Blog ~

Pelvic Health Will Open Your Heart

Blog, Herbal Wisdom, Hormone Health, Human Spirit

“I laid down to maintain connection with my uterus/sacral chakra, as you suggested -being that I haven’t connected with the self-care massage. I spiraled through a cycle of breaths with one hand on my sacral chakra, one on my heart. A few moments into this, I had an image of a magenta chrysanthemum blooming internally, where my uterus holds space. Instantaneously, tears started flowing. A few hours later, I started my bleed. I have no cramping. Something…”. ~words from a client.

When I began working directly with abdominal and pelvic health I knew that I was stepping into a powerful realm. I understood the benefits of abdominal care from a physiological view as that can be quite objective and measured. But it is in the unmeasurable and magical shifts that the body goes through when the unseen parts of us are accessed that the elusive path to opening one’s heart begins to appear. And most of those unseen parts live deep within the most sacred and misunderstood parts of our body. In my experience the root of your journey truly begins in the pelvic bowl as it houses your ideas about love, creation, sex, fear, shame, pleasure (doesn’t always mean sex) and communion. (And, to clarify, pelvic bowl/health is in reference to your reproductive organs physically and your first and second chakras energetically)

Most of us do not even think about our pelvic health as we were never taught about how we should feel about our pelvis. In fact, most of us were taught to not feel, to not talk and to not think too long about what happens in your pelvis as you may be considered “loose” or immoral. When we create stories and withhold education those feelings of fear, shame, guilt and more are born directly into the very part of us that the story is based. These dangerous messages are what I believe to be the basis for the amount of abuse (verbal and sexual) and the derogatory and harmful portrayal of sexuality in our society. I realize that this is very sensitive material but it is necessary to name what lurks in our dark places in order for our lives, our love and our hearts to blossom.

The pelvis, as mentioned, holds our reproductive organs- our sexual and creative function. If there has been trauma, surgery, dis-ease and other lifestyle/life-story factors that have affected our pelvis we will very likely have physical imbalances that manifest in sexual dysfunction, painful menstrual cycles, fertility issues, pelvic pain and more. These are all signs that your pelvic health is in need of attention and not necessarily the kind that takes a pill or an invasive surgery. We may also have a sense of imbalance in our relationship to “self”. This may show up in ways that you wouldn’t relate directly to your pelvic bowl. Do you ever feel like you cannot express what you know deep down in your heart? Do you have a “sense” that you know the reason you are having pain and imbalances but you do not know how to access the wisdom and strength to guide you?

By accessing the physical and energetic components in the very place that holds your ability to create, reproduce, connect sensually and feel pleasure, your heart center will naturally begin to open. You will begin to feel safe, grounded and more expressive in your body as new energy, blood, oxygen and nutrients can flow more freely. How do I know? I see it daily in my clients. I have taken the path and have witnessed an opening in myself that only comes from knowing your pelvis and her/his messages intimately.

What is Pelvic Health?

Physical:

Your periods are regular and easy
You know when you ovulate and feel juicy
You can easily maintain an erection
You have a healthy appetite for sex and can achieve orgasm
Your hips move without restriction and pain

Energetic:

Feeling grounded in your “sense of self” and with others
Being in touch with your sexuality and the ability to express your feelings
The ability to listen to your body’s cues without fear
Having access to your creativity
You trust the messages in your heart –then allow the mind to initiate the movement

How do I achieve pelvic health?

Beginning the journey into understanding your pelvic health may seem a bit daunting as it will stir emotions and possibly move you to shifting a paradigm of thought you have lived with as “true” for your entire life. If you are not ready to address the emotional piece, simply allow the physical benefits to do their work and the rest will follow for you. You will want guidance, you will need tools and you will have to be ready to commit to this path.

Maya Abdominal Massage. This non-invasive abdominal therapy is specific mostly to pelvic health and vitality. By addressing the reproductive organ positioning and stagnation you can begin to balance and nourish the pelvic bowl. (men also benefit)

Vaginal Steams: Vaginal steams are exactly what they sound like. You create a lustral steam of specific herbs, flowers, plants, sit over the steam and allow it to work its way up into your pelvic bowl softening the belly and the vaginal tissue. It is remarkable for painful menses and post partum care. In my practice I guide woman in how to do this simply at home. “it felt like a much needed ritual”- client

Sitz Baths: For those of you who do not have vaginas or are very sensitive, the sitz bath is quite therapeutic. Again, I like to use herbs and flowers in any bathing type practice I do. You can add salts and vinegar for additional cleansing. Simmer the herbs for a bit and then strain into your bath. Simply immerse your lower half in the bath of your concoction and warm water, sit for about 10 minutes, drain and finish with a quick cool bath.

Kundalini Yoga. This powerful practice works with specific breath techniques and movements to awaken life force energy at the base of the spine- or your kundalini. As this life force rises it moves stuck energy up and out of the body.

Herbs and flowers: My favorite all time herbs for the “pelvic bowl love” are hibiscus, rose and damiana. You can take them in tea form, bathe with them, buy the essences or essential oil and massage into your pelvic bowl. All three are for opening and nourishing love, libido and flow.

