If you struggle with symptoms of the menopause such as hot flashes you are not alone. Symptoms due to changes in women’s hormone levels can make you feel like you’re going crazy. Most women have at least some symptoms at this time. But, for up to 20% of women these symptoms are very distressing. Symptoms during […]
Women's health and hormones
Safe alternatives for morning sickness
In the UK news this week is a story about morning sickness costing the NHS £60 million per year. The article suggests that four out of five women in the UK suffer from nausea and many of them will seek medical advice. In fact, there may be as many as 80 ambulance callouts per day, […]
Is it safe to take probiotics in pregnancy?
I’ve written about the many health benefits of probiotics before, but are they beneficial in pregnancy? More importantly, do we know if it is safe to take probiotics in pregnancy? Probiotics are the beneficial microorganisms, usually bacteria, that are found in fermented foods and dietary supplements. The World Health Organisation suggests that probiotics taken in […]
How to prevent migraines during pregnancy
The good news is that more than half of women report improvements in their migraines during pregnancy. Unfortunately, you won’t know if you are one of the lucky ones until you’re pregnant. Since migraine medication can be harmful to an unborn child, ideally it should be avoided in pregnancy. Yet, being without your migraine medications […]
Herbal remedies to reduce menopausal hot flashes
Hot flashes are one of the most common problems of menopause. That periodic, sudden rush of heat and resultant drenching sweat can be most troublesome. Though many ladies turn to hormone therapy to help them through this time, there are concerns about how safe these medications are in the longer term. Which is why complementary […]
Processed meat and breast cancer risk
This recent study in the journal Nutrition talks about the effect of eating processed meat with respect to the risk of developing breast cancer. As well as other hormone-related cancers. We know from previous studies that eating more processed meat is associated with a higher risk of developing bowel cancer. Plus, these foods may be […]
Herbal remedies for menopause symptoms
Some women sail through their menopause and barely have any symptoms. Their monthly period diminishes and stops and that’s it. For the majority of women though, this is not the case and symptoms can be numerous and severe. Leading many to look at their options. These options might include hormone replacement therapy, bioidentical hormones, or […]
Why you should consider DUTCH hormone testing
Since I work with people with complex health issues, I sometimes suggest appropriate lab testing. This can include hormone testing. The test results can really help to identify the underlying causes of chronic illness. When it comes to formulating a treatment protocol for you I believe it is better to test, than to guess. Hormone […]
Natural topical treatments to ease painful periods
Painful periods can mean anything from mild pelvic discomfort to disabling pain. Most women that suffer with this pain on a monthly basis just accept this as normal. Yet periods should not be painful. Knowing what might be causing your painful periods is important. If you know what causes your pain this helps you to […]
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a chronic and usually very painful disease. Affecting around 20% of women of menstruating age. Doctors don’t know why some women get this condition but there are several theories. This lack of knowledge means at present there is no medical cure for endometriosis. Yet, if we understand what is endometriosis, we can find ways […]
Natural period pain remedies that work
If you struggle every month with menstrual pain and want to find natural period pain remedies that actually work, then this article is for you. Period pain or dysmenorrhoea* is the pain that some women have with menstruation. The pain can vary in intensity from mild discomfort to constant, painful cramping. Though centred in the […]
Why is breastfeeding better?
This week is World Breastfeeding Week. Breastfeeding is promoted during this week every year. As a means to improve the health of babies around the world. One way to encourage breastfeeding is to help women understand the benefits. So, why is breastfeeding better for your baby than formula feeding? Here I discuss the latest research on the benefits of breastfeeding. […]
How to prevent menstrual migraines naturally
An equal number of boys and girls suffer with migraine headaches. This changes after puberty. With the ratio of women to men migraineurs increasing with age. So that in her 40s a woman is more than three times as likely to suffer with migraines. It seems a woman’s complex hormonal fluctuations may be an additional cause of […]
Women have a higher risk of developing autoimmune disease
The prevalence of autoimmune disease appears to be increasing. While nearly four fifths of people with autoimmune conditions are women. Of course whether someone develops an autoimmune condition depends on many factors. We know that genetics have an influence on who is more likely to develop a disease. Yet the research shows that genetics account […]