When people doubt how they feel, and ask me if “Is it all in my head?” I generally tell them, “Your head is attached to your body.
Therefore, some how what you are feeling, has a physical cause, even if we cannot pin point it at this moment.”
When a woman, of any age, struggles daily to keep herself above water and can find no particular cause in her life to make her feel so low, she will doubt herself. “I do not know what is wrong with me,” she will say.
Or perhaps she will try to brush her feelings off saying she is peri-menopausal.
Highs and lows in women are often related directly to her hormonal cycles and its effects on her brain chemistry. I am continually amazed how little women actually understand the monthly cycle which plays out through most of their lives.
When I was in Grade 10, every week before gym, all the girls were ushered into the girl’s change room for 20 minutes of sex ed. The teacher, comfortable with showing us how to run and leap over a wooden horse than describing the intricacies of the menstrual cycle, was confused and embarrassed. The emphasis of these classes was not to let boys get too close and the difference between Kotex and tampons. Oh, so much more could have been taught.
When I share with women the relationship between their hormonal cycle and brain chemistry, there is the instant relief of self understanding. With understanding, one can then begin to make meaningful changes towards a sense of well being.
To begin, let’s look at the hormone involved.
The primary hormones at play with a woman’s moods are: estrogens and progesterone. In this article estrogen will be explored.
Estrogen is a feel good hormone. It dominates the first phase of the menstrual cycle.
As estrogen is released from the ovaries, endorphins are released in the brain.
Endorphins are the brain’s natural high. It’s hard to get stressed when endorphins are flowing. Along with endorphin, estrogen enhances the brain’s receptivity to the easy going neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine.
Why are there such as close relationship between estrogen and the happy brain chemicals? I have a theory.
Estrogens purpose is to prepare the uterus for a fertilized egg. This means the woman needs a mate. If a woman is grouchy and depressed, it is unlikely that the egg will be fertilized. Nature is so cunning.
Unfortunately, for many women when estrogen drops with ovulation, so do the feel good brain neurotransmitters.
The dramatic plunge causes some women to fall apart, loose her sense of support. After ovulation estrogen levels begin to rise again, and the dark or angry feelings abate as the endorphin begins to flow again.
Then just before a woman’s cycle comes to completion, the hormones and neurotransmitter take another nose dive throwing the woman again into emotional chaos.
There are many ways to create smoother transitions in brain chemistry easing the emotionally painful swings.
Exercise increases endorphins. Chocolate also stimulates endorphins. Craving chocolate anyone? Bread provides building blocks for serotonin and dopamine.
More cravings? Thankfully, non-fattening chicken and turkey are also important in building positive brain chemistry.
Herbs shine when it comes to releasing the tension of hormonal ups and downs.
Chaste berry (Vitex agnus-castus) is the queen of herbs when it comes to helping a woman find balance.
The pituitary gland, a pea size gland in the middle of the brain, controls the release of oestrogen and progesterone from the ovaries.
Vitex influences the pituitary gland to increase progesterone levels which off set rising levels of oestrogen. In this way, Vitex levels out the sudden swing in chemistry.
Vervain (Verbena officinalis) eases those frantic moments when there is just not enough time. This experience is often part of the PMS picture. Vervain also quiets down angry outburst.
If hormonal fluctuations cause forgetfulness and clumsiness, gingko (Gingko biloba) will support the brains uptake of dopamine. This neurotransmitter improves both memory and coordination.
I will be giving a talk on this topic on Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Snell Auditorium, The Downtown Library. All funds made by the talk will go to Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter.
Herbs for Life is written by Abrah Arneson, a local clinical herbalist. It is intended for information purposes only. Readers with a specific medical problem should consult a doctor. For more information, visit www.abraherbalist.ca. Arneson can be reached at abrah@shaw.ca