Pulling Down the Moon

PCOS and Stress: How to Reduce Cortisol in PCOS

February 26, 2010

Most doctors agree that the most effective first-line treatment for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is diet and exercise. Eating a low-glycemic diet that helps regulate blood sugar levels and exercising regularly to improve glucose metabolism can help re-start ovulation in many PCOS patients. However, at the Moon we think this “prescription is missing something – and that something is stress reduction.


Interestingly, both overweight and normal weight patients with PCOS show altered cortisol metabolism, with PCOS patients showing an increase in circulating stress hormones likes cortisol.  Higher levels of cortisol are not optimal for either overall health or for fertility. Cortisol can disrupt our menstrual cycle, increase appetite (particularly for sugary foods), promote weight gain, especially around our middle where it is more harmful to our health and impair our immune function. While experts cannot yet agree why cortisol is higher in PCOS patients, they should agree that taking steps to lower cortisol is likely to improve overall health of women with PCOS as well as their fertility.


Techniques that have been shown to lower stress include:


Acupuncture:  Recent studies have found that the increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (a sign of increased stress hormone activity) in PCOS patients can be significantly lowered with acupuncture treatment.


Exercise: We all recognize the stress reduction component of  fertility-friendly workouts.  Exercising regularly controls stress and makes us feel better about ourselves.


Yoga/Relaxation Training: Yoga has been shown to be as effective as cognitive-behavioural therapy at improving psychological and physiological measures of stress. 


Bottom line: if you have PCOS, by all means continue with your healthy eating and exercise program but consider adding acupuncture to your regimen and taking at least 15 minutes a day to practice yoga stretches and breathing.


Our team at Pulling Down the Moon offers many treatment options that can help you achieve health and wellness in all areas of your lives. Our practitioners are experts in many different aspects of health in order to better serve the unique needs of you and your loved ones. In partnership with your medical doctor, our staff is prepared to work with you in order to develop a personal plan that integrates our services so as to best benefit your lifelong health.

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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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