Effects of Summer Heat on your Menstrual Cycle

Do you find yourself becoming more fiery during Summer? As if your usual calm becomes more active and easily irritated. It is not in your imagination.

Summer heat does create changes in us. Chinese Medicine talks about each season carrying its own unique energy.

Some women more calm can feel that summer bring out their inner sunshine, while some usually more active find themselves more irritable.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, yin and yang must be perfectly in balanced for the body to work harmoniously. We can easily compared it with hot and cold.

• Hot patterns are associated with excess yang energies and symptoms like agitation, anxiety and insomnia.
• Cold patterns are associated with excess yin energies and symptoms like abdominal and menstrual cramps, cold feet and hands.

Research suggests that exposure to high temperatures can disrupt the delicate balance of your hormones responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle. Heat stress can affect the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that plays a crucial role in regulating hormones, including those involved in menstruation. When the body experiences heat stress, it may alter the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, leading to irregularities in the menstrual cycle.

How does hot weather affect your period?

Bloating
Increased fatigue
Headaches
Longer period bleeding
Delayed period
Earlier period
Insomnia
Anxiety
Mood swings

What can you do about the fluctuations of hormones in the heat?

• Staying hydrated with lots of water
• Keeping up your regular meal intake and ensuring you get enough nutrients
• Stay clear of too much alcohol
• Cooling Foods: Incorporate cooling foods such as cucumber, watermelon, and mint into your diet. These foods can help regulate body temperature and provide hydration
• Wear loose and free-flowing clothes to avoid disconfort
• Movement, keep your Qi moving

    How can Chinese Medicine help keep your hormones balanced during hot weather?

    1. Acupuncture will restore a healthy flow of Qi and blood which basically allows everything to be regulated and flowing like it should.

    It will help maintain a healthy hormonal balance (estrogen and progesterone) ensuring a smooth menstrual cycle. It will also prevent the appearance of PMS such as bloating, headaches, lower back pain.

    It will reduce cortisol and stress levels leading to less anxiety and better nights sleep.

    2. Practice Qi Gong exercises to move and balance Qi (energy) within the body. These gentle movements can help alleviate stress and promote overall well-being.

    3. Herbal Medicine tailored to the individual needs. Herbs like Rehmannia and Goji berries are traditionally used to nourish the kidneys and balance hormones.

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