Female and Male Tonic: These tonics are from herbs harvested in the Belizean Rainforest with prayer and love. Each tonic is specific to clearing stagnation in the pelvic bowl. The Female Tonic has an added herb specifically for feminine insight. You can buy these at the Tummy Temple! (if you order online remember your 10% discount code: “Jamie” at checkout)

Embrace this month of LOVE to begin the journey of how healing your pelvic bowl will create the path to opening your big beautiful heart.

As always I would love to hear from you regarding your pelvic and abdominal health- or just to say hello.

With Love…

“Learn to Listen to Your Gut”

Because I LOVE You- February Specials

Give someone you love the gift of pelvic, belly and emotional health ($120) and you will receive $20 off a session for yourself.

Purchase a series (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) of 4 for only $320 (this waives initial session fee saving $40!)

Simply Contact Me for Details and Gift Certificates

Jamie@wellbellyhealing.com

Emotional Detox- Are you ready?

Blog

Wow, that was fast- a year gone by. I have learned and grown and blossomed in ways unexpected this year. I have worked hard on my health and well-being to be in a place where I feel safe and grounded enough in my body to tackle the next lessons ahead. Yes, many realizations, welcome and uncomfortable. I will forever be a student of the body’s wisdom but there are a few things I know to be absolute truth regardless of the ever changing somatic landscape.

The emotional body needs cleansing to create any lasting shift in your health
You cannot do it alone
Patience and persistence are the hardest and most necessary “pill to swallow”.

Hmmm… Emotional body?

“Let’s stop being afraid of our body and its reactions. Let’s allow ourselves to express our emotions. We mustn’t forget that emotions affect our physical body. Understanding this is a first step towards a better life.” – Jean- Pierre Barral

The body is a remarkable instrument responding every second to every sensation that comes in contact with it. It is constantly recording every movement, every bit of food and drink, every pleasure, every injury and every emotion. It is created to handle a certain amount negative “recordings” as we have a constant positive and negative charge circulating within us to maintain balance or homeostasis.

My Cranio Sacral teacher at Bastyr University a few weeks ago explained this positive/negative dance in relation to trauma and imbalances in the body. She simply said that when the body registers a sudden traumatic event those negative charges surge and sometimes overpower the body’s ability to balance itself positively. This negative “surge” then has nowhere to go and is trapped within our tissues. In cases of chronic and persistent stress and trauma, those negative signals are reinforced and those parts of our body begin to develop disease as their ability to balance and release has been impaired. (ok- are you following me?). In short, trauma, negative emotions and stress interrupt your body’s natural ability to bring balance to itself.

The parts of the body most effected are typically the abdomen and pelvis. Why? Your organ tissue is the most susceptible to emotional energy which is why you get butterflies in your stomach or the awful broken heart. (read more here). Also, it is now very well known that the body extends past its physical form into the energy or astral body represented by 7 chakra layers that start at the base of the sacrum and rise through our vertebrae and out the crown of our head. This is the basis of eastern metaphysical studies in Ayurvedic principles and is now being scientifically recorded and studied as a way to detect and heal illness in the body. Which is why when we address healing we must address energy. When our chakras are open and balanced we become highly in tune with the healing capacities of our body and our soul.

“Each Chakra is considered to resonate at a different frequency level. With new BioWell software, it is now possible to quantitatively estimate the energy of Chakras and graphically display their level of activation, and indicate whether this level of activation is above or below the level found from large numbers of subjects.” Dr. Pradeep B. Deshpande (1)

So, what does this mean really? It means that as you begin to address your health issues you may have to look at patterns, fears, stressors and trauma in your life- past and present. As mentioned these traumas are typically imbedded in our bellies and pelvic area as most everything sacred about who we are hits right in our center. Which is why I find that most of my clients have a trauma story. From the extreme- victims of abuse, abortions, miscarriages, loss of loved ones to the seemingly less severe but highly impactful such as -disordered eating, unhappy marriages, grief over never having children and life depleting jobs. This is not an easy subject to approach as it stirs fear and emotion. It also stirs truth- EVERY person deep down knows that this is where their energy got shut down, how their chakras became bound and where that golden nugget to begin their emotional detox lies. But, reversing these patterns and bringing that flow of energy and healing into your life doesn’t just happen alone- I know I have tried.

You Cannot Heal Alone

Yes, what a year and I would not be here, writing this to you if it weren’t for the many people who have inspired and guided me along the way. I didn’t come to this realization until it was forced upon me-by me. I did not want to look at my trauma or I thought “I know what to do” and tried incorporating my own unguided healing practices. I fell into a deeper hole as I felt a sense of failure and hopelessness. I hit bottom in the beginning of September, so I prayed- yes prayed. The message back to me was- “get help, your life and health depend on it”. In truth I always wanted help, but I lived behind excuses of not having enough money or time. We all have those excuses and stories and I hear it every day from clients. But, what is the point of living this incredible life if it is in pain- all the time and money in the world doesn’t matter then. And, when you truly begin to follow your path of deep healing, abundance shows up to help you- it’s just the way the Universe works.

