A Guide to Seed Cycling for Hormonal Balance
A Guide to Seed Cycling for Hormonal Balance In our fast-paced world, achieving and maintaining hormonal balance can feel like a constant battle. From mood swings to irregular periods and even fertility challenges, hormonal imbalances can affect nearly every aspect of a woman’s life. But what if the solution to balancing your hormones could be as simple as incorporating certain seeds into your diet? Welcome to the world of seed cycling for hormonal balance, a natural and balanced approach that has been gaining popularity for its DIY ease and overall effectiveness. Seed cycling involves consuming specific seeds during different phases of your menstrual cycle to support the body’s natural hormonal rhythms. The concept is rooted in the idea that certain seeds contain nutrients that can help promote the production and detoxification of hormones, thus aiding in the overall balance. By understanding how to use seed cycling for hormones, you can take a proactive step toward improving your hormonal health naturally. So, how does seed cycling work? The menstrual cycle is typically divided into two main phases: the follicular phase (the first half) and the luteal phase (the second half). During the follicular phase, which begins on the first day of your period and lasts until ovulation, the body benefits from seeds like flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds. Flaxseeds are rich in lignans, which help bind excess estrogen, while pumpkin seeds provide zinc, which supports progesterone production. By consuming these seeds daily, you can help ensure a healthy balance of estrogen and progesterone, setting the stage for a smoother cycle. As you transition into the luteal phase, which begins after ovulation and continues until your next period, it’s time to switch to sesame and sunflower seeds. Sesame seeds are also high in lignans, which can help modulate estrogen levels, while sunflower seeds are packed with selenium, a powerful antioxidant that supports liver detoxification and hormone clearance. This phase of seed cycling for hormonal balance helps maintain the balance of progesterone and estrogen, reducing symptoms of PMS and promoting overall well-being. The benefits of seed cycling for women go beyond just regulating menstrual cycles. Many women have reported improved skin health, reduced acne, better mood stability, and even enhanced fertility. Because hormones inCluence so many aspects of our health, Cinding a natural way to support them can have widespread positive effects. Additionally, the seeds used in seed cycling are rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, all of which contribute to overall health and vitality. For those new to the concept, starting with a seed cycling guide for hormonal health can be incredibly helpful. Begin by purchasing high-quality, organic flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds. It’s best to use freshly ground seeds to ensure you’re getting the maximum nutritional benefits. You can easily incorporate these seeds into your diet by adding them to smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, or salads. The key is consistency— consume the recommended seeds daily according to the phase of your cycle. Seed cycling can be a wonderful way to support hormonal health at home in conjunction with Chinese medicine. The practitioners here at Tao to Wellness can help you fine-tune your seed cycling routine, offer acupuncture and herbal remedies tailored to your needs, and provide the support you need to gently bring the body back into balance.
Debunking the NYT Article; “Is Delaying Menopause the Key to Longevity”?
