It's 'that' time of the month...

Original Image Here

It's been nothing short of a crazy and stressful month. I'm feeling it with every inch of my being. Ever since I started practicing
Chinese Medicine I have managed to have my PMS (pre-menstrual stress) under control - free from pain and tension. This month, however, the stresses I have felt have managed to unravel me. I'm not surprised as I see the impact stress has on the body everyday in the clinic.

As I sit and type, my tummy is heavy and my head hurts. I have a thumper of a headache and a pounding so forcefully resinating in my lower abdomen, we could put a tune to it and have ourselves a nice little theme song! Obviously, I need to shut down my computer and head to bed but I know that if I write this whilst I feel so horrible I can make my point. My point is this; period pain, headache, pre-menstrual tension (emotional, physical or mental) all reflect the body’s inner working systems aren't functioning smoothly. Whilst I'm certain we have all felt different levels of any one of these, these signs are your body’s way of telling you that it is struggling.

Pain in the body is a perfect example of this struggle. From a Chinese Medicine perspective pain may indicate there is stagnation present in the relative area (ie the uterus) and that blood and essential nutrients aren't able to pass around and supply organs and tissues adequately. When blood and essential nutrients can't move or nourish the result is pain; a warning sign. Pain at specific times of the month allows me to diagnose and treat accordingly, ultimately leading to better body function. With fertility in mind, it is essential to ensure adequate nutrient supply to the ovaries, to make great quality embryos. It doesn't stop here, this chain goes on and on. The uterus requires the same level of energy to make sure it's ready for implantation. Stagnation will prevent this from occurring effectively.

I know that some simple lifestyle changes will have me back on track for next month. I also know that if the pendulum has swung too far in the one direction or stress is inevitable, then its essential to get it sorted. Period or ovulation pain (any pain really) shouldn't be experienced every month, nor do the other nasties that may accompany it. It's a free sign from your body. No radiologist required.

Remember this and lessen your PMS this cycle.
~ Your granny wasn't so crazy when she said be careful when swimming during the pre-menstrual window. Take care not to allow the lower abdomen and back to get too cold. This may contribute to pain.
~ Eating Cold prior to your expected period date may lead to a more painful period. Stick to warmer foods in the 3-4 days leading into it as well as during the period time.
~ Exercise to get blood flowing and moves cortisol out of the body. Cortisol is the hormone released when stressed. It's important to move this through the body and to lessen the effects of stress which will disrupt and affect your menstruation.
~ Don't be a wonderwoman during the period time. You are literally bleeding. Back off slightly and feel better for it.
~ Post period - R & R is a must.

Why it’s good to Celebrate.

Images from my daughters 1st birthday. She turns 3 next year, my how time flies. As for me, I must make more effort to take a snap or two of me blowing out the candles. I don't have any!


I anticipate one day each year. 1 day in 365 days. 24 hours out of a possible 8760. There is a lot of waiting involved. Yes, I’m a kid at heart, but my birthday is one day I get really excited about.

As a kid, my parents made a big deal of our birthdays. We didn’t get regular gifts throughout out the year, but on that one special day we got spoilt rotten. It’s any wonder I love it so much! I distinctly remember the countdown to my 21st. Of course, I was counting down the days, but I wasn’t alone. My dad called me every day for 7 days in the lead up - just to tell me how many more sleeps there were. True story.

I can thank my parents for creating many special memories for me, both birthday memories and others. It’s the little things like these that we pop into our memory bank for recollection in years to come.

Here's what I don’t do. I don’t NOT celebrate my birthday. I once felt the need to let it ride. Just another day right? WRONG! I spent two years thinking I was 27, it was like 28 never registered because it was never celebrated. I blame the fact that I skipped that birthday. Imagine the horror when I discovered I have skipped being 28. I went straight from being 27 to 29!

Make every minute count. Do your best to be your best everyday. Cherish the special moments everyday, not just your birthday but create lasting memories for your little memory bank. It’s nice to make lasting happy memories.

Did I mention happiness is good for your fertility too? Of course it is.

Good Food Friday Treat :: Mum's AMAZING Cauliflower Soup

Can somebody please find spring and bring her back to me? The past few days in Melbourne have been really chilly. In fact, today is nothing short of drab. I want my sunshine back. However I'm ok with the extra water my veggie garden is getting, only for a short while though, because all this rain is threatening to pelt off the stunning blossom that is filling my fruit trees. Blossom makes me happy!

I have for you today the most delicious soup recipe I think I may have ever tasted. I've been playing nurse Nat to my mum this week who has been visiting. Sitting in my fridge was an entire Caullie. Mum was bragging about her latest recipe, so I thought I would whip it up . I’m not joking with the 'whip', this recipe is a cinch. It's so delicious I fear I could eat an entire pot! You must make this little winner up. Every cell in your body will love you for it.