So, I listened and I jumped in to the turbulent waters of my life and instead of drowning I was carried by those who showed up to keep me kicking and breathing and floating no matter how much fear weighed me down some days. My body has changed and something has shifted. My 20 year battle with digestive issues has taken a turn and my amazing emotions (haha) are revealing so many gifts. – (I would love to tell you more about what it took and I would love to hear from you below) Guidance, healers, bodywork and maybe a good doctor are all necessary and will shift your healing and your life. However, your path will not fully reveal itself and healing cannot take place unless you truly face the trauma that spurred the imbalance in the first place. And this may mean you leave a job, a relationship and a belief system you have held close all of your life. This will take time and work and support.

Patience, persistence and essential self-care tools for healing.

We live in a fast paced, results now society. All of the incredible advances have allowed us to live a bit longer, more conveniently and more “connected” to the world but so disconnected from ourselves. The last thing anyone wants to hear is that it might take time-a year or more even -to find peace and health within. Time- it goes by no matter what you do and you can either be in the same sick, tired, anxious and depressed state in a year or you can begin to emotionally detox and within one year you can arrive back into the YOU- you know is in there. With that being said, persistence in your process and some necessary tools will move you along your journey at a pace that may satisfy your fear around time and patience.

Emotional Detox Tools-Use Them.

Meditation. It changed my life. BUT, I have recently come to realize that the advice to just all of a sudden incorporate such a practice into a life in chaos is all wrong and intimidating. You will get to the point of being able to hold your own healing space and daily practice in time. But, in the beginning, as you are starting to heal, you need someone to take you into this space- again you need guidance. Take a mediation class, get a mentor or coach and just commit.
Journaling. Take account of your life. Talk to yourself. Befriend yourself and your feelings. What are you afraid of? Journaling can be intimidating. What do you write? Is it wrong? So much anger, fear and sadness may come out. You feel blank. I know- that’s the point. One word at a time. It can even be the same word over and over. You just need to start the conversation with yourself and eventually magic will flow out of you- I promise. If you need more structure Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” is one of the most well known creative writing and journaling programs around and it works.
Abdominal massage. Yes, you should be incorporating abdominal massage sessions into your journey as you need to feel your body and access those places that hold the layers of what is blocking you and those layers are usually in our belly. This also extends to self-care as you can learn at home abdominal massage to keep the connection between sessions. I also recommend giving yourself a good dry brush session every once in a while to literally shed some skin and move some energy.
Castor oil packs. Castor oil when applied liberally with heat will penetrate the visceral (organ) layers of the body helping to literally detox toxins and soften tissue to allow for more flow of vital nutrients, oxygen, blood and energy. You can get a kit here.
YOU. You are your greatest tool. Your body knows how to heal when you make the shift to commit to uncovering the deepest layers of your illness and imbalances. Get to the heart of yourself, embrace the journey of emotionally detoxing your body if you want to see a real shift in your health and your life.

Embrace this New Year as a chance to shift- to change- to heal. Use the whole entire year- I dare ya.

Learn to Listen to Your Gut

The 10 Best Things for Your Hormones This Year

Blog, Hormone Health, Human Spirit

Women’s hormones are a delicate and amazing rhythmic dance of communication and balance. Every month our bodies prepare for creation- it’s really a miracle. Each part of the monthly cycle has its own hormonal cues, associated physiological changes, emotions and needs. Unfortunately, so many woman aren’t educated enough in what their reproductive rhythms are telling them to realize that there is a wealth of knowledge about their health lying right in the pelvic bowl.

When you are balanced and in tune with your hormones and their messages you can actually begin to navigate your life with much more grace, creativity and power. You will understand what your body needs in regards to diet, exercise, stimulation and rest. Your emotions will no longer control your life- you will be in control of your life when you can distinguish hormone fluctuations and their signals from other emotions and imbalances in your body.

I realize that I may be painting a fantasy for those of you who have struggled with hormonal imbalances and painful periods most of your life. But you can tune in and change your relationship with your hormones. It does take work but anything worth doing does. As your hormones begin to balance it will all just become simple self-care (if you remember what that is). Give yourself the gift of this year as, depending on what state your hormones are in, these changes can take time.

The 10 Best Things for Your Hormones

Stop Birth Control Pills~ (even if it is just for 3 months to see how your body responds). For those of you who follow me you know how I feel about hormonal birth control. Many women take hormonal birth control to ease PMS and menstrual symptoms. You may feel better but I guarantee you that until you address the reason your hormones were a mess in the first place you will not get better. In fact other symptoms that you may not even relate to hormones may start to emerge- like digestive problems, fatigue and joint pain. Coming off of birth control is a very personal decision and you will need guidance and support to get your body balanced. This journey is worth the short term learning curve and discomfort.

