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March 30, 2019

I Tried a V Steam & Here’s What Happened

There are some things that good Christian women shouldn’t talk about (like our periods)… but here I am, sharing about my experience with a “V Steam” because, well, I like to overshare. And oh yeah, by the way, women need to hear about this ancient herbal ritual that is actually good for their health! I share my experience below.

I Tried a V Steam & Here's What Happened | The Family That Heals Together

First of all, when I first heard about V steaming I thought “this is a little too out there for me. Isn’t anything private and sacred anymore?” But the more I learned the more intrigued I was.

V steaming is becoming a popular topic, with everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to your local gynecologist touting the benefits. So what is a V steam?

V steam – yep, it is what you think it is.

First of all, the “V” stands for “vaginal.” Let’s just get that out there. Yes, it’s an herbal steam for your vagina.

This is also known as a “Yoni steam,” as “yoni” is the Hindu word for vulva. I guess the “V” could also stand for “vulva” with that in mind, but I digress.

The whole “yoni” thing can get into some Hinduism & spiritual stuff that I’m not interested in, so I’ll stick with “V steam” and tell you about the purported benefits… and what happened when I tried a V steam myself… at my local mall. Yep, I’m classy like that.

But more on that later. Let’s look at what a V steam actually is.

V steam -the herbal treatment for your lady bits

A V steam is basically where you squat over a pot of steaming herbs so that the herbal steam can enter your vaginal canal. Ideally, there is a seat or stool so that you can sit comfortably for half an hour or longer while you steam.

Herbs used include motherwort, wormwood, rosemary, and red raspberry, though the herbs can be tailored for an individual woman’s needs. Essentially these herbs are for combating infections as well as balancing hormones.

Listen, I’ve had four kids. And if you’ve had some kids, I probably don’t have to tell you that those sweet angels do a number on your body… including your vagina.

Whaaat? Pushing babies from your vagina changes it? Ya don’t say. Yep, as well as your pelvic floor muscles, your uterus, your bladder, and pretty much every other square inch of your body from your ankles to your chin(s). Actually, now that I think about it, even my feet changed during my first pregnancy.

But here’s the thing- V steams aren’t just for women who have had babies. They can be helpful for lots of female issues.

V steam benefits:

  • uterine toning
  • hormonal balance
  • improved fertility
  • relaxed pelvic muscles
  • reduced period problems like PMS, cramping, and heavy bleeding
  • less yeast infections
  • may help with bladder problems and bacterial infections in the vagina and even the gut.

These benefits have not been studied, but proponents suggest that increased blood flow to the vaginal area following a steam may contribute to some of the purported benefits. In addition, herbal steam contains the constituents and therefore benefits from the herbs, so herbs that are indicated for infection, hormone balancing, and so forth may provide benefits.

What happened when I got a V steam

Because of my status as a four-time birthing champion, as well as lingering symptoms of interstitial cystitis, I decided it was high time to give V steaming a go.

I heard about a new medical spa in town and all the holistic health services they offered, from IV therapies, to an oxygen bar, to V steaming. Sign me up for a spa day.

Here’s how that went: my V steam experience

I arrive at the “medical spa,” which is basically a one-room shop at the mall. (I hadn’t realized it was at the mall.) The door is propped open and there are people constantly walking by and in.

“It’s cool,” I think. “I’m sure there’s plenty of privacy for such a treatment.”

I realize that the only separate room with a door in this place is the bathroom. “I’m not sure what your comfort level is with privacy…” the employee starts. “We can set you up right here [out in the open in the large room where other people are receiving services], or I can put you behind the curtain [still in the same room, but with a plastic curtain separating you from other people].”

Me: “Is that a trick question?” She looks at me. Clearly this is not a trick question. “Behind the curtain, please,” I say.

I walk in and there is a geriatric-looking stool perched over an electric burner and an old pot with water in it. It’s not yet boiling as expected. So, she adjusts something, the burner clicks on, and I wait while the water heats up.

I notice the pot for sure looks like it’s Teflon. I make a mental note to research the negative effects of Teflon fumes entering my vaginal canal.

She helps me put the steaming cape on and tells me I can wait to take off my pants while the water heats up. She leaves to get the herbs and I’m left wondering if I’ve made a critical error in scheduling this appointment. My fears are confirmed when she returns.

I Tried a V Steam & Here's What Happened | The Family That Heals Together
The cape.

She scoops some herbs into the now boiling water and tells me to take off my pants and undergarments. That wouldn’t have been awkward at all to do out in the open in front of the couple now receiving ionic foot detoxes.

After I’ve disrobed, she tells me she’ll help me get onto the stool. I look at her and wait for her to put some sort of barrier on the seat. When she doesn’t move to do so, I ask, “Um, are you going to put a cover on that seat?” She kinda chuckles and says, “No.” 

