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 […]
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
The journal Nutrition recently published a study on the effect of eating processed meat with respect to the risk of developing breast cancer and 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 linked to cancers […]
Why its best to talk to a professional herbalist about your menopause
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 heath issues, I sometimes suggest appropriate lab testing. This can include hormone testing. The test results can really help to identify 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 testing can be […]
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 […]