Guest Blog Written By: Dr. Jen Cisternino Naturopathic Doctor
The menstrual cycle is such a beautiful time for a women if she tunes into her body. This extends to her emotional, mental and spiritual body. We are all aware that our hormones orchestrate our menstrual cycle. For example; if your hormones are out of balance then you may miss a period or have several symptoms like breast tenderness, mood changes, acne, sleep disturbances etc. Most women will see their medical doctor for these imbalances and most are prescribed the birth control pill. Essentially, the pill is masking the underlying imbalances which are there to get “your attention”. We are not meant to “suppress” symptoms but instead listen to the innate wisdom of our bodies and do something to HEAL ourselves.
Let’s look at a common complaint- dysmenorrhea (cramping and pain with periods). Pain with menses can be quickly remedied with Anaprox or Advil. Have you ever wondered why you have pain and why some months may be more painful? Have you spent the time wondering if stress or poor diet had something to do with it? I do IgG food allergy testing in my office and essentially you can find out which foods cause inflammation in your body, which can translate to menstrual pain. Something else to consider is “blocked pelvic energy” a 2nd chakra issue. This energy centre in our body is affected by our relationships with men, sex, our feminine nature, our needs and wants and how they may be influenced by cultural needs and wants. Have you assessed these relationships? They might be telling.
Another common complaint are mood changes- anger, irritability, sadness or anxiousness. If people have told you that you morph into a different person then there is something there to explore. Are you holding everything in and then using that time to give yourself “permission” to explode. What are you not expressing day to day?
I always urge women to look at the cyclical nature of their moods, and try to figure out what their minds and bodies are telling them. Maybe you need a diet change, a relationship change, need for more exercise, an emotional release, more yoga, meditation or reiki.
During the week before your menses and even into your period-your body, mind and soul naturally want to relax, renew and recharge. Even though you can’t see how much your reproductive organs are working, you have to believe that putting more stress on your body is not helping. Do not over exert yourself during this time and be sure to be extra loving and kind to yourself. Each menstrual cycle is designed to help you start new and fresh. Believe it or not, most post menopausal women come into my office saying how much they miss their menses. They didn’t realize how good it felt to be “cleansed”.
I want this blog to relay a simple message to you. Your menstrual symptoms are sending you a message that there is imbalance in your body and most likely your life. You are in control of your hormones and you are being called to make a change to help yourself.
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