Debunking the NYT Article; “Is Delaying Menopause the Key to Longevity”? It’s an eye catching title and a semi interesting read that discusses how scientists are trying to figure out how to keep the ovaries working longer, and if they can, are we able to prevent the progression of age related diseases? In March, Jill Biden announced a new women’s initiative that is highlighting this question among scientists and researchers. “The ovaries are the only organ in humans that we just accept will fail one day,” said Renee Wegrzyn, director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, a government agency tasked with steering Dr. Biden’s mission. “It’s actually kind of wild that we all just accept that.” Most think of the ovaries as just a “baby maker”, but as the article states the ovaries act as a control center and have a lot to do with influencing every organ in a woman’s body. It says that scientists don’t exactly understand how this happens but I believe it’s simply a part of the HPO Axis; the hypothalamic, pituitary, ovarian axis. This axis is a highway of constant communication between the ovaries and the brain and vice versa through a feedback loop. There are many ‘loops’ in the body, for example right now a very hot topic is the gut brain connection. On an elementary level, the article says when women’s eggs are depleted the ovaries seem to go quiet, which corresponds to of course an increased risk in age related diseases. The phrase ‘women’s eggs are depleted’, couldn’t be more inaccurate. Doctors say most of us are born with millions of eggs (40,000 – 3 million to be exact), even that is an inaccurate way of describing the beauty that unfolds in a woman’s ovaries. What women are actually born with are millions of opportunities! By way of folliculogenesis, these opportunities rise to the surface and become expressed! Folliculogenesis is a maturing ovarian follicle that will in most cases rear a good quality egg. At any given time, women have many, many follicles that are in varying stages; from primordial, primary, secondary, tertiary to antral follicles. Not all of these are follicles yet, most are flat cells waiting to grow up to be a follicle, for example it takes about 180 days for the primordial stage to reach it’s full potential as a follicle with a good quality egg. So, the idea proposed is that if a woman loses fewer eggs, she can hold on to her ovarian reserves and functionality for longer is slightly preposterous. The article mentions a clinical trial at Columbia University which is attempting to slow the rate at which women lose their eggs with the immunosuppressive drug called rapamycin. Researchers leading the study claim there are two patterns that are already emerging; one that women are appearing to have a normal decline of ovarian reserve, which is measured by ultrasounds and AMH. Ultrasounds cannot detect ovarian reserve only antral follicle counts, which are the follicles that are in the race for ovulation, they are expressed when they are about the ovulate, ultrasounds cannot detect anything else. Most gynecologists and reproductive endocrinologists, do not test AMH because of its unreliability. But in truth, nothing is reliable and there is no possible way to calculate ovarian reserve. It seems to me, that if we look at this through a Chinese medicine lens, the ovaries are the tree trunk, the follicles and eggs are the branches/leaves, so then what feeds the ovaries to be robust and plentiful? The soil! And that soil is lifestyle and genetics. We can’t alter our genes (yet!) but if we want better functionality and longer sustainability we must look to lifestyle and environmental factors, things like pollution, toxins, nutrition, or lack thereof, too much or too little exercise, alcohol, caffeine, smoking, (basically anything that creates free radicals in the body) not enough sleep and the biggest ones; emotional wellness and the management of stress. These are the things that overtime can exhaust ovarian function and cause aging and disease, whether you are approaching menopause or trying to get pregnant at 30 years old, it all looks the same. In the realm of enhancing lifespan and quality of life, we could also talk about telomeres. Telomeres are caps on the ends of our DNA, they are similar to the caps that are on the end of shoelaces. As the plastic ends shred, and the shoelace becomes frayed and damaged, so too the shortening of our telomeres can leave our cells and chromosomes vulnerable to damage. Telomere shortening means the cell’s lifespan is shortening. Recent research shows that telomere shortening plays an important role in human disease and mortality. So how do we support robust ovarian function and lengthen telomeres? Sleep, regular exercise, stress management, a diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, namely D, meditation, yoga and acupuncture. (You knew the last one was coming!) There have been endless acupuncture studies and trials over the last two decades, everything from pain management to pregnancy rates to digestive disorders to stroke recovery. Research also shows that acupuncture can actually lengthen your telomeres and, for the purposes of this article, acupuncture plays a major role in Stage 4 follicular recruitment. How does it do that? The magnificence of acupuncture is the fact that it is self regulating, so whatever the body needs, whether it’s a decrease in inflammation, moving emotional stagnation thereby relieving stress, harmonizing an organ system, bringing energy to an organ, clearing away meridian debris, acupuncture and the body work together. You don’t have to believe in it or do anything to facilitate it, it just happens, very much in the same way your heart beats or how minerals like sodium and potassium can enter and exit a cell effortlessly. It just happens. In conclusion, we all want to preserve what we have and no one wants to age. Post menopause brings some risk to diseases, but if it’s not ‘that’ disease then it will
How to Be in Harmony with Summer!
