I read a quote recently by Dr. Mark Hyman that read…
“Stress has become so widespread that we accept is as “normal” to have insomnia, digestive issues, and chronic anxiety. It’s clear that stress reduction needs to be part of our personal wellness routines as it can negatively impact our relationships and ability to perform at the top of our game.”
This really hit home for me. Not only do I feel like my body is in a constant state of stress, but I’ve had a number of health concerns over the last few months and even years. These include insomnia and having trouble falling asleep, digestive issues including irregular bowel movements, feeling cold ALL of the time and shivering quite often especially at night, increased anxiety and nervousness, along with Amenorreah (although I am 14.5 months postpartum and breastfed until 13.5 months). Plus, most recently, I’ve also been getting sick A LOT!… Like 2 weeks out of a month! And it seems my immune system has really taken a hit, regardless of how many supplements I take or health foods I consume.
I am on a mission to heal and want nothing more than to FEEL better, have more energy and be able to accomplish more throughout the day! Suffering does not have to be my “normal”. I know that being a Mama to a one year old takes it’s toll, so I can’t always get as much rest as I need, and I feel like the day-to-day can be stressful and chaotic. So, I am doing my best to rest more (even if that means going to bed when I put my Daughter to sleep), be kind to myself, and take time outs each day to just BREATH. In addition to this, I have started to investigate each issue further and tackle them one at a time.
First one being my Amenorreah (lack of a Menstrual Cycle).
I know it is normal to not get a cycle back while breastfeeding and since it’s only been one month since I weaned my Daughter completely, it might take a bit more time for my body to regulate. My biggest concern though, is that I had Amenorreah for years prior to getting pregnant via IVF. Being “infertile” was most likely caused by extreme dieting and over-exercising for a long period of time (which I write a lot about in previous posts). But now that I have had a healthy pregnancy and I’m at a healthy weight, I am hoping my body has been regulated and just want to know that it can function “normally” again.
One of the things I am doing to boost my cycle is taking Vitex, also known as Chasteberry or Agnus-castus. It’s an herbal and natural remedy which may help the pituitary gland to function normally by reducing prolactin levels. I have done a lot of research on this and although there are some mixed reviews, I thought I’d give it a try. I am taking for 25 days, 5 days off and plan to resume for 3 months or until I gain a cycle.
Another natural remedy is seed cycling which I began this month. This is a natural technique that may help your body re-balance it’s hormone levels (estrogen and progesterone) by rotating seeds in your diet during two phases of your menstrual cycle. Since I don’t have a cycle, I am following the Moon cycles. I am incorporating 2 tbsp of flax seeds and 2 tbsp of pumpkin seeds with the New Moon for 14 days, then switching to 2 tbsp sunflower seeds and 2 tbsp of sesame seeds everyday with the Full Moon for the next 14 days (and repeat!). I ground all seeds with a mini coffee grinder, only a couple days at a time so they stay fresh and add them to mini mason jars. I add to my morning oatmeal or afternoon smoothie. Again, there is no medical evidence or enough research to know if this will actually work, but I thought I’d give it a try and if anything, I am still going to benefit from the great nutrient benefits these seeds provide.
I will be posting my progress and also share how I plan to tackle insomnia, anxiety, digestion, and stress with natural remedies… so stay tuned!
Mama is on a mission to HEAL!
XO Stephanie
