Herbs for Health Column by Su-lin Sze |
Common conditions affecting the modern woman and her reproductive system
 |
Female hormonal health is always a topic of interest for the modern woman, and I think it is because it is such a useful indicator of how healthy she is. Apart from that it seems that there are so many things that can go wrong! A healthy hormonal system is evidence that you are receiving enough nutrition and nourishment for your body to operate as nature intended. Beyond this, the qualities of your menstrual cycle may reflect the health of your nervous system, hormonal system and it may also expose a weight disorder, insulin resistance or predisposition to oestrogen-dependant tumour growth.
A variety of imbalances may arise in the female body. Some of these are linked to lifestyle factors and poor diet, such as absence of periods, heavy periods, Candida and PMS. Others may be due to infection, emotional triggers or abuse. Some common conditions are listed below. |
Common health conditions affecting women in the 21st Century include the following: |
Pre-menstrual Tension/Pre-menstrual Syndrome |
Heavy periods |
Endometriosis |
Hormonal imbalance |
Candidiasis/Thrush |
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) |
Period Pain |
Recurrent Adult acne |
Uterine Fibroids |
Lack of periods |
Sexually transmitted diseases |
Ovarian Cysts |
Common causes of dis-ease in the modern female body
The following list includes several common risk factors for menstrual and hormonal dis-ease.
Do any of these ring a bell?
- Chronic stress and/or Adrenal exhaustion
- Anxiety and poor sleep habits
- High dietary intake of xeno-oestrogens, refined carbohydrates, LDL (unhealthy) fats
- Abnormal glucose metabolism including sugar cravings, fatigue, irritability if meals are late
- Underweight with a BMI of less than 20
- Overweight with a BMI of over 30
- Cardiovascular exercise at fewer than 30 mins, 3 times a week
- Over-exercising
- Fasting or extreme diets
- Long term drug therapy such as Oral Contraceptives, corticosteroids, those used for period pain (such as Ponstan) and cytotoxic drugs used in chemotherapy.
|
The major female hormones and what they do |
The hormonal system is marvelous when it works, and disastrous when things go awry. Hormones are almost always implicated. The major female hormones are:
Oestrogen is a steroid hormone produced in the ovaries mainly and comes in three chemically differentiated forms in the female body; oestradiol, oestrone and oestriol. In the environment synthetic versions of oestrogen are increasing. These ‘xeno-oestrogens’ are potentially harmful in large amounts and implicated in a number of cancerous conditions affecting women today. Often as a therapy in such cancers, natural plant oestrogens known as ‘phyto-oestrogens’ are used to both compete with and eradicate high levels of more dangerous forms of oestrogen in the body. Oestrogen has many important functions for the modern woman, such as thickening the endometrium, boosting metabolism, increasing bone formation, and the formation of breasts and other secondary sex characteristics. |
Progesterone is another steroid hormone. It is an important hormone for pregnancy, helping to prepare the endometrium to support a foetus. During menstruation this hormone increases base temperature, increases bone building and is also a key preventative to the development of endometrial cancer.
Other important hormones are androgens, LH (Luteinizing hormone), FSH (Follicle Stimulating hormone) and prolactin. |
Focussing on the Menstrual Cycle |
There is so much to talk about when it comes to women’s health. The treatment approach will vary with different conditions. For now, here are some guidelines around seeking relief from menstrual disturbance naturally.
Strategies for dealing with Menstrual Disturbance |
Natural medicine really comes into its own here. Hormonal imbalance has widespread effects throughout the body and natural medicine is the ONLY healing discipline that looks at all of the body systems affected and attempts to bring balance and harmony back to the body. The body systems that can be supported and nourished where menstrual difficulties occur are:
The Nervous System
Menstruation is a season of changes in a woman’s body. The nervous system may react to this chemical and emotional movement with tension, uneasiness, sensitivity, pain, irritability, frustration and lethargy. Getting yourself a good herbal blend for nervous system health will ensure that you are getting all the right nutrients to keep you healthy during these times. Herbs are particularly effective in treating depression, insomnia, headaches, tension and irritability and fatigue. Extreme PMS, migraines, chocolate cravings and anger will require nutritional treatment on top of herbs. Don’t fear, you have options.