How to Be in Harmony with Summer! As of June 21st it is officially summer 2024 and the season of ABUNDANCE! Summer is the fullest expression of Yang, it’s hot, dry, daylight, it’s active and fiery. Yin is the opposite and is cool, fluid, nighttime, meditative. In these hot summer months, it can sometimes be a challenge to keep the two balanced. In Chinese medicine, each season has a set of paired organs that are associated with it, but for the season of summer, there are actually four! Heart The Heart governs the blood and is responsible for the Shen or Spirit. Pericardium The Pericardium is called the ‘heart wrapper’ and protects the heart from external influences like a temperature change or a pathogenic invasion. Small Intestine The Small Intestine receives food and fluids from the stomach and then separates it into pure and turbid, this also applies to emotions in the sense of making the distinctions between positive and negative thinking. San Jiao The San Jiao is a Chinese organ and is translated as the Triple Burner or Triple Heater. It’s closely associated with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th chakras or energy centers of the body. The San Jiao is a bit of a mysterious organ with it’s main job being a conductor for spreading energy throughout the body. All of these belong to the Fire element, the emotions are Joy or Agitation, the taste is bitter and color, of course, is red. How to Attune to the Season So, now that we are in summer, how do we attune or make friends with the season? Here’s some tips: To be in circadian harmony: Awaken very early in the morning preferably at sunrise. Hey, 5am clubbers! To find comfort: Drink hot liquids and take warm showers, which will open the pores and bring on sweating! Quite the opposite of what we usually think for summer- cold drinks, ice and what not actually blocks the heat from releasing. Not too cold: Try not to overdo raw, cold foods. Combining too much cold food (Ice, ice cream, raw fruits and vegetables) with summer heat can weaken the digestive organs since cold contracts. Practice moderation! To find balance: Depending on how hot it is in your area, you may want to consider adding a mineral supplement to your regimen in the hot summer months. Since we have a tendency to sweat more, we could be losing minerals which can weaken the system. Cooking Tips! The main rule of thumb is to cook things on high temp and for a very short period of time. It’s a great way to warm the food up a bit while also maintaining all of the nutrients. Some cooling fresh foods to incorporate into your diet are salads, sprouts like mung, soy, or alfalfa, fruit, cucumber, tofu, watermelon, lemon, and limes. Also mint, chamomile or chrysanthemum teas are great for the summer heat! One more note, don’t feel like you need to shy away from spice, because they are actually considered helpful in warm weather. Spices will help bring body heat to the surface, open the pores thus allowing the extra heat to be released! This will help you attune to the heat and will help you to feel less affected by it. This Year’s Summer Recipe Pick! We all love watermelon, it’s sweet and cooling and actually can be fabulous as a salad! Of course, if you’re watching your sugar intake, be sure to portion this out accordingly because it can be quite addictive! This is a take on a salad that I had once at Flora in downtown Oakland (RIP Flora) that left such an impression on me. I never forgot it and every time I serve it, people just go bananas for it. It’s a no recipe – recipe, so amounts are really how you like them. Watermelon Feta Salad INGREDIENTS Watermelon Kalamata Olives, chopped. Feta Cheese or if you’re dairy free, vegan feta works just as well Figs, chopped Pine Nuts or any small, soft nut you prefer, like crushed pistachios Mint, chopped, small amount to just give the salad some lift! A simple dressing of Champagne Vinegar and Olive Oil (Good quality) Approximately 3 tablespoon olive oil to 1 tablespoon of champagne vinegar. DIRECTIONS In a large bowl add watermelon, chopped olives, chopped figs, pine nuts and chopped mint. Mix well. In a smaller bowl, mix the olive oil and champagne vinegar. Pour it over your salad and then add the feta over the top. Delicious and refreshing with bursts of flavors! Enjoy the summer and we hope to see you soon!
