Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life: Achieving Optimal Health and Wellness through Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, and Western Science

by Claudia Welch

Overview

An accessible, thorough guide to hormones, how and why they become unbalanced, and the steps to restore hormonal health from holistic medicine expert Dr. Claudia Welch.


Internationally renowned Doctor of Oriental Medicine Claudia Welch breaks through the secrets behind hormonal health using the principles of Ayurveda and the holistic sensibility of Dr. Christiane Northrup. Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life gives women the essential tools to achieve the perfect balance between their yin (sex hormones) and yang (stress hormones), and between the body and the mind.


You'll find the information you need to restore your body's natural harmony, including:

• Tips to help heal your most pressing concerns, from menstrual pain, infertility, and menopause to breast and heart health
• The best foods to eat for optimal health and wellness
• Natural sleep secrets
• What to do when you are just feeling crummy
• How stress sabotages hormonal balance
• Practical, easy-to-adopt stress-management techniques

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738214825
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	03/22/2011
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	398,839
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Dr. Claudia Welch is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, an Ayurvedic practitioner and educator, and author of several books including Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life; Chinese Medicine and Western Science; and The Four Qualities of Effective Physicians. Dr. Welch lectures internationally on Oriental and Ayurvedic medicine, exploring how ideas in Eastern medicine apply to women's health, and today's reality in general. She has served on the teaching faculty of The Ayurvedic Institute, Kripalu School of Ayurveda, Southwest Acupuncture College, and Acupractice Seminars. She lives in Vermont. drclaudiawelch.com

