause, Here are some action items to help live a pain free life:
Good Elimination - Having a bowel movement 1-3 times a day helps rid the body of toxins. If you aren’t having a bowell movement each day, your estrogen can get reabsorbed into the body.*
Triphala - I take this each day in the afternoon and is a natural bowell support
Support Good Progesterone Production by doing the following:
Increase your oxytocin by being around your family and community. We all need support and this increases oxytocin! Hugs too!
Ashoka - This herb mimics progesterone
Shatavari - This herb balances hormones naturally
Reduce Stress - Put on a meditation, take a yin class or try a yoga nidra! Being outside and in nature is one of the best (and cheapest) ways to reduce cortisol levels.
Eat a Balanced Diet - Eating a clean diet with little to no processed foods incorporating the 6 tastes.
* For a clearer understanding of your own body and symptoms, please seek out a doctor you trust. For accuracy in herb consumption, please seek out an Ayurvedic Practitioner.
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Written By Susan Walker
