Naturopathic remedy for PCOS, Infertility & Menopause
Due to poor lifestyle, stress, poor sleep results in Hormonal imbalance, PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), infertility and many more.
Seed cycling is a naturopathic remedy that is claimed to balance hormones by regulating the hormone estrogen in the first half of your menstrual cycle and the hormone progesterone in the second half. Seed cycling proposes to balance estrogen and progesterone through the actions of phytoestrogens, zinc, selenium, and vitamin E.
Seed cycling balance hormones, boost fertility, and ease symptoms of menopause. It involves eating flax, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds at different times of the month to balance certain hormones.
Seed cycling is associated with many health benefits : Helping regulate periods, reducing acne, treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and infertility, and easing symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, and mood swings.
In a regular cycle, estrogen is produced during the first 14 days of the follicular phase as eggs in the ovaries ripen. Levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) increase just before ovulation, and estrogen levels drop just after ovulation. Once an egg has been released, the luteal phase starts, and progesterone and estrogen levels gradually increase in a careful balance to support conception and implantation. They drop again before the next period if no implantation occurs .
Follicular phase :
The day 1 of your period cycle marks the start of the follicular phase which continues till day 14 when ovulation occurs. During this phase estrogen is the dominant hormone as it prepares the body for ovulation. If estrogen is less, it will inhibit ovulation. If estrogen levels are high, it can aggravate the premenstrual symptoms (PMS). When you consume flaxseeds, the phytoestrogens present in them help to regulate estrogen levels. Phytoestrogens are plant compounds which mimic estrogen hormone in the human body. Pumpkin seeds provide Zinc which helps balance out the progesterone as is needed to prepare for the next phase of the menstrual cycle.
You can buy these seeds online :
Luteal phase :
Day 15 or post ovulation, starts the luteal phase which continues till the first day of your next period cycle. During the Luteal phase, the body needs more of progesterone and estrogen levels go low. Progesterone prepares the body for pregnancy by building up the uterine lining. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, progesterone decreases and lining sheds leading to bleeding hence marking the first day of periods. Consuming sesame seeds helps lower down the estrogen levels due to the presence of a specific polyphenol known as Lignans. Lignans convert into enterolactone in the body which binds to the estrogen receptors thus halting excess estrogen production. Vitamin E present in sunflower seeds helps to boost the progesterone levels. Balanced progesterone levels also help ease menstrual cramp pain.
Once the periods start, you switch back to flax seeds and pumpkin seeds.
For women with irregular periods, in order to keep a track of cycle days, it’s advised to follow the phases of the moon with the first day of cycle on the new moon day. Reason being our body was in sync with the Lunar cycle before the artificial light surrounded us. Women are supposed to be highly fertile around the full moon and the fertility is less around the new moon.
Apart from balancing the hormones in PCOS, research has shown that flaxseeds help to reduce androgen levels (male hormone) which are the causative factor of hirsutism (facial hair) in some females.
For the post menopausal women, seed cycling helps to reduce the symptoms of hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
Sesamin, the lignan present in sesame seeds, is converted to enterolactone by the intestinal microflora. Enterolactone has estrogenic activity which suggest sesame seeds consumption helps improve the sex hormone, blood lipids and antioxidant levels in post menopausal women.
Seed cycling is not gender based and it is helpful for men too. For men, you will have to cycle seeds oppositely. This means that, for the first 1 to 14 days, you will eat your ground sesame and sunflower seeds. And on days 15 through 28, you will eat your ground flax and pumpkin seeds. Men can suffer from the same metabolic imbalances that women do, even if they don’t have an actual period. The male cycle is best done according to the lunar cycle, so phase one goes from new moon to full moon, and then phase two, from full moon to new moon.
Many of my clients have overcome their hormonal problems by trying Seeds cycling but apart from this, we should also consider improving our lifestyle, stress, eating habits and physical activity.
Balanced lifestyle is the key.
Stay Healthy,
Stay Happy.
