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

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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 you can't sweat the small stuff

ha ha! this is me, looking stressed!


I am astounded every day at the amount of people I meet and immediately I can identify that they are feeling stressed. The funniest thing happens when I ask them "are you stressed?", I almost always get the response "NO!" . Then they stop to ponder a little and say "well, my job is busy, but I like it that way." Here's the thing - stress of any kind does evil things to the body. Stress of any kind lessens normal body function. Stress of all kinds affects fertility. This is the bottom line.

Here is another thing. It's all good and well for me as a practitioner to say "stress less and be happy" but let's be real here. The way the majority of people live their lives is jam packed full of stress and pressure. It's almost like we have been genetically modified to work this way in 2010. Now I know if I could have all my patients stop work, live in a Bali Beach hut, sipping on fresh juices, eating raw foods and meditating all day they would more than likely fall pregnant in a tick. The thing is, it is not very often possible for this to happen. With this in mind I have a new mantra. 'I can't always change stress, but I can treat the body to lessen it's impact,' . With this mantra in the forefront of my mind I am on on a mission because I know that reduction of stress increases fertility ten fold.

Oh, and before I hear one more person say "but I'm not stressed!" I'm going to stop you right there. We all need to recognise that stress comes packed in all different shapes and sizes. Being busy, under the pump, under pressure, meeting deadlines, financial woes, working long hours, trying to have a baby, being told you're 'supposedly infertile' (more than often NOT the case), IVF, being a parent, disliking your job, eating poorly, exercising less, being unhappy, living, breathing, walking... can all be stressful things. We all need a bit of "stress" in our lives to keep our bodies and minds working - but there are different types of stressors.

This is why it is so important to not sweat the small stuff, because it is stressful and it is certainly having an impact on your health. Working out what is worth worrying about and what will work itself out is essential for healthy living. All good for me to say, right? Wrong. It is my job to make you aware. I see my role as helping you how to make distinctions between the stresses in your life.

Every day in the clinic I treat the effects that stress has on the body. Sometimes, lifestyle changes aren't quite enough to allow the body to function better, nevertheless they are still important to maintain. I'm encouraging patients now days to pear things right back, to live more simply and gain better health.

Couple this with a healthy attitude, a great diet and a simpler lifestyle, and you're on the road to bigger and better things!

I can't take away your life stresses but I can show you ways to assist your body in coping with the bad, everyday stress, which will lead to a healthier, happier you.

5 Things to do right now to reduce stress:

1. Have regular acupuncture, massage, osteo/chiro or the treatment of your choice. You can't afford not to. Literally.
2. Laugh as much as you manage. Spend time with those you love, or do things you love that make you happy. E.V.E.R.Y D.A.Y.
3. Sleep. Get at minimum 7 hours, and make at least one of those hours before midnight.
4. Walk. Everyday, even if just for 10 minutes.
5. Think good thoughts. This is much easier to do when in the right headspace -having done steps 1-4!

Get ready for your 'Spring Cleaning!'

I’m quite grateful that winter is ticking over quite quickly. Not that it isn’t welcome. In actual fact, have enjoyed this winter so much more than any other year. I think I’m learning to embrace the season and enjoy winter for what it offers, and how it encourages me to slow down. As good as it is, I know Spring is coming and that makes me happy! Spring is such a beautiful time. We see the start of a new growth cycle, not just reflected in nature but in our bodies as well.

Spring is the perfect time to cleanse and prepare for the following year ahead. Much like we spring clean our homes, we can also be doing this to ourselves.

It can get confusing as to how to go about cleansing. There are so many ‘detox’ kits, cleansing formulas, programmes and potions, it can certainly deter the keenest of cleansers! What’s more, there are so many conflicting views. Some consider it to be dangerous – and I don’t disagree with this totally. Each and every individual should cleanse. However, it’s a matter of working out what is best for their bodies. If we embark on a program that isn’t suitable for the constitution of the person, it can certainly be damaging to the system.

You might wonder why it would be necessary to cleanse. It is true that your body does have its own way of detoxifying, unfortunately our lifestyles are far more toxic than our bodies can sometimes handle. Drugs, alcohol, water quality, stress and bad nutrition, all lead to build up of toxins in the body. When we cleanse, we allow our body to rid of these. If over time these are left sitting in our bodies, these toxins can lead to a host of issues including infertility, illness and disease.

So how does one decide what works best for them? If you are really serious about cleansing, it’s wise to speak to a health professional. Devising a cleanse that is specific to each patient is essential, given that no two people are the same.
In the clinic we run a ‘Spring Body Cleanse’ that does exactly this. It incorporates diet and lifestyle guidelines, specific to each patient as well as treatment and support throughout. We believe by implementing herbal medicine, acupuncture, clean eating and specific exercise, we can offer our patients a total body cleanse which is supportive as well as extremely effective – without compromise to the immune and other body systems.

If you're thinking of cleansing in the coming months, remember Spring is the perfect time. I get a little smile on my face knowing that my call to cleanse is coming. I can’t wait to feel new again.