By Dr. Tracy Brobyn
We women live a substantial chunk of our lives at the mercy of biological cycling. Why am I late? Did I remember to throw a tampon in my purse? And finally, the dreaded….do my teenage daughter and I have our periods at the same time and if so, will the men in the house survive it? In truth, all humans live through cycles whether it’s the seasons or the gravitational pull on our Earth from the moon. However, as women, biological cycling becomes so much a part of our lives that it can only be described as both miraculous as well as irritating. That’s why, when our cycles stop for any prolonged period, it sets off a major alarm in our brains and in the absence of pregnancy or menopause, it should.
What is often overlooked, is that our menstrual cycles are connected to our psyche, energy and any other challenges our body must face at any given time. That means if we aren’t getting enough sleep, we are under significant stress, we are either ill or not getting enough calories; our brains may decide it’s not a good time to get pregnant and shut down our cycles temporarily. Temporary loss of cycling in response to such stressors is a normal biological process. But what if we lose our cycles for longer periods of time, also known as amenorrhea. Why does this sometimes happen and what can we do about it?
Menstrual cycling is a result of the delicate dance between the brain and the ovaries with hormones acting as the messengers between the two. This dance can be disrupted by many factors but one of the most prevalent in our technological 21st century is toxins. Toxins range from heavy metals in our air and water, to pesticides/weed killers in our food to any number of hormonal disruptors in the general environment such as the so-called “forever chemicals” known as perflurorocarbons. Add to that list plastics including BPA. Perflurorocarbons are particularly interesting because not only do they disrupt menstruation, but menstruation itself acts as a detox mechanism for these chemicals. Amenorrhea is therefore not only a consequence of these chemicals but adds insult to injury by reducing the body’s ability to eliminate them.
Detoxification can be a powerful mechanism to re-establish communication between the brain and the ovaries. In our practice, we use natural detox mechanisms such as cilantro (like the parsley) or chlorella (the active ingredient found in seaweed) to clean out the body’s systems. We may use chelating medication if there is a need for it. Ionic foot baths can also play a role in detoxification. Patients can help themselves detox through additional means such as Epsom salt baths and saunas.
Most detox mechanisms, including medication, bind to toxins. The body then eliminates the bound toxin through sweat, stool or urine but stool is the most important mechanism. That means the patient needs to have regular bowel movements to successfully detox. Maintaining a normal GI tract filled with healthy and helpful bacteria now becomes critical to re-establish menstrual cycling. Looking at food sensitivities (for example, gluten intolerance) is an important factor in maximizing GI health and subsequent fertility. Additionally, menstrual function is highly reliant on good sleeping habits so that also becomes a large focus on the treatment of any patient who presents with these issues.
Once communication has been restored, the body needs energy to set the network back in motion. Acupuncture, with its ability to be directed at specific regions of the body, acts nicely in this capacity. . Energy blockage to the body’s hormonal circuitry can also be jump started through an injection process known as neural therapy. One particularly important focus of this therapy is the pituitary gland, which acts as the conductor of this amazing network of communication . This multifactorial approach to cycle dysfunction emphasizes the role all body systems play in our overall health, of which reproduction is just one part. If you are having menstrual issues, irregular cycles or even no cycles, consider using the holistic approach we take at The Chung Institute. In most cases, we can get her back!
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