The Basics of Acupuncture Part 4 (Berkeley Acupuncture)
The Basics of Acupuncture Part 4 (Berkeley Acupuncture) What conditions or imbalances can we treat with Acupuncture/Chinese medicine? Chinese Medicine has been used for thousands of years to keep people physically and mentally healthy. We have had a lot of success with many different symptoms and syndromes. Patients are astounded to learn of the many ailments that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treat. We must keep in mind that this has been the only medical system in use for those in Asia for thousands of years and patients have been treated according to the principles of this traditional medicine with great success. Here in the United States, it is usually after other treatments have failed that many patients begin to seek this type of treatment, but early intervention is always better. Listed below are conditions that we have successfully treated: Fertility Challenges (see Fertility page on our website.) Gynecological Problems Migraines and Headaches Digestive Issues Immune System Issues Viral Issues Pain Management Emotional Wellness (Stress, Anxiety, Sadness, Depression) Allergies Dizziness High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Detoxification Treatment The World Health Organization states the following: What is it used for? Acupuncture is particularly effective for pain relief and for nausea and vomiting after surgery or chemotherapy. In addition, both the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health recognize that acupuncture can be a helpful part of a treatment plan for many illnesses. A partial list includes: addiction (such as alcoholism), asthma, bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, facial tics, fibromyalgia, headaches, irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovarian syndrome, low back pain, menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, sinusitis, spastic colon (often called irritable bowel syndrome), stroke rehabilitation, tendinitis, tennis elbow, and urinary problems such as incontinence. You can safely combine acupuncture with prescription drugs and other conventional treatments, but it is important for your primary care physician to be aware of and monitor how your acupuncture treatment may be affecting your conventional therapies. The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture also lists a wide range of conditions for which acupuncture is appropriate. In addition to those listed above, they recommend acupuncture for sports injuries, sprains, strains, whiplash, neck pain, sciatica, nerve pain due to compression, overuse syndromes similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, pain resulting from spinal cord injuries, allergies, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), sore throat (called pharyngitis), high blood pressure, gastroesophageal reflux (felt as heartburn or indigestion), ulcers, chronic and recurrent bladder and kidney infections, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), infertility, endometriosis, anorexia, memory problems, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, sensory disturbances, drug detoxification, depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders. Much love, Christina “Mei Wen” Martin, L.Ac., Dipl.AC, MTOM, FABORM. christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com Christina Martin is the founder of Tao to Wellness. She is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Teacher and has been in practice for fifteen years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. Christina entered Acupuncture school without ever having an Acupuncture treatment. She simply felt it was her calling.
The Basics of Acupuncture Part 3 (Berkeley Acupuncture)
The Basics of Acupuncture Part 3 (Berkeley Acupuncture) The Basics of Acupuncture Part 3 (Berkeley Acupuncture) What can I expect during an Acupuncture Treatment? In addition to asking many questions, the acupuncturist will take your pulse at several points along the wrist. Unlike Western medicine the last thing we are concerned about it the rate. An acupuncturist looks for width, force, definition and depth. No pulse is good or bad, only informative and helps dictate the treatment. The acupuncturist will also take note of the shape, color, and coating of your tongue, this also helps dictate the treatment plan. Other things are the color and texture of your skin, your posture, and other physical characteristics that offer clues to your health. You will lie down on a padded examining table, and the acupuncturist will insert the needles, tapping, twirling or gently jiggling each as it goes in. You may not feel the needles at all, or you may feel a twitch or a quick twinge of pain that disappears when the needle is completely inserted. Once the needles are all in place, you will rest for about 40 minutes. During this time, you’ll probably feel relaxed and sleepy and may even doze off. At the end of the session, the acupuncturist quickly and painlessly removes the needles. How many treatments do I need? The magic question… Each patient is different, it depends upon the duration, severity and nature of each individual’s complaint. Generally three to fifteen treatments are adequate for the majority of illness in it’s flare phase, followed by conditioning and then maintenance. Acute conditions may require only a single treatment and some chronic issues may require a whole series of treatments. Patient testimonial… “After relocating to San Francisco from the East Coast, I found myself feeling anxious more often than not and plagued by various stomach and digestive problems. When Western medicine failed me in these areas, I found myself looking for alternative therapies and I am so thankful that I found Christina. Her compassionate treatment and guidance have not only rid me completely of my stomach problems, but have helped me to be more relaxed, better able to manage my stress, and more centered in myself. I recommend Christina wholeheartedly.” Tara V., Student, San Francisco, CA Much love, Christina “Mei Wen” Martin, L.Ac., Dipl.AC, MTOM, FABORM. christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com Christina Martin is the founder of Tao to Wellness. She is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Teacher and has been in practice for fifteen years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. Christina entered Acupuncture school without ever having an Acupuncture treatment. She simply felt it was her calling.
