Pulling Down the Moon

Hands On Women’s Wisdom: Hormone Imbalance

April 5, 2016

In my practice over the last 12 years, I’ve seen hormonal imbalance in many forms, time and time again. Whether manifested as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, amenorrhea, or simply irregular cycles, this condition plagues more of us than you’d think. But what causes these imbalances?


There’s no one answer, but a major contributor is the stew of chemicals in our environment that can accumulate in our bodies. Toxicity is on the rise: it’s estimated that today’s average newborn body is dealing with more synthetic chemicals than a senior did in our grandparents’ day. As new chemicals are introduced into our food and cosmetic supply, and as pollution increases, our bodies have a greater influx of contamination to deal with. This buildup in our systems, complete with endocrine disrupters and reproductive toxins, create inflammation in the body and interrupt its ability to regulate hormones.



So how can we help our bodies get rid of these unwanted substances? In addition to making better nutritional choices like eating organic where possible and cutting back on inflammation-promoting foods, I’ve seen a type of massage known as lymphatic drainage produce wonderful and immediate results. Lymph is a milky fluid in our bodies; it’s main function is to deliver hormones and nutritive substances, while simultaneously removing waste. Think of lymph as the body’s sanitation system, recovering trapped toxins around your cells and sending them through lymph vessels to your lymph nodes (garbage dumps and recycling centers) to be filtered and purified. Unlike blood, our body’s other nourishing fluid, lymph is not actively pumped through vessels. Lymph is essentially static, pooling within our tissues until muscle movement or gravity push it towards lymph vessels and nodes. Massaging the lymphatic system with the lymphatic drainage technique quickens these actions by up to four times their normal speed, which can improve fluid movement in the body, reduce bloating, enhance liver function, and help to release the excess hormones that can be causing disruption.

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Tips for Spring Restoration

February 18, 2025
Spring arrives next month, and with it, more cold days (perhaps even snow)! But March also brings the promise of new life. We love this time of year. The ground starts to smell fresh and ripe. Small green buds begin to swell from the earth reaching up, up, up. Birds chatter in the trees. The sun stays in the sky a little longer each day. After a long, cold winter of hibernation, spring restores nature’s beauty. Spring inspires us to restore ourselves, too and these self-care techniques will lead you to restoration of mind, body and spirit. Hydrate. Drink a glass or two of water first thing in the morning. Keeping yourself hydrated helps boost your mood, improves brain power and protects you against disease. Make a gratitude list. Spending just a few minutes a day writing down what you are grateful for can dramatically shift your day. The more gratitude you have, the more open to abundance you become. Breathe. Set aside a few minutes each day to practice breathing. There are so many benefits! Among them, diaphragmatic breathing alleviates stress, reduces pain, strengthens internal muscles and moves blood to organs and tissues. If you’re not sure how to get started, try our Breathe & Restore Workshop or schedule an Soothe the Senses: Calm the Nervous System Fertility Enhancing Massage™ to receive some hands-on breath work coaching. Stretch. Five to 10 minutes of stretching in the morning increases energy levels, enhances circulation, reduces injury and centers your mind. Even better is a regular yoga practice. Get started by downloading the Fully Fertile App today to give you a jump start! Our next Signature Yoga for Fertility Series begins on Monday, February 24th to reduce anxiety and stress by 20% or more in just six weeks. Eliminate something from your diet that isn’t serving you. I nstead of overhauling your entire diet, start by taking out one food that doesn’t nourish your body. Replace it with a different item that supports your desire for restoration. Learn even more by working with scheduling a nutrition consult ! We look forward to seeing you virtually or in-person at one of our centers to help you get started. Many wishes for a beautiful spring!
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