Women’s reproductive health is a big issue. It is relevant
not only when it comes to breast cancer, but how we feel – all
day, every day. Women’s reproductive health is all about
hormones. Our hormones influence our thoughts, our feelings and
our perceptions.
Here are four things
most people don't know about women's reproductive health.
Women’s
reproductive health is directly linked to their digestive health! This is a really important point. Women are
twice as likely to have slow digestion. The reasons why are
not clear and may vary
from person to person. If you only do one thing to move toward
better health, start with regulating your digestion.
From a holistic perspective, women’s reproductive health
is very dependent on digestive function and in order to regulate
hormones, the digestion MUST be working well.
When the body is getting rid of excess estrogen, it goes out
through the bowels.
Excess estrogen is associated with fibroids, endometriosis,
breast pain, fibrocystic breasts and breast cancer. If the
bowels are
not moving well, the estrogen gets reabsorbed and has to go
thru the system all over again.
If you have ever cleaned the
house
only to turn
around and have the kids make a mess, you can imagine the feeling …
Your bowel movements should be daily, easy, and regular.
This is a very important component of women’s reproductive
health and the basis of all health.
Three simple suggestions to help regulate digestive health
are:
1.
Abdominal massage – rub your belly in
a clockwise direction for a few minutes before you go to
sleep or when you first wake up.
2.
Drink plenty of water
3.
Eat your fiber!
In Chinese Medicine,
women's reproductive health is directly related to
breast cancer risk!
Most people don’t realize the connection between the
two. We will explain the connection in two ways.
First is the theory ... there cannot be a manifestation of breast
disease unless there is first a disorder on the level of the
ovaries. Endometriosis, fibroids, PMS, fertility issues, painful
periods or miscarriage are examples of such disorders. Most women
when faced with these issues will choose a treatment that eliminates
the symptom; e.g. surgery, medication. They never restore their
reproductive health; in fact most women don’t even know
it is a possibility!
Second, let’s look at the anatomy to see how breast health
is connected to a woman’s reproductive health. Even though
the Chinese didn’t have the anatomical information that
we now have, they figured this out.
The Chinese use a system
called meridians. In their system there is a relationship with
the meridians in the uterine area and the breasts.
In western
medicine, from the development of the fetus, the mammary glands
are connected to the ovaries. In fact, some women have extra
nipples along the mammary ridge that connects the ovaries to
the breasts.
There is also the hormonal connection between the
ovaries and the breasts. The ovaries produce estrogen and it
is estrogen that tells our breast tissue to grow. Most breast
cancers are considered “hormonal cancers” because
they have hormonal receptors on the cancer cell.
In order to “prevent” breast disease, we need to
look at hormonal symptoms differently. Think of it as if you
were driving in your car and the warning light came on, chances
are you would pull into a gas station and ask why the light was
on. Few women would ask the mechanic to pull out the warning
fuse because the light was bothering them. They would be concerned
to find the real problem in the car. In reproductive issues,
women often have the fuse removed through medication or surgery.
There is little attention to the underlying issues that contributed
to the symptoms.
Women's reproductive
health is being explored in new ways. There are more
theories about hormones than most people realize.
Women’s reproductive health is being explored in new ways.
There are more theories about hormones than most people realize.
In energetic medicine theory, the glandular organs (like our
ovaries) are each directly related to an energetic center in
the body (referred to as chakras in Sanskrit). The physical presence
of these centers has now been realized in quantum medicine. These
energetic centers relate very much with our emotions. Many holistic
health practitioners believe this is where the emotions may first
become manifest, in these glandular structures. Our hormones,
which are produced in these glands influence our feelings so
much! Ever have PMS?!!!! If this is true, the implication for
women’s reproductive health is profound. Could our emotional
state influence our hormonal system and not just the other way
around?!?
Chances are it is a cycle – like the chicken and the egg – which
came first? Hormones are complicated and we are just beginning
to understand them. This is an emerging field of medicine and
one that holds great promise for the future of medicine. One
thing is certain; hormones are not static structures that have
a simple to define cause and effect. It is now know that estrogen
influences not only breast tissue growth but our skin, cognitive
function and sleep patterns.
Many common household
products and cosmetics contain chemicals that mimic
hormones in our body!
This is an emerging problem and another area that is not totally
understood regarding women’s reproductive health. Some
chemicals, commonly found in pesticides, cleaning products, plastics
and cosmetics seem to actually mimic estrogen in the body. Remember
that excess estrogen is associated with fibroids, endometriosis,
breast pain, fibrocystic breasts, breast cancer and more. Recent
testing has shown these chemicals, commonly referred to as xenoestrogens
(xeno means foreign) show up in the blood of every person tested.
They are even showing up in the umbilical cords of babies, which
is very alarming.
There are cleaner non-toxic products. Below are a few resources
to help you avoid these excess estrogens. As long as there is
some question as to how safe they are, let’s err on the
side of caution and be as safe as possible. Remember, women’s
reproductive health also translates to the health of our children.
To find out more about this and to see which products are safe,
go to:
If you want to learn more about xenoestrogens, read Silent
Spring by Rachel Carson or Our
Stolen Future by Theo Colborn and check
out the websites on our resources
page.
BREAST HEALTH PROJECT NEWSLETTER
Subscribe and receive FREE
updates on research, nutrition, hormones and stories
that will warm your heart!
Don't worry -- your e-mail
address is totally secure. I promise to use it
only to send you the Breast Health Newsletter.