Table of Contents

Preface: A Couple of Notes xiii

1 The Stress Epidemic 1

How Did We Get into This Situation? 2

Are We Talking About You? 4

How to Change Course 5

The Theory Behind the Stress Epidemic and This Book 7

How This Book Works 8

Take-Home Messages from This Chapter 9

Part I Duality: Yin, Yang, and Hormones

2 Hormones: Ambassadors of Yin and Yang 13

Yin and Yang 14

3 Sex Hormones: The Ambassadors of Yin 18

Estrogen: Yin Within Yin 18

Progesterone: Yang Within Yin 21

4 Stress Hormones: The Ambassadors of Yang 23

Cortisol: Yang Within Yang 24

DHEA: Yin Within Yang 27

Oxytocin and Prolactin: Bonus Buffers 27

5 Understanding How Yin and Yang Hormones Interact 29

Survival Always Comes First 30

Nature's Good Intentions for Us 31

6 Why Not Just Take HBT/Synthetic or Bioidentical Hormones? 34

Synthetic Hormones 34

Bioidentical Hormones 36

Take-Home Messages from Part I 38

Part II Women's Health Concerns

7 Women's Health Concerns: An Overview 41

8 Feeling Crummy: Our Best Early-Warning System 43

What Does Eastern Medicine Do About "Feeling Crummy"? 44

What Should I Do? 45

9 Menstruation 53

Why We Have Cycles 53

Eliminating Cycles 55

What Does Eastern Medicine Do About Menstruation? 58

What Should I Do? 59

10 Menstrual Difficulties 60

Scanty or Absent Periods 60

What Does Eastern Medicine Do About Scanty or Absent Periods? 61

What Should I Do? 62

Heavy or Painful Periods 64

What Does Eastern Medicine Do About Heavy Bleeding or Painful Periods? 67

What Should I Do? 69

Irregular or Missed Cycles 69

What Does Eastern Medicine Do About Irregular or Missed Cycles? 71

What Should I Do? 71

11 Birth Control 72

Historical and Current Practices 72

What Does Eastern Medicine Do About Birth Control? 78

What Should I Do? 79

12 Fertility and Conception: The Four Crucial Element 80

The Egg 80

The Sperm 86

The Reproductive System 87

Timing of Conception 90

What Does Eastern Medicine Do About Conception? 92

What Should I Do? 97

13 Breast Health 98

Considering the Known Risk Factors 98

Synthetic Hormones and Breast Health 105

What Does Eastern Medicine Do for Breast Health? 107

What Should I Do? 110

14 Perimenopause and Menopause 113

Perimenopause and Menopause: From Brawn to Brains 114

Synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy 117

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy 122

What Does Eastern Medicine Do for Perimenopause and Menopause? 123

What Should I Do? 125

15 Heart Health 128

Womens Heart Health vs. Men's Heart Health 129

Inflammation and Heart Health 132

Diet, Walking, Stretching, and Heart Health 134

Smoking and Heart Health 136

Emotions and Heart Health 137

Synthetic Hormones and Heart Health 138

Alcohol and Heart Health 138

What Does Eastern Medicine Do for Heart Health? 140

What Should I Do? 141

16 Osteoporosis 142

Bone Quantity and Quality 142

Hormones and Bone Loss 143

Calcium, Diet, and Exercise 145

Breastfeeding 146

Antidepressants 146

Osteoporosis Drugs 147

What Does Eastern Medicine Do About Osteoporosis? 149

What Should I Do? 150

17 Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia 151

What Does Eastern Medicine Do for Alzheimer's and Dementia? 153

What Should I Do? 155

Part III Using the Three Pillars of Health to Restore Hormonal Balance

18 The Importance of Diet and Lifestyle: An Overview 159

Disease Care vs. Disease Prevention 159

Awareness 162

Three Steps to Get Started 163

19 Quality and Quantity of Food 164

Quality 164

Quantity 169

20 Food, Medicine, and Poison 171

Ama, or Toxic Sludge 172

Eat in a Calm Mood and Environment 174

How to Reduce Food Intolerance 175

Cravings and Choices 176

21 What to Eat: General Guidelines 178

Whole Foods 178

What to Eat in Times of Stress 191

22 Meat: To Eat or Not to Eat 193

Building Blood and Strength 193

Belief Systems 195

Other Considerations 196

23 What Not to Eat 198

Fast or Highly Processed Food 198

Alcohol 201

Cola 203

Foods Treated with Pesticides and Chemicals 203

24 The Pros and Cons of Soy 206

The "Bad Soy" Camp 206

The "Good Soy" Camp 207

Soy: Meeting in the Middle 208

What Does Eastern Medicine Say About Soy? 209

Some Conclusions About Phytoestrogens 210

25 Essential Elements of a Healthy Lifestyle 211

Trapped on (the Modern Treadmill 211

The Good News (Yes, There Is Some!) 213

Relaxing into a Routine 214

Exercise 216

Sleep 222

Relationships 223

Environment 224

26 Stress Management Techniques 235

Stress and Its Causes 236

First Things First 237

Spiritual Practices and Meditation 239

Abhyanga: Warm Oil Self-Massage 242

Pranayama and Alternate-Nostril Breathing 243

Laughter 246

27 Changing Lifestyles, Changing Lives 247

Hope 247

Take Away Everything That Isn't Horse 250

Sacrifice Ambition at the Altar of Reality 251

Surrender to the Pace of Your Body 252

Making Choices 258

Self-Blame vs. Self-Responsibility 260

Nature Throws Us Curve Balls 261

How Long Does It Take to See Change? 261

The Three-Tier Treatment Strategy Revisited 262

Take-Home Messages from Part III 264

Appendix A Resources 271

Online Information on Ayurveda and Dr. Claudia Welch 271

Courses 271

Products 273

Practitioners and Counselors 274

Recommended Reading 278

Appendix B An Introduction to Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) 283

History and Modern Practice of Ayurveda and TCM 283

What to Expect from an Ayurvedic or TCM Consultation 283

The Five Elements 285

The Three Doshas, Constitutional Types, and Current Imbalances 286

Prana or Qi: The Life Force 287

Meridians, Channels, and Points 287

Gunas (Qualities): Like Increases Like and You Can Treat with Opposites 288

The Relationship of Duality: Yin and Yang 288

Diagnosis and Treatment 289

Appendix C Abhyango, or Ayurvedic Warm-Oil Massage 291

How to Perform Abhyanga 291

When or How Not to Do Abhyanga 292

Laundry, Cleaning, and Plumbing Tips 292

Appendix D How to Make Kitcheri and Ghee 295

Kitcheri 295

Ghee 296

Appendix E Castor Oil Packs for Uterine Health 297

General Directions 297

How Often to Use It 297

Warning and Important Note 297

Appendix F Food Glossary 299

Acknowledgments 301

Notes 305

Index 323

Editorial Reviews

In her first full-length effort, Welch offers women a comprehensive overview of Oriental Medicine. She suggests that the root of problems faced by modern women can be found in an imbalance between sex hormones and stress hormones that results in women "of all ages" experiencing problems ranging from "painful periods, mood swings, fatigue, and insomnia to...uterine fibroids, hot flashes, heart disease and osteoporosis." Welch, a licensed massage therapist who holds a certificate from the state of New Mexico to practice Oriental Medicine and a national certificate to practice acupuncture, wisely offers a disclaimer: "this book should not be taken or construed as medical diagnosis or treatment." She breaks down hormones (the "ambassadors of Yin and Yang"), discusses serious health issues, from breast risks to dementia, and offers methods for restoring hormonal balance. While these primarily include a diet based in organic whole grains, beans, green vegetables, and soy, meditation and exercise, and the reduction of stress inducers (some of her advice will strike readers as familiar), when taken as a whole, the advice is sound. A welcome eastern addition to the women's health discussion. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"Bringing clarity to the complexities of body chemistry, this well-crafted book will help women discover the rewards and rejuvenation that come with a balanced life."—Tucson Citizen

"A thought-provoking look into the ways out bodies are driven, and, often, run into the ground... If you are tired of being sick, and sick of being tired this is a reason in which you will find the beginnings of simple, holistic, and lasting relief."—San Francisco Book Review

"[L]oaded with good advice, spelling out simple changes that are both practical and easy to implement... For your own sake, read this book and take its lessons to heart."—Curled Up With A Good Book

"Dr. Welch brings a clear voice to the often confusing and conflicting body of information surrounding hormones and women's health... a user-friendly guide that skillfully blends Eastern therapies with Western health concerns."—Yoga International

"Her writing style is readable and user-friendly. Medical terms are explained. She includes easy recipes for improving diet. Issues concerning menstruation, birth control, breast and heart health, fertility, and aging are answered and Welch addresses how Eastern versus Western medicine deals with each issue. Especially helpful is Welch's analysis of Eastern spiritual practices and meditation."—Portland Book Review

"Readers will find a wealth of information on the sex (yin) and stress (yang) hormones, advice on how to address specific health issues, and ideas for stress management, healthy diet options (including recipes), and lifestyle changes. An informative and accessible door into the world of Eastern medicine, likely to be especially appreciated by women seeking ways to end the unhealthy cycle of stress in their lives."—Spirituality & Health

"Provide[s] a well-rounded view on an often confusing subject."—Energy Times

From the Publisher