Over the years I've come to realize that hormones have a much larger effect than most of us realize. In my own life, especially throughout my pregnancy and postpartum I have experienced how disruptive the swings and shifts can be. And in my clinical practice I see every day women having to miss work because of painful debilitating cramping, having to endure hot flashes at inopportune times (!) and mood swings that can be so severe one day that all seems lost only to have a complete turn around the next day. We've been told for the large part that this is just something to endure. But, of course it is not, and there are many, many different tools that can be used to find balance and relief. I will be focusing more and more on that in this journal so it can be a resource for those of you who are being affected in both big and small ways by your hormonal shifts.

Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life: Achieving Optimal Health and Wellness through Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine and Western Science by Dr. Claudia Welch, MSOM is a great book that I come to time and time again that I think is worthwhile reading for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of both the mechanisms of how hormones work and a really varied take of three different medical models on how to work with where you are to get where you want to be. The appendix is also great with detailed instructions on how to perform Ayurvedic warm oil massage, how to make ghee & Kitcheri and how to use castor oil packs.

Hmmmm, I wonder if we should start a book club?