The Basics of Acupuncture Part 2 (Berkeley Acupuncture)
The Basics of Acupuncture Part 2 (Berkeley Acupuncture) How does Acupuncture work? In Chinese Medicine, each organ has a set of symptoms (ie. headaches, insomnia, anxiety, low energy, etc) that will manifest when that organ is “out of balance”. Each organ also has a meridian or pathway. Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles along pathways that send a signal back to the organ rebalancing it. When the organ is back into balance, the symptoms disappear. Do I have to believe in Acupuncture for it to work? No. Acupuncture is used successfully on cats, dogs, horses and other animals. These patients do not understand or believe in this treatment, but that does not prevent them from getting better. What is Electrostimulaton Acupuncture and some of the other Chinese medicinal practices I have heard of, like Cupping and Moxibustion? In addition to the basics of Acupuncture, there is Electrical Acupuncture. Electrical Acupuncture is the practice of small clips hooked on to certain needles during an Acupuncture treatment, these clips are connected to an electrical source that generates a light pulse of electricity. This runs through the needle into the muscle, pathway, or most importantly the circulation. This technique is used to relax a tense muscle, move the Qi and blood faster within the meridian or move the Qi and blood in the local area to relieve pain. Cupping is another traditional practice where the practitioner uses suction cups to move blood or phlegm stagnation, typically in the office we use this for back pain or chest congestion. Moxibustion is an herb called, Ai Ye, which is burnt over certain points to move Qi or blood, this can be used for many things, pain, diarrhea, to warm the body or to turn a breech baby right! Much love, Christina “Mei Wen” Martin, L.Ac., Dipl.AC, MTOM, FABORM. christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com Christina Martin is the founder of Tao to Wellness. She is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Teacher and has been in practice for fifteen years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. Christina entered Acupuncture school without ever having an Acupuncture treatment. She simply felt it was her calling.
The Basics on Acupuncture Part 1 (Berkeley Acupuncture)
The Basics on Acupuncture Part 1 (Berkeley Acupuncture) Acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese theories of the flow of Qi (Energy/Oxygen) and Xue (Blood) through channels or meridians that run throughout the body very similar to the nervous and circulatory system. Acupuncture itself is the insertion of fine needles into the body at specific points that lay on these meridians. These points have been proven effective throughout time for specific problems or diseases. In acupuncture, there are no side effects. It is merely a tool to allow the body to heal itself. Does it hurt? Most people feel nothing, an Acupuncture needle cannot be compared to a syringe needle at all. Syringe needles are quite large, are hollow (to pull liquids in and out of the body) and are administered into arteries. Acupuncture needles are solid and as thin as one piece of hair. In Acupuncture, we administer needles with caution, avoiding arteries and nerves. Acupuncture is mostly painless, but since a stimulus needs to be obtained, you may feel a heaviness, distention, tingling or electrical sensation around the needle or traveling up and down the meridian. Any kind of discomfort that is made from the stimulation of the needle disappears in seconds. Are the needles clean? Acupuncture needles are pre-sterilized, individually packaged and disposable. Thus assuring there is no transmission of communicable disease from patient to patient. Much love, Christina “Mei Wen” Martin, L.Ac., Dipl.AC, MTOM, FABORM. christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com Christina Martin is the founder of Tao to Wellness. She is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Teacher and has been in practice for fifteen years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. Christina entered Acupuncture school without ever having an Acupuncture treatment. She simply felt it was her calling.