I Tried a V Steam & Here's What Happened | The Family That Heals Together

Me: “You mean, other women sit their naked behinds on this stool? And you don’t put some kind of liner or barrier over it?”

Her, still finding my dismay humorous: “No. We sanitize it.”

Me: “I mean, my chiropractor puts down a barrier for people’s faces and you’re not going to put one down for my behind?”

Her: “I can get some paper towels for you if you want?”

Me: “It’s fine.” (It’s not fine.) I mount the seat. I text my friend Jess about the lack of covering for the seat. I need moral support. She suggests I research natural cures for herpes next.

The employee leaves and I’m left to ponder the position I now find myself in: perched up on a stool, naked from the waist down (though covered with a cape), listening as only a plastic curtain separates me from a guy and his girlfriend getting foot baths.

I Tried a V Steam & Here's What Happened | The Family That Heals Together
Just on the other side of this, a dude and his girlfriend are chatting away. But at least there’s this curtain.

And then the steam hits. The glorious steam. And I’m instantly relaxed. I tell Jess that I don’t even care if I get herpes.

“OH MY GOSH,” I text Jess. “THIS IS HEAVENLY.” And it really is. Jess comments that she’s glad we get to bond over this experience. “This is a level of friendship intimacy from which we can never return,” she says. 

The steam is wonderful… the sweating that ensues leaves me assured that sanitizing this seat is not sufficient. But the steam.

I can see, at least, how the steam relaxes the pelvic muscles. I definitely feel relaxed “down there.”

When my 30 minutes are up, I grab my clothes and shuffle across the big room to the bathroom (again, maybe I’m overly modest, but I feel weird carrying my pants across the room to go get dressed, but listen, things were, um, steamy, and I needed to dry off before putting my clothes back on).

I really do feel relaxed and rejuvenated, and I swear some of the bladder symptoms I deal with daily were temporarily abated.

I decide I want to continue doing V steams because it was just that good. But I don’t want anymore awkward experiences for my modest self.

I Tried a V Steam & Here's What Happened | The Family That Heals Together

How to do V steaming at home

While I was sitting for 30 minutes steaming, I had plenty of time to research how to have this experience at home. It turns out, it’s really easy.

First, you’ll want some kind of stool. Options abound. You can get this inexpensive stool made for camping, or a stool made specifically for V steaming like this.

You’ll also need some kind of cape to “tent” yourself over the steam. You might be able to use a large towel or even a sheet, but there are pre-made steaming capes available like this.

You’ll want to buy pre-made bulk herb packs that are created for V steaming like this.

You can use a portable burner to keep the herbs steeping for a minimum of half an hour, or you can heat the herbs on the stovetop, then steam for as long as the steam lasts. I plan to try using my Instant Pot, because, why not? (The Instant Pot Mini 3 qt would be perfect!)

Basically, all you have to do is make a tea (bring 2-3 quarts or so of water to a boil, then add a 1/2-1 cup herb mixture) then let the steam do its magic. Position yourself over the steam in a squatting position, with fabric of some kind draped over you to keep the steam in. Relax for half an hour or so.

With all the benefits of herbs for your health, it only makes sense to apply them directly to your lady bits, right? But -word to the wise- do it at home or do your homework before booking an appointment.

By: Jaclyn · Filed Under: Beautiful, Blog · Tagged: bladder, hormones, self care, uterus, v steam, vaginal health, women's health, yeast infections, yoni steam

August 30, 2018

How To Calm A Cytokine Storm And Get Rid Of Chronic Inflammation

Ever heard of a cytokine storm? It’s sort of a mysterious blanket term for periods of high inflammation that those with chronic illness sometimes experience. Below, Danielle breaks down the cytokine storm, explaining inflammatory cytokines and how they affect the body.

Inflammatory Cytokines: What They Are, What They Do, and How to Manage Them | The Family That Heals Together

What are cytokines and how do they work?

A cytokine storm involves cytokines: tiny protein molecules that signal the cells around them. Examples of cytokines include:

  • Interleukins
  • Leukocytes
  • Lymphokines
  • Chemokines
  • Interferons
  • Tumor necrosis factors

Many cells in the body produce cytokines, even other cytokines!

Similar to cytokines, hormones signal other cells. However, hormones regulate overall body and organ functions, whereas cytokines are the messengers of the immune system.

Cytokine messengers are released from one cell and then received on receptors of nearby cells, creating a domino effect of help or harm.

Scientists discovered the first cytokines in 1957 and called them interferons because of their ability to “interfere” with viral replication. Since then, a number of cytokines have been found. For example:

  • Lymphokin- released from immune cells, lymphokines turn “on” or “off” other parts of the immune system. Essentially, sending smoke signals to other immune cells to mount an attack against an invader.
  • Interleukins- produced by leukocytes, interleukins regulate your immune response. In labs tests, interleukins matter. Low levels have been found in those with autoimmune disease and low immune illness.
  • Leukocytes- floating around in the blood and battling foreign invaders, leukocytes include macrophages, monocytes, lymphocytes, granulocytes. When your doctor suspects an infection, be on the lookout for high leukocyte numbers.

