Walking in Beauty

Walking in Beauty Mama Support for the Month of May

May is the month of mothers, and what better way to celebrate than a brief discussion about how we can support ourselves in being healthier, happier women? (Men, you may learn something here!)

Mothering, whether it be to a child (or other family members), or as general creativity, can be an all-consuming task. The “reproductive years” can be an extremely busy and stressful time, as we are often trying to “do it all.” We are often busy with education, building a career, relationships, having and raising kids, and running the household. How does one get a minute to oneself? The result of so much activity in this stage of life can be overwhelming and stressful, often impacting a woman’s hormonal, menstrual, and reproductive health.

With respect to mothering in the biological sense, this is all-consuming. From difficulties with fertility to unexpected surprises, the burden (and joy) of growing and carrying a baby, to the uncertainty of due dates, and finally the postpartum period which no book, friendly advice, or medical provider can ever prepare one for...the work never ends!

Then, when the reproductive years start to wane, and perimenopause, then later menopause sets in, it rarely comes without a mega rollercoaster of hormonal fluctuations. From a Chinese medicine perspective, this manifests as a type of Kidney Yin Deficiency with Deficiency Heat, whose symptoms include hot flashes, insomnia, restlessness, night sweats, and irritability. All these symptoms are natural, and are the body’s expression of going through a major womanly rite of passage. Unfortunately, for many women it feels the opposite of natural, and is merely an uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing burden.

Almost every continent has plants and herbs that local people use, and have used for hundreds to thousands of years to support women’s health; in Thailand, an herb known as Pueraria Mirifica; in the South we hear of Maca root; black cohosh is popular here in the west; Chasteberry or Vitex grows abundantly in the Mediterranean; in China, Rehmannia root is often used as are many other native Chinese herbs. All these herbs (to name just a few) contain a relatively high number of phytoestrogens, or plant hormones. These chemicals can provide our body some extra pep, as the levels of estrogen and progesterone fluctuate throughout the female life cycle.

Let’s briefly explore the difference between using a plant sterol (or phytoestrogen) to balance out hormonal issues, compared with the mammalian version of estrogens, as used in conventional hormone replacement therapy. With the use of mammalian hormones, which are much more potent than their plant counterparts, results are often dramatic, often too dramatic. Thus, getting the right dosage can be tricky, and may require more intense medical management.

It is important to understand that the body has two different estrogen receptors: alpha and beta. The mammalian hormones in hormone replacement therapy bind to the alpha estrogen receptors, and thus need to be monitored closely since they may act also as a growth hormone. This poses the risk of causing unwanted tissue growth, including a higher risk for breast tumors. The wonderful thing about phyto plant hormones is that they bind to the beta estrogen receptors. This also elicits estrogenic effects, however, without acting as a growth hormone. Hence, less monitoring and testing is required to avoid unwanted tissue growth.

These phytoestrogens also have adaptogenic properties, meaning they help your body adapt when the body needs to maintain balance. From a Chinese medicine perspective, they can simultaneously tonify conditions of deficiency, and mitigate conditions of excess. In other words, if you have too much estrogen relative to progesterone, the phytoestrogen will protect your tissue from overstimulation. If you don’t have enough estrogen relative to progesterone, it will make your tissue feel like there is enough.

A word of caution: Before ordering any herbs off the internet, it is strongly recommended to work with a natural medicine practitioner, or someone who specializes in herbal medicine. Not all herbal supplements on the market are created equal; in fact, many of them do not contain the amounts or types of herbs claimed on the bottle. A qualified practitioner can recommend the best quality brands of herbs and supplements. Another resource is www.consumerlab.com, which is a third party company that tests supplements. If you are someone who takes a lot of supplements, do check out this website to make sure you are taking a quality brand.

Happy Mother’s Day and Beyond!

Emily Hornback is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine practicing in Gallup. Trained in Classical Chinese Medicine, she has made it her life’s work to help people find balance in their everyday life through the practical wisdom of Oriental Medicine. She incorporates not only acupuncture and herbal remedies, but also dietary and lifestyle advice. For more resources visit: www. forloveoflife.net. forLoveofLife Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine

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