Can’t Sleep?
When I was a much younger doctor, my patients in their 40s would warn me about the impending insomnia.
“You just wait,” they’d say. I never thought it would happen to me—I’d always been a solid sleeper! And yet, at 44, I found myself wide awake between 2 and 4 a.m. most nights, staring at the ceiling and muttering, “Seriously?” Sleep struggles are one of the most common early symptoms of perimenopause—even before hot flashes make an appearance…These are ingredients I’ve used and recommended for over 20 years in integrative and functional medicine.
Herbs for Hormonal Balance: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Women
I’ve spent years studying and using herbs for all things women’s health—and let me tell you, they can be game-changers. What I love most is that herbs have been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, long before modern science caught up to their benefits. When it comes to hormones, herbs can be powerful allies. Not all women want, need, or can use hormone therapy, and many are looking for additional support alongside diet, lifestyle, and exercise. That’s where these plant-based powerhouses come in.
Favorite High Cortisol Herbs
Stress sucks (mostly). It affects all aspects of our health, including pieces you didn’t even realize. Chronic stress can impact your hormones, your hair growth, the quality of your skin, your energy, your immune system and more. It can ramp up your anxiety, cause problems with your sleep, and ruin your symptoms of PMS. When I use the word “stress,” I mean anything that is physical, mental, emotional, environmental or otherwise that is messing you up. Of course there are good stressors - such as healthy exercise, planning a wedding you’re psyched for, and the travel day of a vacation. I’m not talking about that…
A Favorite Herb: Holy Basil/Tulsi
Every single night I drink tulsi rose tea. I even take it with me when I travel, that’s how much I love it. Tulsi is a sacred Ayurvedic herb that also goes by Holy Basil. It’s latin names are *Ocimum tenuiflorum* (or *Ocimum sanctum* L.) I’ll just call it Tulsi and explain why it’s also called, “Elixir of Life” given all it can do in the body for healing practices. I, personally, like the calming aspect of it. Tulsi is in the mint family but it doesn’t taste minty. Not to get nerdy but in human, animal and cell studies, it has been shown to be adaptogenic, metabolically supportive, modulatory to the immune system, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective (liver), antimicrobial, and have antidiabetic effects(1). Whew! That’s a lot!