But, don’t get bogged down in all the “cytes.”

Cytokines are simply regulators that manage your body’s response to anything that shouldn’t be there: trauma, immune issues, inflammation, and infection.

Anti-inflammatory vs. inflammatory cytokines

Just like everything in the body, cytokines can be good or bad, anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory.

What’s more, all cytokines have the potential to express signals for health or disease, even if they traditionally belong in one camp.

This is because cytokines have the ability to stop or start inflammation, managing things like pain, fever, tissue repair and break down, and blood cell production.

And for better or worse, cells will keep replicating the messengers as they roam about.

What do pro-inflammatory cytokines do?

Interleukins (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (it just sounds awful – TNF) are pro-inflammatory cytokines, meaning they signal your body to continue allowing and creating inflammation.

These cytokines cause fever, inflammation, tissue deconstruction, and even death.

You can trace many pathological pain diseases to overactive pro-inflammatory cytokines.

What is a cytokine storm?

Just like any storm, a cytokine storm builds if left unchecked. More pro-inflammatory cytokines lead to even more inflammation, causing a domino effect, or the perfect storm… of pain.

Cytokine overproduction may keep your body in a constant state of inflammation which leads to even more inflammation.

Cytokines have a large role to play in an overactive immune response. Overactive immune reactions to infectious and noninfectious diseases can cause high fever, swelling, nausea, and fatigue. These are called cytokine storm symptoms, or CSS.

Macrophages from the initial inflammation activate a cytokine storm. Things like inflammatory foods, a negative outlook, emotional abuse, or lack of sleep will all feed the cytokine storm and keep the body inflamed.

Let’s talk about what cytokines have to do with chronic and acute health conditions, pain, inflammation, trauma, and mental health.

Overactive inflammatory cytokines play a role in chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia, lupus, MS, and more.

Cytokines trigger disease to persist by releasing signals in the nervous system and a cytokine storm perpetuates inflammation. This can even happen in your brain, where depression and anxiety may be the result of active inflammatory cytokines.

If the body experiences an intense bout of harm but has reserves to heal itself, the cytokine reaction will only last for a short period of time. The body will have what it needs to heal and not allow cytokines to get out of control, causing constant inflammation.

However, if the body feels low on reserves and experiences intense pain – or experiences it for a long period of time – the body’s energy reserves cannot fight the inflammation cascade. 

This explains why cytokine storms are seen in chronic illness and pain sufferers, and not often in those without inflammation.

Again, the domino effect of the cytokine’s synergistic communication spreads more inflammation.

How To Calm A Cytokine Storm And Get Rid Of Chronic Inflammation | The Family That Heals Together

How to quiet a cytokine reaction

If you find yourself in a cytokine storm, adjusting your diet and lifestyle may be enough to calm the symptoms. However, if you have severe CSS, you may be a candidate for CSS treatments which block the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

But it’s important to address the root cause before treating with cytokine blockers, as they could make the condition worse.

For example, in the case of sepsis, cytokine blockers may support the spread of infection. But on the flip side, cytokine blockers also effectively manage IBS and rheumatoid arthritis. Cytokine blockers might also help with chemotherapy side effects, as many use anti-histamines (a type of cytokine blocker) to combat side effects.

There are also natural cytokine blocking supplements like this one that may help.

The biggest concern when using cytokine blockers is that they will interfere with the immune system’s ability to fight the foreign invader. For that reason, you may want to consider treating chronic pain with lifestyle changes, rather than conventional CSS treatments.

Lifestyle changes to calm a cytokine storm

Anti-inflammatory foods help calm a cytokine storm. This includes foods like wild blueberries, turmeric, green tea, celery, beets, and green leafy vegetables. Other foods slow the inflammatory messengers, such as organic fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meats, and bone broth.

If you have an advanced cytokine storm, inflammation, or autoimmune disease, you may want to go beyond single foods and transform your whole diet. Consider the GAPS diet or an autoimmune paleo (AIP), keto, or paleo diet.

Fortunately, with lifestyle changes, even the worst cytokine storm can be quelled.

Your lifestyle plays a huge role in cytokine expression. These steps can help tame the storm:

  • Exercise regularly. Exercising at least two to three days per week can calm pro-inflammatory cytokines and greatly lessen pain. This includes walking, pilates, weight lifting, or whatever you enjoy.
  • Cut out inflammatory foods. Such as gluten, dairy, conventional meats, nightshades, oxalates, and legumes. If you experience serious pain, consider the GAPS diet to lower inflammation.
  • Be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of filtered water daily. In the middle of a detox? Drink more!
  • Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. (Read about how to improve your sleep here.)
  • Stimulate your vagus nerve and laugh, meditate, pray, or sing daily!
  • Get rid of negative thoughts. Instead, focus on positive affirmations or Bible verses daily.

