Home of the NATURAL PERIOD
I absolutely love teaching women how to tune in and work with the rhythms of their own body by practicing menstrual cycle awareness.
We have come to accept that it's normal for menstruation, reproduction and menopause to be accompanied by pain or problems. This is not the case!
For too long women have been offered only a pill and told that it will 'regulate' their hormones. What I can teach you is how to use natural plant medicines to see you through the ups and downs of your menstrual cycle.
Many women are looking for a natural alternative to oral contraceptives, surgery and HRT.
If that's you, you've come to the right place! I have managed my own cycle for over 40 years without medical intervention and have spent thousands of hours helping women just like you.
Having a healthy, regular, and pain free period is a great sign of wellbeing. Let me show you how to live in harmony with your cycle.
Menstrual cycle awareness
Symptoms around ovulation or with your period are the way your body lets you know that something's not right.
Finally learn how to live in harmony with your menstrual cycle!
Learn how to harness the power of plant medicines (food and herbs) to manage your cycle naturally.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
If you suffer from:
bloating
sugar cravings
acne
anxiety
fatigue
breast tenderness
mood fluctuations
headaches or migraines
in the lead up to your period, you're not alone!
PMS symptoms are NOT something that must be endured month after month! These symptoms respond well to dietary changes and herbal remedies.
Plant medicines (herbs and food changes) can be used very effectively to balance your hormones, support your nervous system, and assist with sugar cravings.
Irregular periods
If you're not having a regular cycle there can be a number of underlying causes:
Pregnancy
Stress or trauma
Polycystic ovaries
Puberty or perimenopause
Problems with nutrition or exercise
Thyroid conditions
It's important that we work together to uncover the root cause of your irregular cycle and then introduce the foods and natural medicines that are most appropriate to support your regular cycle.
Herbal medicines and diet changes are very effective at regulating and gently encouraging a regular cycle.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
A diagnosis of Polycystic ovaries is more common than you might expect. It is also something that can be reversed with dietary changes and herbal medicines.
PCOS responds well to herbs that balance and regulate the menstrual cycle. Blood sugar regulation and/or adrenal health are often part of the PCOS health picture.
Herbal medicine, in conjunction with diet and nutritional supplements, can balance blood sugar regulation and improve ovulation.
Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea
Hypothalamic amenorrhoea is when you lose your period due to not eating enough of the nutrients that are required for ovulation.
A nutritional plan and supplementation can help to reestablish your menstrual cycle.
PCOS and Hypothalamic amenorrhea can easily be confused.
Irregular periods in women over 40
If you're over 40 and your periods are not as regular as they used to be, this is probably a sign that you're entering PERIMENOPAUSE.
Perimenopause is the 5 to 10 years leading up to the end of your period, which women experience by roughly the age of 51.
If you're in perimenopause then your changing cycles might also be accompanied by heavier bleeding, clots, anxiety, migraines, worse PMS, depression, hot flushes or night sweats.
If you're over 40 and your periods are changing, make sure you read my Ultimate Guide to a Natural Perimenopause
Simone Jeffries is an excellent practitioner with an intelligent expertise of both the holistic and scientific areas of her practise.
Simone's manner is genuine and open, her investigations uncomplicated and her instincts spot on.
I highly recommend her.
Alison L., 2021
period PAIN
Do you experience pain with your period? If you are taking pain killers, having multiple days off work or uni, or you are curled up on the floor and vomiting from pain, then this is NOT normal.
It is normal to feel some discomfort with your period. If the pain is seriously impacting your life - it's not normal. Read more about abnormal period pain.
For many women the cramps with their periods can be dramatically improved by identifying food intolerances and using several months of herbal remedies.
I often recommend vaginal microbiome testing to determine if an imbalance in the bugs in the vagina could be causing an immune reaction and pain response.
If you have severe period pain then a gynaecologist might diagnose you with endometriosis or adenomyosis.
ENDOmetriosis
Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease that causes severe pain before, during and after menstruation and often also at other times of the month.
Endometriosis pain is caused by lesions that can grow both inside and outside of the pelvis. The pain is affected by estrogen fluctuations and can be felt by some women when they are urinating or having a bowel movement.
Common symptoms of endometriosis include:
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severe period pain (often with nausea)
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lower pelvic bloating
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'stabbing' pain with ovulation
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lower back pain
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heavy menstrual bleeding
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fatigue
You might like to read my blog: AN UPDATE ON ENDOMETRIOSIS
It's common for women to experience severe period pain for many years before being diagnosed with endometriosis. It's important to know if your period pain is normal or if it could be endometriosis.
Naturopaths often examine the gut microbiome and vaginal microbiome of patients with endometriosis. There is a correlation between microbial imbalance and endometriosis.
It is not unusual to work with women who experience both endo and SIBO because they can influence each other.
An overactive immune system is often the link between dysbiosis and endometriosis.
Naturopaths will work with you to regulate inflammation, manage pain, balance the microbiome and support your immune system.
POSTNATAL depletion syndrome
Women with postnatal depletion syndrome don't feel well. They don't feel that they are able to cope in the same way they did before their baby was born. This can affect women for 2 or even more years after the birth of a baby.
Women with postnatal depletion may experience a number of the following issues:
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Depression
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Low energy levels, low libido
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Weight gain
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Autoimmune conditions
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Poor recovery from illness
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Anxiety, self doubt, worry, heightened inner critic, hyper-vigilance
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Insomnia
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Food sensitivities
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Hair loss, acne
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Worsening of existing medical issues
You might be interested in reading my blog:
My personal experience with postnatal depletion syndrome.
I have become very interested in this area of naturopathy because I frequently work with women in their early 40s who are struggling with many areas of their health and also have very young children to care for.
When a woman is very depleted postnatally and possibly also be breastfeeding, healthy eating may not be enough to supply all the nutrients you need. I usually recommend supplementation and a simple herbal formula to new mums.
As you start to feel better and have more time and energy for cooking, I will recommend dietary changes to support the recovery of hormones and adrenal glands. Women need a diet of cooked whole foods and easy to digest proteins and fats, fruits and vegetables.
With the right supplements, herbal medicine and some simple diet hacks you should start to see your energy levels improve; the anxiety lessen; and hair, skin and nails will begin to look healthy again.
Take ACTION
Discover the root cause of your period problems
Learn to love your body and work with the rhythms of your cycle
Discover a monthly routine to nourish and support your healthy lifestyle
Women with MULTIPLE HEALTH ISSUES
Are you experiencing a number of different health problems and struggling to know what to deal with first? Are you searching for answers and only getting more confused?
This is one of the strengths of naturopathy because a holistic treatment can deal with most, or all, at the same time.
We will be strategic about working with the most problematic or underlying health problem, as your body will start to respond in many positive ways.
I will teach you how one health problem can cause another, how to know when you need treatment, and how and why dietary changes can have an affect in many areas of your health.
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