Systems of elimination – Clearing away the toxins
Clinically there is a strong link between menstrual health and toxicity. The cleaner you are inside, the less stress on your hormonal system and major organs. We are talking here about the digestive system, liver, kidneys, lymph, skin and genito-urinary tract. They are all responsible for keeping us clean inside. Take the case of rampant xeno-oestrogens (artificial oestrogens) that are being found in our environment. They come from products such as detergents, paints, cosmetics, pesticides and the Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP)- which is flushed down toilets via our urine and into the sea. It was in the UK that feminization of fish was first noted, and this occurred close to the outflow of a sewerage outlet. No prizes for guessing the cause here! The major hormone thought to be responsible was Ethinylestradiol, which is the main ingredient in the OCP. This substance has been shown to reduce male fish fertility by 50% (!!!!) with only short term exposure in minute levels. Soon after in 2004, on three Colorado rivers male fish were found to be developing female sex organs. Nature is sending us a powerful message about the effects of manufactured oestrogens. Pursuing a less toxic lifestyle is not only good for our health, but also benefits the sexual health of the creatures that share our world.
In terms of keeping your body clean, drinking plenty of water, avoiding any irritating foods, and eating lots of fresh foods is a good start. Your aim is to decrease the stress on your body by giving it the best quality of natural foods that you can manage. Want to know what the main toxic foods are? They are preservatives, refined sugars, smoked meats, fried foods, fast food, colourings, artificial sugars and to a lesser degree dairy and wheat.
The emotions and sensitivity aspects
Welcome to the gentle world of flower essences. The Bach Flower Essences are renown for bringing peace and clarity into the lives of people and animals going through stressful events. Flower essences can be used to help people recover from stress, make important decisions with clarity and confidence, tackle poor self-esteem, articulate their needs and wants more effectively, and combat fatigue and exhaustion. They usually bring positive results within 2 weeks time depending on the situation. This assumes however, that the right selection of remedies has been made. So if you would like to try this, know that self-prescribing may seem easier, but it often has limited effects. Treatment with a Bach Flower Remedy should ideally be conducted with a trained practitioner such as a naturopath, herbalist or specialist.
Nutrition
Fresh and whole foods are a great way to imbibe your body with new fresh energy and to help you eliminate toxins. Watch out for the Sugar monster! Avoid sugar if it has any of the following effects on you: headache, cravings, flushing, abdominal weight gain, insomnia, nervous irritability and intolerance around late meals. If this are present, then the sugar is controlling you! Supplements are very often useful in female hormonal imbalance, and your therapist can prescribe the right selection and dosages of vitamins, minerals and perhaps also neuron-transmitters or amino acids, to help you feel better.
Exercise
There are certain stretches and yoga poses such as the Reclining Bound Angle Yoga pose that are beneficial during menstruation. Others are useful during the rest of the cycle to build strength and self-connectedness. With the Reclining Bound Angle Yoga pose you and open up and release the abdominal muscles and inner legs muscles. This is useful to relieving tension through the female reproductive system.
The Reclining Bound Angle Yoga Pose
1. Sit on the floor legs straight in front of you. Place a cushion or folded blanket behind you and as you lie back, feel the lower portion of your back resting on it. The lower back should be slighted elevated. Your head should rest easily on the floor or on a cushion.
2. Draw your legs in and upwards, so that the soles of the feet come together and your knees fall out to the side. Let them hang here. Breathe deeply into your whole body. Relax. Don’t push the stretch. You might like to place cushions under each thigh to give added support.
3. Extend your arms out to the sides, palms facing upwards. Or alternatively, bring them above your head, palms together.
4. Stay here for a minimum of 3 minutes and a maximum of 15 minutes.
Deep breathing, Chakra breathing as well as Rapid breathing are great for expelling toxins, and can be done at home in the morning and evening. Where the skin, lymph, kidneys or liver are congested, this would be an ideal ongoing exercise to help you detoxify. The longer you practice the better the effects so set yourself a goal and work towards it!
Chakra Breathing
There are various approaches to breathing meditations. I like the concept of breathing through the chakras. I use this when teaching the Nia Technique Chakradancer routine, where we move and breathe deeply into each chakra in turn. There are 7 chakras in your body. As a way to aliven and connect with these spinning wheels of energy, you take the time to breathe deeply and strongly into each chakra starting at the base chakra and moving upwards.
You might also like to sit and breathe rapidly and strongly for a minute at a time. Rapid breathing will renew you and release you into a better state of energy and consciousness.
For more information and how to contact Su-lin |
More Articles by Su-lin Sze |
To Top^
Home  |