Have you experienced a cytokine storm? How did you handle it?

By: Danielle · Filed Under: Blog, health · Tagged: adrenals, autism, autoimmune disease, cytokine storm, cytokines, gaps diet, health, hormones, inflammation

June 6, 2018

Managing Your Stress Response

Is your stress response chronically elevated? It could be adrenal fatigue. We’ll tell you more about how to quiet your stress response and heal your adrenals below.

How to Manage Your Stress Response | The Family That Heals Together

What is the most common response to stress?

I don’t know a mom that wouldn’t rate her stress level as “high.” In our fast, be-it-all, do-it-all world, we are left with limitless decisions and tasks despite our limited resources. Families are overburdened and overwhelmed in epidemic numbers.

Is this how we were meant to live? Why are we so stressed? Is there something we can do about it?

What are the stages of stress response?

Most of us notice we have stress but don’t know the stages of stress which are actually quite distinct. If you understand the stages any stressor follows, you can learn how to control and manage your stress responses to lower your overall stress.

Stage 1: Recognizing a potential stressor event.

Any outside occurrence can be perceived as a potential stressor. This comes in many forms and happens thousands of times in the course of one day. We get the mail, drive, cook, work, clean, and go throughout our daily lives. Any out of the ordinary happening or unexpected event triggers our consciousness to consider if this is a threat or stressor.

This is where habits can be helpful. Good habits help you make fewer decisions and free up your time and mental resources to make decisions on more important tasks. For some, this means making a weekly schedule of your tasks can decrease your overall stress levels.

Stage 2: Evaluating the potential stressor event. 

Once a potential stressor is recognized, we begin to evaluate if it’s truly a stressor to our personal resources. What is a stressor to one person, is not to another. Our subconscious asks these two questions: is this a threat to me, and do I have the resources to meet this demand?

If we feel that the event could be a threat, or that we do not have the resources to handle it, we begin the physical and mental stress process. This event is labeled as a stressor, and even if it’s not significantly draining, we will treat it as such. This is why some individuals can handle a significantly stressful event and others are upset over an unexpected $4.50 bill.

Stage 3: The body prepares for the stress response. 

If an event is labeled a potential stressor, the body begins to respond by firing up the nervous response to meet the stressor’s demands. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS), also called the fight-or-flight response, prepares the body for extra physical demands and possibly a battle or quick escape.

The SNS signals the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, or HPA axis, to create and use more energy (ATP) because of the incoming event. This system communicates to the adrenals (small organs located above the kidney) to produce more cortisol, the hormone responsible for generating energy in our body.

While energy moves to our limbs and brain to physically and mentally prepare, it is moved away from our internal organs such as our digestive and immune systems, emotions, and sexual behavior.

Stage 4: The body acts on the stress response. 

In this final stage of stress, the body prepares for the attack or flee. Pupils dilate, the heart rate increases, perspiration and breathing increases, blood clotting factors are sent to the appendages, and the blood moves from the internal organs to the limbs and brain.

Stage 5: The body perceives the threat as over, and scales back.

After the stressor’s demands are perceived as met, our parasympathetic system begins to take back over and lessen the effects of the sympathetic system. The parasympathetic system sends out messages to lower stress hormones, move the energy back to the digestive system and internal organs, rest, and to regenerate new energy for storage. It focuses on the long term, versus the short term of the SNS, survival.

Run or eat? Your “fight-or-flight” and “rest-and-digest” instincts

Why is the body’s response to stress called the fight or flight response? Because back in our non-modern days, we needed this type of reaction to stressors. Most of our serious threats were environmental and physical, and we needed to be able to act quickly to fight or run away from our enemy.

Today, not so much. The enemy is our busy schedule, rude boss, unruly toddlers, financial struggles, and on and on. Our stressors are more long term rather than short-term, and our SNS is activated for way too long. This wreaks havoc on our digestion, immune system, emotions, sexual health, and energy levels.

The vagus nerve and your stress response

When the parasympathetic system is employed, the vagus nerve is stimulated to send signals of relaxation, peace, and calmness to your body. When your vagus nerve is impaired, those messages aren’t sending.

Luckily, you can stimulate the nerve yourself to encourage the body to lessen your stress levels. Though there are a number of herbs which can help, simple relaxation techniques like mediation, prayer, laughter, and music or silence can make a huge difference in our vagal health.

How to Manage Your Stress Response | The Family That Heals Together

How to improve your stress response

First, begin with managing your beginning stages of response. You don’t need to perceive every event as a threat. Mantras such as “I have all I need,” “God is my strength,” & “This too shall pass,” will create a baseline of peace and strength in your world, eventually reminding even your subconscious that it doesn’t need to jump on every possible stressor.