Fix Your Digestion~ You will hear it again and again for good reason “it all starts in the gut”. Without proper absorption of nutrients and elimination of toxins your body’s hormonal cues will be thrown off. Your liver plays a vital role in breaking down hormones to be carried out in our waste control systems. If you cannot rid your body of the excess hormones floating around then that delicate feedback loop gets confused. Did you know that estrogen reduces gut motility? Then there is the issue of gut permeability and malabsorption (aka leaky gut) so nutrients aren’t getting broken down and instead entering your system in a way that puts stress on the body. This constant stress eventually causes hormonal imbalance and in many cases adrenal issues.

Switch Over to Organic~ There are so many opinions out there around if organic is necessary or some overpriced food fad. When it comes to your hormones organic matters. The chemicals, antibiotics and pesticides used in non-organic, commercially grown and processed foods have xenoestrogens in them creating an estrogen-like overload on your system. Your liver also takes a hard hit as it tries to process all of the toxins you are consuming. Most important to have organic is your meat, all greens, roots, berries and anything with a thin skin. It is a wonder why our young women are starting their menses as early as 8 years old.

De-estrogenize Your Home~ So you begin to clean up the inside with better foods but you are still drenching yourself and your home in chemicals and, yes again, xenoestrogens. Your skin is your largest organ and absorbs everything it comes into contact with. The beauty products you use contain large amounts of chemicals to allow them to stay soft, shiny, smooth, liquidy and fresh. A UK study showed that women who use makeup absorb 5 pounds of extra chemicals into their body per year! The major culprits: phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfates, all parabens, anolamines (DEA, TEA, MEA), petroleum (bye bye vasoline). Again, less is best. Simple coconut oil has many uses. And, there is amazing natural makeup on the market now. Just as important are your household cleaning products. There are many DIY sites for amazing cleaning products. Baking soda and white vinegar both do wonders for almost anything.

Have More Orgasms~ See there is a silver lining to fixing your hormones. Sex is very good for you. And, I mean the safe and enriching kind with someone you really connect with. We are talking about the reproductive system and in order to spark that reproducing nature you need to fuel the fire a bit. No partner? Creating that intimate connection with yourself is very nuturing and is necessary to have a healthy relationship with your hormones. Did you know orgasms reduce stress?- of course you did.

Get 3-4 Maya Abdominal Therapy sessions~ The reason I became a Certified Arvigo Maya Abdominal Practitioner was from personal experience in the transformation these sessions created in connecting me with my feminine side, my hormonal rhythms and deepening my self-love. The abdomen is a gateway to so many layers emotionally and physiologically especially when it involves our sexual/reproductive functioning. By engaging the energy and addressing any misalignments and stagnation of the uterus and other abdominal organs we can begin to re-awaken the body’s natural ability to heal. Read more…

Connect with Nature~ There is a Japanese term, shinrin-yoku, that means “forest bathing”- yes please!. Women are rhythmic beings as we cycle with the moon and the Universal tides. Throughout history women have traditionally been the healers in tribes and villages creating healing concoctions from Mother Earth’s treasures. It is our calling to connect to nature and root into her magic. Nature is also a natural anti-depressant as it pulls stress off the body. It doesn’t take much- even 5 minutes of noticing a flower, tree and sunset is a start.

Drink Nettle Tea~ You all know I love my nettle infusions. Nettle is a super food in my opinion as it is full of minerals and iron (more than spinach and most all leafy greens). It has a variety of uses, but most important here is its use a reproductive tonic. It helps alleviate PMS and menopausal symptoms and I find it works wonders for women with fibroids due to its effects on inflammation. It also nourishes the kidneys and supports liver detoxification. I like to make infusions as I feel the fresh dried herb is the best quality, and I also just prefer to make my own “medicine” when I can. You can get nettle in tincture and capsule form if being an at-home herbalist is too daunting.

Dance~ Inside all of us is a dancer. I have seen the magic of dance transform women of all ages as I join my BaDi class here in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood a few times per week. You do not have to be professional, or even have much rhythm. Moving your hips and expressing your innermost passions, desires and emotions will surely have an effect on your female rhythms. Try belly dancing, NIA, a beginning ballet class or an ecstatic dance class. If you commit to dancing your divine feminine will surely awaken.

Sleep~ A study conducted by MedScape Neurology showed that restricted sleep, meaning 6.5 hours or less per night, reduced thyroid function and growth hormone and increased evening cortisol. Increased cortisol alone will result in reproductive hormone imbalance not to mention your body’s ability to manage insulin and blood sugar levels. We need to rest and repair every system in the body and it is imperative that if you are dealing with hormonal imbalance and daily fatigue that you get at least 7-8 hours of shut eye per night. Turn off the Facebook and shut down your brain at least 30 minutes before you go to bed. Your life and your hormones literally depend on this.

A year flies by and to think that if you had only started even a little of this journey in your hormone health last year where you would be now. Have this be the year your hormonal symphony gives you a rhythm you can really groove to.

As always- I am here for you… Get a little guidance with a 30 Minute Power Session (January only)– SUPER NEW YEAR SPECIAL

Learn to Listen to Your Gut

Adrenal Fatigue? ~How it affects your gut and hormone health.

