FOUNDER FERTILITY NOTES
Reflections on fertility, health, and the human journey toward creating life.
Drawing from more than two decades of caring for people trying to build families, Dr. Spence Pentland shares observations, clinical insights, and ideas that reach beyond tests, treatments, and protocols.
These notes explore not only what we can do to support fertility, but who we may become along the way – offering perspective, direction, and a more human way to understand the fertility journey.
Beet Dip
Guest post by Krista A. Parr, R.H.N.
If the thought of dipping carrot sticks into a bowl of bright pink paste seems peculiar, I urge you to give beets a chance and try this dip! It is smooth, creamy, and surprisingly not overly ‘beety’ in the taste department. Of course, it is also ridiculously nutritious,
Going Head To Head with Morning Sickness
Guest post by Nikki Hurst RHN
Being pregnant is an amazing adventure, with an amazing ending. However, for those of you who are or might be experiencing morning sickness during those first three months, here are a few tips to help get your through this uncomfortable time.
Please note, while the term is coined “morning” sickness,
FREE TREATMENT FOR TEACHERS
#TeacherLove! Beat the Back-to-School STRESS with a complimentary acupuncture treatment at Yinstill (Vancouver or Surrey locations)! That’s right, if you are a teacher, simply call 604.873.9355 or email office@yinstill.com to book. But that’s not all – on top of receiving a free acupuncture treatment, we are also offering a free Blood Typing with our Dr.
Meet Dr. Fisher, Yinstill Clinical Manager…
We are so lucky to have such a great doctor at Yinstill. As clinical manager Dr. Harris Fisher ensures that all practice operations run smoothly and that each one of our doctors is doing all they can to maintain our premium service to the women and couples we see. The proof is in the results,
The IV Solution to Stress
Stress is inevitable in our day to day lives. The sooner we accept this simple fact, the sooner we can begin to take the right steps in mitigating the effects of stress on our body and mind. The problem with treatments and activities that claim to “reduce stress” is that stress, like pain, is perceived.
Sperm Health, Fertility and Food
The respected journal “Fertility and Sterility” published a significant study this month, relating to meat intake and how it is related to sperm quality and male fertility in conjunction with IVF. The study was focussed on couples undergoing infertility treatment with the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART), but I believe that these results are important for all men to consider as they move forward on their journey to grow/build their family.
Blueberry-Mint Smoothie
Guest Post by Krista A. Parr, R.H.N.
Fruit smoothies with greens are perfect for light summer snacks; they make use of all the garden-fresh ingredients available, are cooling to the body, and provide extra hydration. Adding lettuce greens to your fruit smoothies is a great way of including more green foods in your diet,
Strawberry-Lavender Chia Jam
Guest post by Krista A. Parr, R.H.N.
Hooray for strawberry season! If you’re like me and you bought a large basket at the farmer’s market and now find yourself in a race against time to use up all those beautiful berries before they go overripe and mushy, this is a recipe for you.
Sally’s Fertility Story…
“After two years of trying unsuccessfully to have a baby, I knew something was wrong. My periods had always been very irregular and I was frustrated because my family doctor would not refer me to a fertility specialist until we’d been trying for at least two years.
Finally, we were referred to the Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine (PCRM) and started on Clomid.
Complete Quinoa Salad
Guest Post by Nikki Hurst
Quinoa: a tiny ivory or red coloured seed packed full of nutrients having a very unique, nutty flavour. Did you know that quinoa is a complete protein? It’s also a great source of calcium and zinc, both of which are very important before and after conception. Use it in place of brown rice for a nutrient-flavour boost!
‘Qi’ Stagnation, not ‘cheese’ Stagnation
Chinese medicine can be difficult to decipher sometimes; the language and methods it uses only makes sense within the system itself and without any background knowledge it can be confusing and annoyingly esoteric. Imagine hearing these words from your Chinese medicine practitioner “Your kidneys are deficient” or “Your liver qi is stagnated” or “you are suffering from blood stasis and dampness in the lower jiao”.
Seasonal Fluctuations in Gene expression
A recent research study was published that has discovered there are seasonal variations in the activity of our DNA. This may sound absolutely obvious to those that feel different during each season have always had a favourite season in which they feel their best. We now have the scientific evidence that backs this up. The research team reviewed annual gene expression patterns from ethnically and geographically diverse populations and compared data from both northern and southern hemispheres as well as groups at the ecuador and those closer to the poles.