Work on developing a solid foundation of a good schedule, concrete community and help, financial stability, and self-awareness (via journaling, meditation, etc).

Then, implement these steps to lessen your stress response.

  • Mindfulness – simply being aware of yourself, your response to events, and being present in the moment elevates your mindfulness. Being aware of the Four Agreements, as penned by Don Miguel Ruiz, can also help in your relations to yourself and others: Be impeccable with your word. Don’t take anything personally. Don’t make assumptions. Always do your best.
  • Deep and slow breathing – slowing your breathing can slow down your stress response and activate your parasympathetic system. Try 5 or 10 long breaths that fill your lungs all the way to your belly, clearing your mind and focusing on one object in front of you.
  • Sole water – imbalanced minerals play a huge role in adrenal health. If you have consistently been stressed, you may be depleted. Sipping sole water can rejuvenate your mineral levels and increase your energy, creating a more positive stress response. Learn how to make sole water here.
  • Adaptogenic herbs – in addition to a balanced, whole foods diet, adaptogenic herbs such as maca, ashwaganda, ginseng, holy basil, rosemary, milk thistle, and some mushrooms and can help your body cope with stress. Learn how to make your own adaptogenic herbal remedy here.
  • Give back and connect – volunteering at a friend’s home, local shelter, or charity will broaden your perspective on your life’s stressors and teach you how to cope with new situations. Realizing there’s a world apart from our struggles can send huge ripples of change through our view of our own stress.

The Adrenals 101

If you have been undergoing chronic stress, your adrenals may actually have sustained some damage. Your adrenal system may be overactive, or underactive after years of stressful burdens. If you are consistently short-tempered, have a very low sex drive, don’t enjoy social engagements, do not sleep well, have a consistently high heart rate or high blood pressure, it may be time to give your adrenals some additional support.

Supporting your adrenals

Cortisol is the primary hormone that helps us adapt and handle stress in our day to day lives. Yes, it’s that important. And unfortunately, it can become low producing or get thrown off its daily rhythm leading to major issues for your mental, emotional, and physical health.

Test your adrenals via a four-point (four different times of the day, see below) saliva test and consider supplementing for the lows (adrenal cortex extract) and highs (zinc and/or holy basil). We like this supplement and this supplement of adrenal cortex. Of course, if you know your farmer, you can also ask for the adrenal glands and desiccate them yourself.

Iron
To build up your thyroid and adrenal health, you need a solid supply of iron. It’s important to get your iron tested before working on healing your adrenals (see test below in Additional Resources). To improve iron levels, work on healing your gut, detoxing your liver, and getting enough natural iron. Consider taking desiccated liver capsules.

Selenium
Selenium is an important cofactor to thyroid hormone production. Selenium must be optimal for your thyroid and adrenals to function properly, as selenium prevents iodine from attacking the thyroid cells. You can consider a supplement like this one, or eating Brazil nuts, which contain high levels of selenium.

Iodine
As of the 1990’s, salt and other processed foods are no longer required to contain iodine. It was replaced by its not-so-healthy friend bromine, which works against iodine in the body and actually makes other toxins, like fluoride, stick in the body.

Originally derived from the sea, iodine is also found in cranberries, strawberries, kale, and seaweed. Kelp is one of the best natural sources, though most of us need more than kelp to supplement our low iodine levels.

In fact, the RDA is about .003% of the amount most iodine researchers say we need today. Iodine (with selenium) is needed to produce enough thyroid hormones, which in turn generate good ol’ ATP (energy) in your body.

Iodine deficiency looks like lack of energy, thinning hair and eyebrows, brain fog, fatigue, low immunity, and breast tenderness and cysts.

See testing, supplementation, and dosing suggestions in the Additional Resources section below, and be sure to read our full post on iodine supplementation here.

There is hope! You may not need therapy or medication to manage chronic low or even high levels of stress. You can change your stress response with a little of self-awareness and some help from a few natural supplements.

How do you handle daily stress in your life?


Additional Resources

Stop the Thyroid Madness Website

Stop the Thyroid Madness Book

BLT Thyroid Test

ZRT At Home Cortisol Saliva Test

Iron Test

Lugols Iodine

Natural Seagreens Iodine

Iodine Dosing

By: Danielle · Filed Under: Beautiful, Blog, health · Tagged: adrenal fatigue, adrenals, autoimmune disease, fight or flight, gut health, hashimotos, hormones, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, stress, stress response, thyroid, women's health

April 22, 2018

How To Treat A Yeast Infection At Home With What’s In Your Kitchen

Let’s face it, most of us women have had to deal with a range of “special” problems at some point, from painful periods to yeast infections. While they are certainly irritating, contributor Stefani is here to tell you about how to treat a yeast infection at home and perhaps even stop them from happening at all!