Blog, Digestion, Hormone Health

Adrenal fatigue seems to be all the buzz lately. It makes sense that integrative and now allopathic doctors are looking at our adrenal system as a source of the many complaints clients/patients have today. Our adrenals, simply put, manage how our body responds to stress and uses energy and balanced energy is necessary for EVERY function in the body. This is why, in my experience personally and with clients, I think it necessary to address adrenal health before, or in conjunction with, your hormone, gut and metabolic restoration protocols.

I have had many health issues surrounding shut down and dysfunction of my hormone and gut health. I have pulled myself out of hypothalamic amenorrhea into easy menstrual cycles and now seem to be turning a major corner in my digestion. I believe this major recent shift is due to my diligent work on my mind/body/soul, but mostly because I finally learned how MY adrenals were functioning.

Before this shift it seemed that even with all of the protocols I had done with self- assessment and administration of supportive herbs for energy, I was not getting over a major hump. Yes, I had my period but it was still a bit uncomfortable. Yes, I had a bowel movement every day but they were very underwhelming and incomplete. Even with these improvements I was exhausted every day, my brain fog and concentration bordered on dementia and my emotional state was very rocky.

What Adrenal Fatigue Looks Like

Overall fatigue throughout the day. You can’t regain energy post workout and getting out of bed is a struggle.
Brain fog. You are forgetting even small common words, major events and an overall “umm, I know the information is in there but my mind just went blank”.
Sleep is disturbed. You light up with energy post 9pm and wake around 3am all abuzz.
Your eating is erratic. You crave salt, (I would say sweets also but salt craving is a big clue). You want to eat everything and then you have no appetite.
Your hormones are all over the place. Mostly adrenal fatigue will result in diminished reproductive hormone function.
Your digestion is underwhelming.
Your immune system struggles. You get more colds and just feel like you are always fighting a little something.
You have very low blood pressure. Do you get dizzy when you stand?

Note that the list sounds like so many other diagnoses and dysfunctions- especially like thyroid dysfunction. Remember, the adrenals manage your stress response and energy. Hormones, glands and organs need energy to function and communicate- thyroid is a gland and a hormone. Again, this is why addressing your adrenal health is vital if you have hormone, gut and metabolic issues.

How Adrenals Work

For the purpose of this article I won’t get to deep into the adrenal system as it is complex. You can easily google HPA axis and adrenal function. But simply put, the adrenals are walnut size glands that sit atop your kidneys. They have an outer cortex and an inner medulla. The cortex produces a variety of hormones- most familiar is cortisol. We all know that cortisol under and overproduction can lead to major metabolic issues. The medulla controls your flight or fight system through epinephrine and norepinephrine. The adrenals literally communicate with every function in your body.

How to Heal the Adrenals (and your gut, hormones, metabolism)

Sleep. You need it, you don’t get it and it is necessary for every function. You will not regain adrenal health completely without shutting down your computer by 10pm and in bed 30 mins later. Take naps.
Proper diet. A diet rich in a variety of organic, high quality foods is necessary- this means fats, proteins and balanced carbohydrates. Sugar, caffeine and alcohol are adrenal killers. You also must get enough calories so that your body doesn’t go into stress mode thinking that it is starving.
Limit your exercise. Walking and yoga are really all you need at this time. As you begin to heal you will really be able to tune in and gauge your daily energy capacity- it is a beautiful thing.
There are some simple herbs that nourish the adrenals- ashwaganda, licorice, ginseng and rhodiola are a few.
Adding high quality electrolytes like this to your diet really helps. The adrenals NEED salt and balanced electrolytes to function. They also help the kidneys manage the water balance in the body- you need adequate sodium levels for this.

These lifestyle practices are sometimes enough to bring people back. I always try to use food and lifestyle first before suggesting supplementation. However, in most cases of adrenal fatigue people have been in this state for so long that other measures are necessary- this was me.

How I Turned the Corner into Adrenal Balance

Like I mentioned I was stuck in a little trap of trying to self-assess and self-administer before I finally began to feel better and really heal my adrenals. First step is to get a salivary cortisol test with an ND (Naturopathic doc). This information is invaluable in understanding where your dips in energy are throughout the day. It will also measure other hormones that can give you great insight. When I received my results and discovered my morning cortisol was low it was a game changer.

Next is to majorly nourish the adrenals. The steps above are necessary as a part of your adrenal health but typically not enough like I said. I began taking a product called Cytozyme- AD from Biotics Research. I am always nervous when supplementing for hormone and gland health as the system is so delicate. But, taking a glandular made sense to me as it is literally tissue feeding tissue.

I took it in the morning only as that was when my adrenals needed most nourishment. In a matter of 2 days I gained a sense of vitality that I have really never felt. Almost every adrenal symptom I was feeling had/has been alleviated. I still have days when I feel my adrenals being pushed as the hole I was in was deep. I do have to sleep well, eat well and love myself daily- forever. But having the clouds lift a bit makes all of the self-care not only easier but something that is becoming a way of life. When you have energy for your life you are able to make the choice to nourish your every aspect of being.

