Top 3 Natural, Alternative Health Recommendations Trending for 2022 for Women
By Paige Pearman, Owner, Luv Yourself, Ayurvedic and Integrative Health Wellness Spa www.luv-yourself.com
Women’s Sex Hormones Vs. Men
Women’s health is vastly different from men’s based on our sex hormones. Given that we have a 28-day cycle for most of our adult lives, working with this intricate system, the first thing to balance is our stress hormones. As an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner, it is my goal to help women and men get a natural high through treatments already found in nature. As women balance work, play, motherhood, partnership, and a never ending to-do-list, we need easy, affordable ways to bliss out.
Stress-Response
The biggest difference between men and women is our stress responses. Males have one 24-hour hormonal clock, whereas women have a 24-hour cycle and a 28 monthly cycle. This means that men have a high success rate with the same routine daily, whereas women’s stress cycle is quite different literally daily. The bottom line working with aligning women’s bodies to the parasympathetic nervous system is vitally important. The majority of Ayurvedic Health Coaching gets these results as well as Ayurvedic Body Therapies.
While men can do really well under healthy stress and higher levels of cortisol, women do quite well in the rest and digest state, tapping into the parasympathetic nervous system, or what is known as the “tending and befriending” stress response. This is equally important for men as well, but it is a quick way to help women balance their hormones and address women-related health issues.
Medical Research is Primarily on Men Vs Women
Some of the top reported health trends are frankly more appropriate for men than they are for women. The vast majority of research, 75% of medical research in fact, is performed on men rather than women. Due to the fact that in the past menstrual cycles and pregnancies complicated the research process, women were removed from the vast amount of research, and only 4% of healthcare R&D is on women’s health in the United States. Nevertheless, over 13,000 genes are expressed differently between the sexes.
Health Tips for Men may Not be Appropriate For Women
For example, while the keto diet and intermittent fasting is all the rage, it is not necessarily a wise approach for all women during all of the phases of her cycle. In fact, it can have dire consequences on women’s hormones long-term if it isn’t aligned to her bio-individuality or Dosha Body Type (Vata, Pitta, or Kapha) in Ayurvedic terms. Cross-fit and hard-core cortisol workouts might deplete a woman’s energy and immunity or in Ayurvedic terms her ojas. It can put women in low-energetic states, taxing her adrenals and thyroid, and have a hormonal response causing chronic stress, injuries, weight loss or weight gain, and low libido.
Ayurveda is the Science of Bio-Individuality
Ayurveda is the science of bio-individuality, and if we teach women their energetic body type or Dosha, they can maximize their energy, reduce stress, heal their bodies, and slow down the aging process. Ayurveda is not a one size fits all approach to wellness. Nature herself has some of the most powerful healing mechanisms on the planet.
I believe in 2022 and in the future, we will see women hacking nature more and more for healing. As women understand their biochemistry better, they will seek more and more natural remedies. One of the biggest things I preach in my practice is aligning your bio-energetic body to your circadian rhythm and your menstrual cycle. You can literally harness the hours of the day to be more energetic, creative, and resilient if you know how. These natural therapies mentioned in this article allow the body to relax, reset and allow your natural processes to function optimally.
Infrared Sauna – Uses the power of light therapy to enhance health and mood. Luv Yourself has a medical-grade Sunlighten, mid-near-far Infrared Sauna. https://luv-yourself.com/ayurveda/swedana-infrared-sauna/
Infrared Sauna exposure enhances performance, burns fat, and reduces all-cause mortality. For anyone looking for a passive cardio workout, relaxation, and mood-boosting effects, a mid-near-far infrared sauna should not be overlooked.
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Sauna use mimics physiological and protective responses induced during exercise.
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Repeated sauna use optimizes stress responses via hormesis and heat shock proteins.
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Appears to reduce morbidity and mortality in a dose-dependent manner
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Protects against cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease
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Preserves muscle mass and counters sarcopenia
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Sauna releases euphoric hormones to improve mood and reduce depression
EMF Protection through Exposure to Negative Ions found in Nature
With ever-increasing exposure to EMF through 5G towers and constant use of tablets, our bodies need an opportunity to detoxify from EMF. There is an overall increase in electro-hyper-sensitivity. We can counter EMF exposure by being in nature, being near water, and using gemstones and EMF protective devices. The benefits of negative ions are the opposite of the consequences associated with positive ions due to EMF toxicity. Negative ions support the immune system, maintain mental health, regulates sleep patterns and inhibits the growth of bacteria, viruses and mold species. Negative ions can protect the respiratory system from germs and harmful particles in the air. Negative ion exposure enhances oxygen absorption. Their ability to increase oxygen results in a heightened sense of alertness, decreased symptoms of fatigue, and elevated mental energy and clarity.
To counter EMF:
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Forest Bathing
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Water contains negative ions that counter EMF, so spend time near water, waterfalls, creeks, lakes, etc.
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Crystals to counter EMF: Hematite, Black Tourmaline, Shungite, Pyrite, Citrine, Rose Quartz
The Power and Science of Adaptogens
Given that women are under increasing demands to care for children, work, stay fit, and still have time for their own self-care, adaptogens are becoming increasingly popular. Adaptogens are plant substances that help our bodies manage STRESS, maintain balance, and homeostasis. In other words, they help us adapt to external stressors. By strengthening our internal systems, adaptogens can promote mood, metabolism, energy, immune system, and sex drive. The medical literature has found adaptogens to have far-reaching health benefits. Found in powder and capsule form, adaptogens can be mixed into morning coffee or tea or a daily smoothie.
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lowering cortisol levels (3)
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regenerating brain cells (4)
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alleviating depression and anxiety (5)
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protecting heart health (6)
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protecting the liver (7)
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preventing and fighting cancer (8)
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lowering cholesterol (9)
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protecting against radiation (10)
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balancing the immune system
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decreasing fatigue (11)
* Consult with an Ayurvedic Practitioner or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner before diagnosing yourself or starting a regime to match the adaptogen to your bio-individual makeup.
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6213340/ (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383571805000896), an increased risk of cancer: (http://www.worldneurosurgery.org/article/S0090-3019(09)00145-1/abstract), loss of fertility: (http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(07)00332-9/abstract), effects on brain function: (http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207450390220330), metabolic changes: (http://www.lef.org/magazine/2007/8/report_cellphone_radiation/Page-01), disruption of the immune system: (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3200/AEOH.58.11.712-717), and thermodynamic changes of the body: (http://ijnmt.intimal.edu.my/JournalPapers/Vol1No2/P4Vol1No2.pdf). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30831365/ Crystals for EMF: https://tinyrituals.co/blogs/tiny-rituals/emf-protection-crystals-what-to-buy-and-how-to-use-them, Science Direct, Published October 2021: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556521002916, Pub Med, August 5, 2021:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34363927/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3218898/, https://www.optimallivingdynamics.com/blog/13-proven-ways-saunas-can-improve-your-mental-health-dry-hot-benefits-depression-anxiety, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6240259/, https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/adaptogen-market-stronger-clinical-research, https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/adaptogen, https://www.forbes.com/health/body/what-are-adaptogens/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6213340/
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