How To Treat A Yeast Infection At Home | The Family That Heals Together

Being a woman can be an amazing thing. We get to grow humans in our womb, nourish babies with our bodies, and let’s be honest – we get to wear all the pretty clothes. We also don’t have to smell like boys (and as a boy mom, I assure you this really is a thing).

But there’s a downside to womanhood.

The pain of our monthly cycles, whether it’s physical or emotional. Hormonal imbalances and the resulting fluctuating moods that will leave anyone feeling crazy (don’t tell my husband I admitted to this). And of course – the dreaded yeast infections.

While not a glamorous subject by any stretch, we’ve all been there.

Whether you suffer from chronic yeast infections or just get them out of the blue from time to time, it’s estimated that 75% of women have had to deal with vaginitis at some point in their lives.

So you’re not alone.

What is a yeast infection?

When Candida yeast has the opportunity to take over its environment, it will.

A yeast infection (aka vaginal candidiasis) is an overgrowth of yeast within the vaginal canal. While Candida normally lives inside the body and on the skin, an imbalance will allow yeast to quickly multiply and cause signs of infection or overgrowth.

The normal vaginal pH – or levels of acidity – in women of childbearing age is between 3.8 and 4.5. This slightly acidic environment helps keeps bad bugs or opportunistic ones – like Candida – in check.

When you add sperm, blood, amniotic fluid, or chemicals this changes the vaginal pH, giving yeast the window they need to multiply and cause vaginitis.

What causes yeast infections?

Contrary to what we may instinctively think, yeast infections don’t happen because you’re “dirty.”

Even those who are the most hygienic can suffer from their fair share of this yeast overgrowth. Though personal hygiene does have an impact on the health of our girl-parts, often, an infection isn’t because you’re not washing well enough.

Washing too aggressively and with soaps that contain fragrances and harsh chemicals is actually counterproductive to vaginal health.

These products can cause a change in the pH of our delicate vaginal biome, which then creates the ideal environment for yeast to thrive.

The best way to keep it clean is gently using a mild soap on the outside only, and making sure to wear clean cotton (or other breathable) underwear.

Those with a weakened immune system also have a much higher incidence of developing yeast infections. This is so prevalent that research suggests any woman with frequent or stubborn vaginal candida or other types of vaginitis be tested for HIV.

Additionally, the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics is actually one of the biggest contributors to the development of yeast infections. Antibiotics encourage the growth of the opportunistic yeast by killing off the normal, balancing vaginal flora.

This is one of the reasons why antibiotics should be reserved for only when you really need them. (Find out how to make your own herbal natural antibiotic here.)

Fortunately, knowing how to treat a yeast infection at home – gently and naturally – will help to create and maintain balance, even after antibiotic use.

P.S. if you DO find yourself in a position where antibiotics are a MUST, try taking Saccharomyces boulardii (a friendly yeast) a few hours away from each antibiotic dosage to keep candida at bay.

Again with the hormones

Women who are pregnant or taking birth control have higher rates of developing yeast infections. Why? Blame it on your hormones.

Research shows that estrogens allow candida to easily adhere to vaginal cells, which allows an infection to bloom. If you’re battling frequent yeast infections, you may be dealing with estrogen dominance.

It has also been discovered that Candida strains contain a receptor for female reproductive hormones, which also helps to provide an ideal environment for growth. 

So those pesky hormones aren’t only just a hassle for us (postpartum anxiety, anyone?) to deal with, they could actually be helping the yeast to get comfy and stay a while!

How do you know if you have a yeast infection?

Signs of a yeast infection will vary from woman to woman. But the most common symptoms of yeast infection include:

  • Vaginal itching and swelling (sometimes the itching is unrelenting and severe)
  • Pain during sex
  • Discomfort or pain when urinating
  • Abnormal vaginal discharge, which many say is thick, white, and lumpy like cottage cheese

Now that I’ve successfully turned you off of cheese for a while (sorry about that), let’s quickly discuss how you know you have a yeast infection.

A trip to the doctor can diagnose this for you easier than you can, simply because we just can’t see down there as well as they can, nor can we do advanced testing at home. But since 15-20% of women are asymptomatic when they have yeast infections, they often don’t get to the doctor right away.

If you’re wanting to hold off on a doctor’s visit, there are some home remedies for yeast infection that will go far in alleviating the symptoms or even eradicate it altogether.

Knowing how to treat a yeast infection at home and naturally is the key.

Do yeast infections go away on their own?

If you have a mild vaginal yeast infection, then there is a chance it will go away on its own. Sometimes the vagina needs time to be able to rebalance.

But this only helps if you know it’s a yeast infection. It could also end up being an STD or bacterial infection causing the symptoms. If you’re not sure, ask your doctor to do a test and clarify the situation.

How long does it take to get rid of a yeast infection without treatment?

If you know how to treat a yeast infection at home, then you can certainly give it a try. However, if it’s not getting better within a few days, see your doctor.

It could end up being something else entirely.