The Moral of the Story?

Your body is an amazing and delicate machine that needs energy to thrive.
You can feel better.
Knowledge is power.
Sometimes you need a little help. Do NOT do it alone- get help from a health professional.
I know- I have been there- I can help.

As the holidays approach managing stress is at an all time high. Not to mention the craziness of the food-party-drink-lack of sleep cycle. You NEED help. I am running a 30 minute Power Coaching Special. You will receive guidance in one- two major areas to help you feel supported. If you have never had the support from a Holistic Health Coach this is a great way to see if my program is right for you. Click HERE to schedule.

If you order products through the links above I thank you as it supports this site. Remember to use “Jamie” for a discount at the check out for any Tummy Temple orders.

Want to dive in a bit deeper?

Head over to the Adrenal Fatigue Solution and download the amazing “Adrenal Fatigue Solution” e-book. It is an incredibly informative and accurate read on how to address your adrenal health.

Got Bone Broth? (And-my secret ingredients for ultimate nourishment)

Blog, Digestion, Foods For Thought

Bone broth has always been a staple in ancient traditions for deep nourishment and healing. We all know that “chicken soup is good for the soul” and its healing properties for your upset tummy and runny nose have been used by your mother, grandmother, great grandmother and way beyond. However, the healing properties of the soup lie within the proper cooking of the bones to make a medicinal broth- not from a can or from the store.

Benefits of Bone Broth

Full of minerals and essential amino acids
Enhances digestion and helps heal the gut
Increases immunity
Strengthens all tissues in the body due to its high collagen content (it’s kinda like natural Botox for your entire body)
Reduces overall inflammatory response in the body

I have been making bone broth for years and immediately notice how nourished my body feels when I add it to my daily diet. In fact, I am currently doing a kind of “bone broth cleanse” to heal my gut, give my digestive system a rest without compromising nourishment and protect me from all the viruses going around. I have seen the benefits in myself and others almost immediately through the appearance of skin and joint mobility due to the effects of the collagen/gelatin intake (gelatin is the broken down cooked form).

Collagen/gelatin is a protein molecule that is responsible for our connective tissue strength, mobility and suppleness. It contains some very essential amino acids-specifically glycine and proline-that have been shown to heal the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and have systemic anti-inflammatory effects. Studies have also shown that adding traditional foods like bone broth to your diet is essential in receiving the proper balance of all the essential amino acids that come from consuming varied parts of an animal. Our modern Paleo, high protein diets consist of the cleaned up and pretty muscle meat only part of the animal; this explains the eating of chicken feet and pig’s ears in many parts of the world- I prefer bone broth.

Glycine and Proline

Reduce stressors on the body
Can improve sleep through natural calming and balancing effects.
Regulate hormones in the body by supporting proper neurotransmitter response.
Assist in proper cleansing of the liver (necessary for phase 2 detoxification- another blog and time)
Help break down proteins for creating healthy and new muscle cells
Manage cholesterol by preventing excess build up

A generous supply of glycine/gelatin, against a balanced background of amino acids, has a great variety of anti-stress actions. When only the muscle meats are eaten, the amino acid balance entering our blood stream is the same as that produced by extreme stress.- Glycine is recognized as an “inhibitory” neurotransmitter, and promotes natural sleep. ~ Ray Peat

In additional to the amazing benefits, bone broth is a wonderful staple in your kitchen for soups, stews and adding a little healthy and flavorful liquid to your every day cooking. Making bone broth is extremely easy and makes the house smell incredible.

Choosing the Right Bones

The ideal broth will have a very “jello-like” consistency when cool. Some broths come out very clear and liquid but are still full of beneficial minerals; it all depends on the bones you choose and how you cook your broth. When seeking the most collagen/gelatin think of the parts of the animal that contain the most cartilage. Then decide if you prefer chicken, beef, pork or even fish for your flavor. I currently am loving beef broth.

Beef: Knuckle bones with some marrow bones
Chicken: Whole carcass especially joints
Fish: Whole body- especially head.

It is also VERY important that you get your bones from a natural/organic animal source. I simply go early to my Farmer’s market, as the bones go fast, or ask the butcher at my local grocer. Many grocers this time of year will also stock bones in the freezer for people making broth for their holiday meals.

The Recipe

All you need is a Crock Pot or stove top pot that can hold heat and simmer for up to 2 days. However, this requires you leave your stove on so I highly recommend a crock. I purchased mine at Goodwill for $5- childhood memories included.

Bones- (roughly 2 lbs or 1-2 chicken carcasses depending on size)
Veggies- I add carrots, celery, parsley and onion. I chop them only to fit in the pot and leave all stalks on. This all gets filtered out at the end.
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar. This helps leach the most minerals from the bones. Some people add wine in addition.
And- this is where the medicine comes in- 1/4-1/2 ounce dried reishi and kombu and 1 ounce of nettle. I also add things like burdock root and whatever my body craves like ginger or a cinnamon stick for a different flavor.

