Blog Post Archives

The Stress and Infertility Connection

We often hear that stress can contribute to fertility difficulties – some couples can try for years, with no success and it’s when they are not actively trying that somehow pregnancy occurs.

Why does this happen? What is the connection between stress and infertility?

That answer is hormones!

Female hormones, specifically cortisol and progesterone are the two hormones that are responsible for dealing with stress and for maintaining a healthy pregnancy,

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My Endometriosis

Moninder Chana / Endometriosis

As a TCM practitioner, I think it is important that patients know they are not alone. I hope that sharing my story with you will encourage you to seek support and look for alternative treatments, if are needing them.

In high school, I began experiencing heavy and painful periods. I had no idea that the start of “womanhood” was going to change my life in ways I couldn’t even imagine. My young self thought the idea of bleeding out every month sounded horrific and unnecessary,

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How to be active in the Winter to Spring transition

Adrienne / Diet & Nutrition, Lifestyle

Spring has officially sprung here on the West Coast and it couldn’t be fresh and lovely outside. Spring is the time of rejuvenation, rebirth, and the revitalization of all things in nature.

In Chinese medicine, physical movement is essential for health as it is in this time where movement should begin once again after the cold hibernation of winter. This transition from winter to spring is the biggest transition our bodies take out of all the seasons.

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How to naturally help seasonal allergies

admin / Diet & Nutrition, Lifestyle, Self-Care

Winter is finally over and the warmth of Spring is upon us. The fresh morning breeze, the flowers in full bloom, the birds chirping and the trees showing off their new greenery brings us all tears of joy, or is it tears from all the pollen in the air? For some Spring is the season of growth and renewal while for some others it is the season of allergies resulting in watery, itchy eyes, constant nasal dripping,

How to naturally help seasonal allergies Read More »

Getting to the root of PMS

Erin / PMS, Women's Health

What is PMS?

Most women I have worked with over the years “know” when their period is coming. Some experience a change in their mood, have bloating or sore breasts, develop acne, have abdominal cramping, or a change in their bowels. Some unfortunate women have all of these things, and more.

Today it is estimated that 3 out of every 4 menstruating women will experience at least once in their lives some form of physical or emotional changes after ovulation happens until the menses begins,

Getting to the root of PMS Read More »

PCOS & infertility yinstill reproductive wellness

Acupuncture Alters Sugar Metabolism & Gene Expression in PCOS

Dr. Spence Pentland / Genetics, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Recent research published in the journal NATURE concluded that low-frequency electroacupuncture with muscle contractions remodels epigenetic and transcriptional changes that elicit metabolic improvement[1]. In other words, after ONE electro-acupuncture treatment the authors reported a increase in whole body glucose (sugar) uptake, changes in the expression of over 2300 genes and changes in DNA methylation in over 7000 individual genes in the adipose (fat) tissue of women with PCOS.

So if ONE acupuncture treatment can manifest these kinds of changes in the sugar metabolism and fat tissue of women with PCOS,

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Surrendering to yourself, one breath at a time

admin / In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Support, Miscarriage & Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Self-Care, Stress and Infertility, Unexplained Infertility

Giving back to your body after suffering loss is one of the most empathetic and compassionate things you can do for yourself. The energy that is put into trying to conceive whether it be naturally or with an IUI or IVF cycle, the financial resources, anticipation and unfortunately sometimes the result we didn’t expect, can be a hard hit to the soul.

Picking yourself up after this point in the journey can be another expression of caring for your spirit.

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Progesterone and Yang: A TCM Perspective

Erin / In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Support, Women's Health

Progesterone, also known as P4, is a reproductive hormone involved in the menstrual cycle. Influencing what is known as the “luteal phase”, it helps prepare the uterine lining for implantation. If implantation does occur, progesterone helps maintain the integrity of the endometrium, helping to secure the new pregnancy. It also plays a role in the development of an embryo.

Where does progesterone come from?

The first half of the menstrual cycle is referred to as the “follicular phase”.

Progesterone and Yang: A TCM Perspective Read More »

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Marni Ross / Diet & Nutrition, General Health, Lifestyle, Self-Care, Women's Health

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Food to Include
Food to Avoid

Fruit

Eat only 1 or 2 pieces of any of the following fruits a day and try and to eat mostly lower carbohydrate fruits (3 or 6%):

3% – cantaloupe, strawberries, melons, blueberries, raspberries, lemons and limes

6% – apriocts, blackberries, papaya, peaches, plus, kiwi

15%- apples, cherries, grapes, mangoes, pears, pineapple, pomegranate

20% – bananas, figs, prunes or any other dried fruit

Fruit

grapefruit and oranges

Veggies

It is best to try to eat mostly the low carbohydrate vegetables (3 or 6%):

3% –

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Inflammation: What it does to you and how can your diet help

Marni Ross / Diet & Nutrition, General Health, Lifestyle, Women's Health

Inflammation: What it does to you and how can your diet help

The inflammatory response that is triggered in our bodies is necessary to help fight infection and is useful in the short term as it is part of the immune response. When the inflammatory reaction continues after an infection is gone it can cause many health problems. Chronic inflammation may be the common factor in many diseases such as diabetes, coronary artery disease and some autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis,

Inflammation: What it does to you and how can your diet help Read More »