How to treat a yeast infection at home

If you want to know how to treat a yeast infection at home and naturally, prioritize prevention.

This requires cleaning gently down below with no perfumes, scents, or chemicals to disrupt the natural balance.

Also, wear clean and breathable underwear. This will provide a barrier and keep other bacteria from getting in and setting up shop.

So:
→ gentle cleansing
→ avoid leather panties.
But those sound incredibly uncomfortable anyways.

Most importantly, follow a healthy, real food diet.

Remember that health begins on the inside. Sugar feeds yeast and promotes overgrowth. By eating only nourishing foods, your immune system will have a fighting chance and your body will quickly heal.

Need some healthy recipe ideas? Check out our recipes section.

What remedies can I use for a yeast infection?

Treating a yeast infection at home will encourage your body to heal on its own. And while you won’t find all of them in your kitchen, you may have one or two that you can use right now.

How To Treat A Yeast Infection At Home | The Family That Heals Together

  • Olive leaf extract – has strong anti-fungal powers and can be taken orally to cut down on yeast. Grab a good one here.
  • Apple cider vinegar – is a natural anti-fungal, and when taken internally can tone down yeast overgrowth. Many people drink it daily to boost the immune system. Get it here.
  • Coconut oil – has gentle anti-fungal properties, and can be frozen into suppositories that can be left in overnight. Make sure to wear a pad to absorb what comes back out! Buy high quality coconut oil here.
  • Tea tree oil – known for its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, it can be mixed with coconut oil and applied on the outside of the vaginal area. Make sure it’s well diluted, or it could sting. Get the organic tea tree essential oil we recommend here.
  • Plain Greek yogurt – studies have shown that eating 8 oz of yogurt containing live Lactobacillus acidophilus each day decreases candida colonization. So make sure there’s no sugar added (that feeds the yeast) and get your yogurt on! (And, by the way, you can apply yogurt and kefir topically to replenish good bacteria down there!)
  • Take quality probiotics. – Also consider drinking kombucha and kefir and eating fermented foods like sauerkraut; these are great ways to get good quality probiotics into your gut. This helps to keep our delicate vaginal (and gut) biome balanced! Get our favorite probiotics here. (Again, you can also apply probiotics topically.)
  • Boric acid suppositories – you can put these capsules into your vagina at night time. When it’s repeated for a couple of weeks, boric acid suppositories can help get rid of recurring yeast infections. Buy them here.

Many of these natural remedies help to restore balance. And unlike harsh antifungal medications, these home remedies will also preserve the communities of healthy bacteria and yeast in your vaginal canal.  

Give a few of them a try, kick that yeast infection for good, and get back to focusing on the stuff that makes being a woman awesome.

By: Stefani Ganong · Filed Under: Beautiful, Blog, health · Tagged: health, hormones, natural remedies, women's health

March 29, 2018

Seed Cycling to Sync Your Hormones

Hormones are pretty important; that’s why we talk about them a lot around here. Below, contributor Danielle tells us how to naturally balance hormones using seed cycling.

Seed Cycling to Sync Your Hormones | The Family That Heals Together

What is seed cycling?

Seed cycling, also called seeding, is using specific seeds to help balance a woman’s menstrual cycle and hormones. The seeds promote hormones which should be produced during the respective parts of a cycle and thus help to create hormones when the body may be lacking or off-balance.

Women’s cycles historically revolved around the lunar cycle– the path the moon takes each month from the new to the full moon. (source) Women’s cycles are designed to begin on the new moon, leaving them ovulating on the full moon. However, modern lighting and lifestyle have swayed our rhythms to an unnatural cycle.

How does seed cycling work?

During the two main phases of the month, you can consume healthy seeds to promote the proper hormones during that time of the cycle.

Follicular phase

This phase starts when your period begins and ends when you ovulate. This will be days 1-14/15 of your cycle.

Luteal phase

This phase begins when you start ovulating and ends when you start your period again. This includes days 15/16-28/30 of your cycle.

Everyone’s cycle is a little different, so the days will be specific to your cycle. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long (the time between the start of one period and the start of the next).

Seeds to incorporate into your seed cycling routine:

  • Flax seeds (eat during the follicular phase, menses to ovulation, or new to full moon)
    Flax seeds promote estrogen production, which is the hormone that is dominant in the follicular phase.
  • Pumpkin seeds (eat during the follicular phase, menses to ovulation, or new to full moon)
    Pumpkin seeds also promote estrogen production.
    The natural estrogen-promoting substances in flax and pumpkin seeds help prepare the uterine lining for implantation, bringing the estrogen levels into balance (and fertility up!).
  • Sesame seeds (eat during the luteal phase, ovulation to menses, or full to new moon)
    Sesame seeds promote progesterone production, the dominant hormone of the luteal phase.
  • Sunflower seeds (eat during the luteal phase, ovulation to menses, or full to new moon)
    Sunflower seeds also promote progesterone production.
    Both sesame and sunflower seeds are high in zinc and vitamin E, important precursors for progesterone production.  (source)

Learn more details on the science behind seed cycling.

