Menstrual Cycle Balancing
Seed cycling can been used to balance the menstrual cycle using foods. It is the process of ingesting different fatty acids at the appropriate time during the cycle to support functional estrogen and progesterone levels.
Irregular cycle length, painful cycles, heavy or minimal bleeding, or no cycle at all are very common patterns seen today. Try seed cycling as a way to balance the hormones and have a happy period!
Irregular cycle length, painful cycles, heavy or minimal bleeding, or no cycle at all are very common patterns seen today. Try seed cycling as a way to balance the hormones and have a happy period!
Seed Cycling Balls
1st Batch - Menses (1st day of bleeding) to Ovulation
Ingredients:
300mL Nut or Seed butter (Almond, Cashew, Sunflower, Pumpkin, Tahini, etc)
50mL Maple syrup
Spices and seasonings (Cinnamon, Cocoa, Nutmeg, Ginger, Vanilla), to taste
300mL Flax and pumpkin seed meal 1:1 ratio (150 mL of each)
2nd Batch - Ovulation to Bleeding
Ingredients:
300mL Nut or Seed butter (Almond, Cashew, Sunflower, Pumpkin, Tahini, etc)
50mL Maple syrup
300mL Sesame and sunflower seed meal 1:1 ratio (150 mL of each)
300mL Dried fruit (Cranberries, Raisins, Currants, etc.)
50mL Dried, unsweetened medium shred coconut
Directions: Mix nut/seed butter and maple syrup together and stir well. Add chosen seasonings. Gradually, stir in the seed meals until evenly distributed throughout the nut butter mixture. Stir in dried fruit. Form into 1” balls and roll in coconut (or leave plain). Store in a dark container in the fridge or freezer for longer storage time. Eat 3-4/day at least. They are great day snack!
Note: How to make your own nut butter?
Ingredients:
300mL Nut or Seed butter (Almond, Cashew, Sunflower, Pumpkin, Tahini, etc)
50mL Maple syrup
Spices and seasonings (Cinnamon, Cocoa, Nutmeg, Ginger, Vanilla), to taste
300mL Flax and pumpkin seed meal 1:1 ratio (150 mL of each)
2nd Batch - Ovulation to Bleeding
Ingredients:
300mL Nut or Seed butter (Almond, Cashew, Sunflower, Pumpkin, Tahini, etc)
50mL Maple syrup
300mL Sesame and sunflower seed meal 1:1 ratio (150 mL of each)
300mL Dried fruit (Cranberries, Raisins, Currants, etc.)
50mL Dried, unsweetened medium shred coconut
Directions: Mix nut/seed butter and maple syrup together and stir well. Add chosen seasonings. Gradually, stir in the seed meals until evenly distributed throughout the nut butter mixture. Stir in dried fruit. Form into 1” balls and roll in coconut (or leave plain). Store in a dark container in the fridge or freezer for longer storage time. Eat 3-4/day at least. They are great day snack!
Note: How to make your own nut butter?
Acne
There are three main causes of acne: food allergies, gut inflammation and hormone imbalance. To rule out food allergies, the Elimination Diet is the gold standard. A food allergy panel can also be done to determine what foods your body is reacting to.
Gut inflammation can be diagnosed based on your clinical symptoms and using blood, stool and breath testing.
Hormone imbalance usually requires a comprehensive hormone assessment using a urine test.
There are simple ways to improve your acne beginning with:
1. Food Elimination Diet - start this diet and continue for 21 days. All the recipes can be found here. After 21 days, you can begin to reintroduce the foods you were avoiding. Notice how your skin is doing and any other markers of health that might be part of your case: headaches, gas, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, skin irritations and rashes, pain, energy levels and sleep.
2. Supplements to heal the gut and reduce inflammation: Omega 3's, Probiotics,
3. Drink more water - it is recommended to drink up to 8 glasses of water per day, or 2 L. Start slowly by increasing the number of glasses you drink in a day. I find it easy to keep a glass by the sink and drink a cup each time you are there.
Gut inflammation can be diagnosed based on your clinical symptoms and using blood, stool and breath testing.
Hormone imbalance usually requires a comprehensive hormone assessment using a urine test.
There are simple ways to improve your acne beginning with:
1. Food Elimination Diet - start this diet and continue for 21 days. All the recipes can be found here. After 21 days, you can begin to reintroduce the foods you were avoiding. Notice how your skin is doing and any other markers of health that might be part of your case: headaches, gas, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, skin irritations and rashes, pain, energy levels and sleep.
2. Supplements to heal the gut and reduce inflammation: Omega 3's, Probiotics,
3. Drink more water - it is recommended to drink up to 8 glasses of water per day, or 2 L. Start slowly by increasing the number of glasses you drink in a day. I find it easy to keep a glass by the sink and drink a cup each time you are there.
Castor Oil Packs
Castor oil packs are a foundational treatment of naturopathic medicine. Castor oil is the from the seed of the castor plant. It contains ricinoleic acid a potent anti-inflammatory. The heat from the pack forces the oil into the body and promotes circulation of the blood through the liver. They can be done at night before bed to relax and wind down.
Uses:
Tools:
Directions:
Uses:
- chronic pain, tissue injury
- liver detoxification
- hormonal imbalance
- gut inflammation
- menstrual cramps
Tools:
- Organic castor oil
- Old T-shirt or organic cotton cloth, or wool cloth
- Plastic bag
- Heating pad or Hot water bottle
- Large Towel
Directions:
- Place the towel across your bed, lay down perpendicular and in the middle
- Apply the castor oil over the abdomen - below the sternum to the pubic bone
- Place the cloth over the abdomen
- Apply the plastic bag over the abdomen to protect the heating pad from the oil
- Apply the heating pad or hot water bottle
- Wrap each side of the towel around the abdomen so you feel nice and snug
- Use for 30-40 minutes. Afterwards the oil should all be soaked in. Remove the cloth and store it in the plastic bag in the fridge. The cloth can be used several times without washing.