Simply put the bones and your other ingredients in the pot and fill with enough filtered water to just cover by an inch. You can roast the beef bones for more flavor but not necessary. Bring the broth to a low simmer and leave simmering for: 24 hours if cooking chicken and 48 hours for beef. When the broth is finished cooking strain to remove all bones and vegetables as they won’t have any taste left in them. There will be a layer of fat that forms at the top as the broth cools- you can use it in cooking or just discard. Add salt to taste.

As mentioned your broth should have a gelatin consistency when cool. Use it in all of your cooking and soup making. Use it as a nourishing tonic between meals or as a meal replacement when giving your body and belly a digestive rest- you will be surprisingly satiated from a cup of broth.

Don’t Have Time for Broth?

Well, there are few things that compare but this product here is absolutely incredible and dissolves in water without odor or taste. It comes from a very pure animal source and is a complete profile of the amino acid benefits of collagen/gelatin.

If you are lucky enough to live in the Seattle area there is a little company called Marrow and Root where chef and creator Jamie Hartung makes the most nourishing and delicious bone broth I have had away from my own (sans secret ingredients). The broths come in a beautiful mason jar sealed with ingredient listing and lots of love. She would love to take your order via phone: 206-948-0397

Please share your recipes and tips for your own broth. And, as always I am here to guide you…

“Learn to Listen to Your Gut”

What Your Doctor Doesn’t Tell You (or know) About Birth Control Pills

Blog, Hormone Health, Hypothalamic Amenorrhea

Birth control (BC) and family planning is a very personal journey and decision that I honor in every client I work with around the topic. With that said however, I have a strong opinion on the use of prescription medications for imbalances without total and full education around all options and potential side effects. Yes, birth control pills are a medication. Yes they have side effects. YES there are other options to consider like FAM (fertility awareness method) and various barrier methods. Yes your hormones are out of balance and you feel like total crap- NO this is not a birth control pill deficiency.

My opinion, research and passion around educating women in this area began when I was 30 (omg that makes me sound so old- ahem). For a few months I had been feeling “off”. Not just my usual kinda crazy, all over the place self- this was different. My emotional state was absolutely intolerable and I could not figure out what had flipped. I ran to a doctor in the middle of my workday as I literally could not deal with myself one more moment. This was not my preferable choice of care as I was nervous about his 10 minute assessment, but I was desperate and he had an appointment. After losing it in his office he wrote me a prescription for Paxil. I hate meds, but didn’t care. I took the Paxil and in 3 weeks time I had not only fallen apart even more- I now felt numb and lifeless.

I finally went to an ND for a full assessment. She asked me a series of amazing questions- actually listening. After hearing everything the one question that really hit home was “why are you on birth control pills?” I was tongue tied and confused. “Isn’t everyone on BC?!”- “I just am and always have been”- “I don’t really know anymore as my partner and I are apart”. What happened next may be too much for some of you but I am all about full disclosure.

I stopped taking BC just like that. Within 2 weeks my head cleared and I began to feel this sense of myself that I hadn’t in years. But, then came the layers of what a medication does to your system… I broke out into a full fungal/yeast infection from mid thigh to my navel. Everything I ate bothered my belly and manifested through more outbreak. No matter how much I tried to calm the itching and craziness nothing would work. I began to research my symptoms and what I discovered was I had gone into a healing crisis due to my gut trying to repair itself after the years of birth control pills disrupting my gut lining. The yeast and fungus finally cleared but the effects of BC remained for years to come adding to my struggle with hypothalamic amenorrhea.

The BC pill is a relatively new medicine only making its official debut in the 60’s as an approved contraceptive method. It was originally only prescribed for intense dysmenorrhea (painful menses) before being allowed to be used as a contraceptive method. It is the most studied medication in history and carries a legacy of controversy around a woman’s right to choose how she manages her reproductive health. The original formulas were pulled from the market as they were highly carcinogenic. New formulas were developed and now over 150 million women world wide take BC pills.

Lately it seems that almost every client I work with has concern over her use of BC pills and is quite frustrated at her lack of guidance from her doctor. Most of them originally started taking BC pills for painful and irregular periods and acne. The clients still on BC complain of a sense of disconnect from their body. Those recently off the pill realize that not only have their imbalances not gone away but they are left with some serious side effects. All that I ask is that we tell our women the truth around the BC pill…

The problem is that so many women today use hormonal contraception for the wrong reason: to mask the symptoms of an underlying hormonal issue. According to a 2011 study by the Guttmacher Institute… 58 percent of women use hormonal birth control for purposes other than preventing pregnancy.

The TRUTH About Birth Control Pills

The BC pill does NOT help your hormonal imbalances. It only addresses symptoms through a synthetic, “masking”, action on your reproductive system. The original imbalance is still there quietly running in the background. I see women with symptoms of adrenal burnout and thyroid imbalance who cannot seem to find relief as their hormonal symphony is bound in the BC pill never allowing for a true read on what is really taking place in the body.