Be sure to get raw, organic seeds, and grind them well before consuming, either in a mortar and pestle, blender, or by chewing well. Adding your seeds into your daily consumption may be hard to remember at first, but will become second nature.

Here are some ideas to incorporate seeds into daily meals:

  • Smoothies
  • On top of salads
  • Make an avocado and olive oil dressing with your ground seeds
  • Garnish on top of soups
  • Add to stir fry

Seed cycling: how to

Days 1-15 – Follicular Phase – New to Full Moon

  • Take 1-2 tablespoons of flax and pumpkin seeds daily.

*Taking omega 3 supplements, such as extra virgin cod liver oil during this time, and an estrogen-promoting tincture during this phase may also help.

Days 16-30 – Luteal Phase – Full to New Moon

  • Take 1-2 tablespoons of sesame and sunflower seeds daily.

*Taking evening primrose oil, and a progesterone-promoting tincture during this phase may also help.

But what if you have an irregular cycle?

If you don’t have a regular cycle and have no idea when your cycle should start, don’t worry, there’s a built-in start mechanism- the moon.

Start your seeding cycle as “Day 1” on the next new moon, and change to the next seeding cycle as “Day 15” on the full moon. Seeding is beneficial for those without a period (amenorrhea), and those going through perimenopause, menopause, and even postmenopause.

It may take a few cycles for your periods to become regular and for you to see changes. I would encourage the use of a cycling journal to track your symptoms and continue to cycle for at least four cycles before determining it isn’t right for you.

Signs your hormones may be imbalanced

Thanks to loads of hormones in our food supply, a busy lifestyle, hormone disruptors in our beauty and home products, and nutrient-lacking food, many women suffer from hormonal issues.

Hormones are produced in the liver and manage the majority of the body’s systems. They are responsible for sending information from one part of the body to another, such as to tell you when you’re hungry and full, cold or hot, sexually interested or… not.

Here are just a few of the most common signs that your hormones may be imbalanced:

  • Weight gain and abnormal body fat
  • Thinning hair and brittle nails
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Heart palpitations
  • Bloating
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Mood swings
  • Blood sugar highs and lows
  • Attention issues
  • Infertility
  • Tender breasts
  • Sugar or carbohydrate cravings
  • Hot flashes
  • PMS
  • Joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness
  • Tender breasts
  • Heavy menstruation
  • Decreased energy
  • Low libido

Hormone tests are available at most obstetrician and physician’s offices (and would be covered by insurance), although I would suggest taking a more natural and comprehensive approach. A newer test has recently emerged called a DUTCH hormone panel, and is offered by more naturally-minded care providers like naturopaths and functional medicine doctors.

Food and lifestyle changes to balance hormones

Many gynecologists and physicians will prescribe birth control to correct menstrual issues and irregular cycles, but birth control contains synthetic hormones that are potentially damaging to your health.

Opt for natural foods and lifestyle changes to alleviate your symptoms and correct your hormonal imbalances:

  • Reduce stress. I know this can be hard to do, but it’s pivotal. Cancel commitments, look for a biofeedback doctor in your area, rearrange your schedule, and book exercise, reading, and rejuvenation time for yourself.
  • Look into homeopathics (find a homeopath in your area that understands homepathics by lunar cycling).
  • Sip on teas that promote a healthy cycle, such as this one with raspberry leaf and nettle.
  • Use herbal tinctures that are also cycling, such as phytoprogest and phytoest.
  • Consider supplementing organic sources of progesterone, such as wild yam
  • Eat a whole foods diet, focusing on grass-fed meats such as beef liver and wild-caught fish, and organic raw vegetables and fruits.
  • Limit non-organic dairy and meats as they may contain added hormones.
  • Try Maya abdominal massage.
  • Tone up your liver by sipping on dandelion tea or doing a gentle liver cleanse.
  • Take a high quality probiotic, like Smidge, to heal your gut.
  • Revamp your sleep lighting: remove all artificial lights from your bedroom, and stay away from computer and phone screens for at least an hour before bed. Sleep in total darkness most days, and sleep with a light (from the moon or in your room) for three days around ovulation, mimicking the moon’s patterns.

It’s estimated that 50 million women in America are dealing with hormonal imbalance, greatly reducing their quality of life. Seed cycling is a natural way to balance your hormone levels without synthetic hormones that can wreak havoc on your health. For more information, check out the links, books, and testimonials below. Happy seeding cycling!

More seed cycling resources

Testimonial

Carrot ‘n Cake’s Testimonial

Books
Taking Charge of Your Fertility

By: Danielle · Filed Under: healing · Tagged: adrenals, flax seeds, gut health, hormones, pumpkin seeds, seed cycling, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, women's health

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