Mum's Cauliflower Soup

1/3 cup of olive oil or coconut oil
1 medium sized Cauliflower broken into florets
2 medium sizes onions, roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
5 cups of stock (I use veggie, mum uses chicken)
1 cup of soy milk (original recipe ask for cream)

1. Heat oil in a large pot, adding onion and garlic. Allow to cook for a few minutes until they start to become clear
2. Add Cauliflower and allow it to begin to brown
3. Cover with stock and allow it to come to the boil.
4. Reduce heat and cook for 30 minutes (the longer the better really) until the Cauliflower is very soft and breaks up easily)
5. Run wizzstick or put into the blender until there are no lumps and the soup is a very smooth consistency.
6. Place back onto the heat and add soy milk.
Serve with crusty bread and garnish with parsley and pepper.

AR-MAZING. It doesn't even taste like Cauliflower soup! So delicious.

Fertility :: The New Approach

A little over a year ago, I did some research and found myself approaching fertility treatment in the clinic in a new way. It took a lot of courage for me to totally change what I had learnt and adapt my new learnings into how I thought they best fit in my practice. I did away with the old, and brought in new, radical treatments for pre-conception care and IVF treatments. So what did I do? I found that certain approaches that had always been encouraged were outdated. I found that playing it ‘safe’ with treatments was not enough. I had to work outside the square. I had to push treatment to the limits. Acupuncture points that were previously considered useless became my focus. Treating at specific intervals became extremely important.
I discovered three main things in relation to fertility- three things that acupuncture could achieve to dramatically improve a couples chances of a baby.

The three keys I focus on are:
to reduce stress & increase immunity,
regulate hormones and
significantly improve reproductive function.
From when we started focusing on these three key elements the success rates of viable and healthy pregnancies have reached new levels at The Pagoda Tree.

What I got back were babies. Lots and lots of babies, with plenty of happy parents to match.

More on Millet!

This week I teamed up with Sarah Wilson to talk millet. Visit Sarah's awesome blog to read her tips on millet and my guest blog. Sarah also regularly features amazing, interesting and thoughtful articles and information on mindful and healthful eating. She's a must read for me. You can find her here :: Sarah Wilson's Blog

Perhaps I'm better off not to sleep?

Beautiful Images of Papou with his grandchildren


We lost my father-in-law on Friday, to that demon known as cancer. I can only describe the feelings that followed as mixed. In one minute we felt a sense of relief, and in the very next instant, sadness. I sat at my in-law's house and I watched, as one by one each family member and friend shuffled in to pay their respects. Then something happened. My phone rang. A patient, so overjoyed, I could feel it. She was pregnant. And then... like some miracle... another called. She too, was expecting.
As clichéd as it is, I was watching this unfold before my eyes. One life ends and another life begins.

With all the heightened emotions running about in this mind of mine, I have to say, I'm afraid to sleep. I'm not kidding. I have dreamt every night since this that I am pregnant! I type this with a smirk because, for those of you who know me understand that this is not at the top of my list right now. It's a running joke, mostly by those who think they are funny. We will have more children for sure, in the near future, but not right now. According to dream analysis, dreaming of birth signals new beginning and new starts - funny that.

Spring has kicked in and according to Chinese Medicine, this is the time that the Liver energy is in full swing. Emotions and physical health are intimately connected and the liver is responsible for spreading qi, blood and nutrients around the body. Heightened emotions - specifically grief and sadness, will directly affect the Liver. If such emotions are not properly resolved it may lead to all sorts of complaints and illness (like dreaming - interesting that!). It may mean that the liver can't do it's job properly, and so other organs miss out on what they need. As a result, all body systems are affected. I know dreaming isn't an illness, and seems innocent enough. It is when dreams continue to disrupt sleep over a period of time that the body will begin to suffer. Not having a restful nights sleep will lead to fatigue and other health issues. Long term fatigue will for sure affect all body systems, including fertility.

So the aim in this household, especially now that it is spring, is that we take on these emotions and we deal with them properly. We don't tuck them away to be dealt with another day, we allow our bodies to fully feel what we are experiencing each minute. It may be something you aren't used to doing, but let me tell you, it is so important for your health, your fertility and your mind body connection.

Good Food Friday :: Tabouli

You may have noticed, there has been a lot of one ingredient spoken about this week. I've been experimenting in the kitchen with millet. You can find millet in your health food stores, or even in good supermarkets.

I hope you enjoy my Tabouli recipe - delicious and healthy with all the fresh ingredients.

Terrific Tabouli

1 large bunch of parsley
3 finely chopped tomato
1/2 red onion finely chopped
1/2 cup of cooked Millet (boil in a pot with 2 cups of water for approximately an hour or until soft)
The juice of one lemon
2 - 3 table spoons of olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a salad bowl and enjoy!