BC pills destroy the beneficial bacteria in your gut. They are a medication. And, like most medications they break down the integrity of the gut lining allowing a proliferation of yeast and digestive disturbances to take place.

Long term use can contribute to fertility challenges? I put a question mark because some research says yes and some says no. (It depends on who is conducting the study) The concern is we don’t know. The BC pill is so new to our recent generations that the long term impact on reproductive health and the impact on our children’s health is really unknown. I would say that if you are one of the 58% taking the pill for hormonal and skin issues, then the likelihood that you have difficulty conceiving post pill could be high as a hormonal imbalance is going to cause some fertility challenges. Fertility challenges are on the rise and a relatively new issue compared to our mothers and grandmothers; we don’t know why. Many women come off the pill and conceive within a month to a year. Many women come off the pill and have long term issues and loads of regret.

Not having your period is NOT healthy. Many BC pills now stop your period. Your body was designed to create life and each month is a beautiful ritual of building, bursting and shedding. Through out history women have used their cycle as a way to tune into their creativity and intuition. The period is a beautiful release for the body and the spirit- to shed what needs to go so that new energy can grow. Also, having a regular period is a sign of vitality. Even after women stop the pill 5-10% do not resume a period for a very long time only to begin very irregular periods. No period is no good.

The BC pill can increase cancer risk. The pill and cancer is a 2 sides of the same coin issue. In 2005 a group of scientists from the WHO (World Health Organization) pointed to the pill as increasing the risk of cervical, breast and liver cancer. However, the pill can lower the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer. I believe that a healthy, balanced, pill free body is your best defense against all disease.

Other Side Effects Worth a Mention:

Weight gain and bloating
Low libido
Mood Swings
Blood clotting issues
High blood pressure
Decreased bone density setting you up for osteoporosis and fracture

So What Do You Do Now!?

So you’ve had it with feeling disconnected and unsure of your decision to take BC pills for so many years. You want to tackle your hormone issues and be in tune with your body but you don’t want to get pregnant right now and still be able to have wild passionate sex with your love.

First you want to work with someone who can help guide you through this decision and support you around nourishment and lifestyle choices that help transition the body off of the pill. The body is resilient but will need a good gut rebuild protocol, liver support and hormone friendly foods that help establish a hormonal rhythm.

Next you want to learn how to tune into your cycle and understand the cues around when your body can and cannot conceive. Sounds scary and difficult I know. Good news- couples that work together to understand the rhythms of the woman’s body not only have great success in preventing pregnancy they find that their bond is stronger and the woman’s body becomes a bit juicier. Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) and barrier methods such as contraceptive foam and the diaphragm are highly effective when used properly and with great awareness. I always recommend using a condom during transition time until you, your body and your partner all sync up with your cycle. Eventually, in monogamous and supportive relationships, FAM alone will be easy and worth the work. Working with someone to help you tune into your cycle and begin understanding FAM is very beneficial. These books (here and here) are also VERY informative and I can’t imagine any woman not owning one.

The data show that in women who are ideal users-who use the method (FAM) correctly every time- barrier methods and even FAM can be 95-98% effective.

If all you desire is convenience and tuning into your rhythms and working on your hormones sounds like an addition to the pile of daily stress, I do hope this article made you think just a bit and I still honor your decision. I am here for questions regardless of where you are at.

As I said earlier, how women manage their reproductive livelihood is a very personal journey. I don’t think any woman would agree that a system that severs our natural rhythms, causes severe short and long term side effects, mostly removes the burden from their male partners to learn about the female body and take any contraceptive responsibility is a great leap in reproductive health and freedom. I do think, however, that we would all agree that there are cases in which birth control pills offer a positive solution. There will always be controversy on the tails of something that alters the chemistry of a system that produces life and creativity. Knowledge is power and puts the freedom back in the hands of our women- you decide.

Learn to Listen to Your Gut

Resources:

Northrup,C, M.D. Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom. 2010- Random House
Vitti, A. Woman Code. 2013- Harper Collins
Nikolchev, A. “A Brief History of the Birth Control Pill”. 2010 PBS.org
Gates, D. “The Dangers Every Woman Needs to Know About the Birth Control Pill”. 2008 bodyecology.com

Blog

What is Pelvic Health?

How do I achieve pelvic health?

Because I LOVE You- February Specials

Hmmm… Emotional body?

You Cannot Heal Alone

Patience, persistence and essential self-care tools for healing.

Emotional Detox Tools-Use Them.

Learn to Listen to Your Gut

The 10 Best Things for Your Hormones

Learn to Listen to Your Gut

What Adrenal Fatigue Looks Like

How Adrenals Work

How to Heal the Adrenals (and your gut, hormones, metabolism)

How I Turned the Corner into Adrenal Balance

The Moral of the Story?

Benefits of Bone Broth

Glycine and Proline

Choosing the Right Bones

The Recipe

Don’t Have Time for Broth?

The TRUTH About Birth Control Pills

Other Side Effects Worth a Mention:

So What Do You Do Now!?

Learn to Listen to Your Gut

Words from the past.