Warmth and Fertility Boost: Discover Something Special!
Something to warm you up and boost your fertility at the same time! A little chilly outside? Here’s a fantastic recipe that I got from Integrative Fertility who heads the acupuncture program at Pacific Fertility Center in San Francisco. A yummy little twist on Mom’s chicken soup! Sweet Potato, Cilantro Chicken Soup INGREDIENTS: Serves 4 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed 2 tablespoons butter or ghee 1/2 onion, sliced 4 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock 1/2 roast chicken, shredded 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped! juice of 1/2 lime 1/2 ripe avocado, sliced Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste DIRECTIONS: 1 Bring some water to a boil in a medium saucepan at medium heat and add the cubed sweet potatoes. Cook for about 10 minutes, until the sweet potato is tender. Drain the water and set the sweet potatoes aside for later use. 2 In a large sauce pan over a medium-high heat melt the butter or ghee. Once melted, add the onions to sauté. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 7 minutes. Be sure to stir frequently to prevent the onions from burning. 3 Add the garlic, cumin as well as salt and pepper to the pot. Mix well and cook for another minute. 4 Add the stock to the pan and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add in the shredded chicken, followed by the tomatoes, lime juice, cooked sweet potatoes and cilantro. Immediately remove from the heat. Allow the soup to sit for at least 5 minutes prior to serving to allow the flavors some time to blend. Serve warm topped with the avocado slices. Much love, Christina “Mei Wen” Martin, L.Ac., Dipl.AC, MTOM, FABORM. christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com Christina Martin is the founder of Tao to Wellness. She is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Teacher and has been in practice for fifteen years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. Christina entered Acupuncture school without ever having an Acupuncture treatment. She simply felt it was her calling.
Launch of Bay Area-Based Fertility Prediction App Today!
Bay area based app to predict FERTILITY launches today! The BUZZ in the fertility world today isn’t about acupuncture or some new-old ancient technique. It’s all about GLOW today, the fertility app that Bay area based and PayPal co-founder Max Levchin has created (and has sunk $1million of his own dollars into, by the way). Glow is a free-to-download, iPhone-only app that helps women — and their partners — track ovulation cycles and other data points to predict peak fertility windows. It officially launches in the App Store today. In addition, the Bay Area-based startup has raised $6 million in venture capital funding from Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, Jeff Jordan of Andreessen Horowitz and individual investors including Yuri Milner. Glow goes beyond tracking ovulation cycles, sexual activity and, yes, the texture of cervical mucus, which I can’t wait to find out more on this one. And in true Bay area style, Levchin and Glow co-founder Mike Huang have built the company with the intent to disrupt the current health-care system in the U.S., by creating a kind of insurance fund to help pay for women’s fertility treatments. Here’s the thing that I love the most, app users have the option to contribute $50 a month to the Glow Fund, for a period of 10 months. If, after 10 months of using the Glow app, a woman hasn’t conceived, she can withdraw money from the Glow Fund and use it to pay for fertility treatments. Conversely, if she has gotten pregnant, she forfeits her contributions; they will go toward another user’s fertility treatments. Genius and generous! Christina “Mei Wen” Martin, L.Ac., Dipl.AC, MTOM, FABORM. christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com Christina Martin is the founder of Tao to Wellness. She is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Teacher and has been in practice for fifteen years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is California state licensed and a nationally certified Diplomat of Acupuncture. Christina entered Acupuncture school without ever having an Acupuncture treatment. She simply felt it was her calling.
