When I was a teenager, it was very common for girls my age to be prescribed birth control for another reason besides being sexually active. They had painful periods, irregular periods, or horrible acne and the common fix was to go on the pill. Believe it or not, it’s still something that is being prescribed today to woman all ages to fix hormonal issues.
However, the truth is, it’s not fixing anything. It’s a band-aid. It’s covering up the pain but not addressing the root issue. Furthermore, we are becoming more and more educated on the negative health effects of the birth control pill (a discussion for another day). So do we really want to take it if we don’t have too? In my personal opinion, we don’t. Especially not for young girls.
Estrogen and progesterone are two of the key hormones that help regulate the menstrual cycle. Our cycle starts off where estrogen levels rise, followed by a decline in estrogen levels in the second half and an increase in progesterone. When there is an imbalance between these two hormones, the body can result from such symptoms as painful periods, extreme PMS symptoms, menstrual cramps, acne, or irregular cycles.
The good news, hormonal imbalance usually can be fixed naturally and the first step that I always recommend is seed cycling. It’s gentle on the body and a great first step to help with rebalancing. If there isn’t a success with this protocol, then usually we know its a bit more complex of an issue and I recommend working with a nutritionist or naturopath where a more intense protocol will usually be recommended through nutrition, herbs, and supplementation.
Seed cycling is used as a technique that helps your body naturally re-balance its hormone levels. Phase 1 is the first half of your cycle and starts the day you get your period. If your period is absent, start this protocol on the first day of the new moon. The goal of this phase is we want to promote healthy cell membranes. Phase 2 starts on day 15 of your cycle, or if your period is absent, on the next full moon ( approx 15 days ). This stage is when your body shifts from estrogen production to progesterone production and ovulation begins.
This protocol contains a combination of seeds and supplementation. I find that the easiest way to consume the seeds is in a smoothie, but of course, it’s up to you how you have them. Adding them to salads, soups, or topped on meals is a few other popular ways to consume them.
Seeding Cycle Protocol:
Phase 1: Follicular Phase ( Day 1-14 of your cycle)
- 1 tablespoon organic, raw ground flax seeds
- 1 tablespoon of organic, raw ground pumpkin seeds
- Fish oil supplement that contains at least 1500mg combined EPA & DHA
Flaxseed contains lignans that bind up excess hormones and pumpkin seeds are high in zinc to support progesterone production and release. I also recommend taking a fish oil supplement that provides omega 3 as the seeds in phase 2 are high in omega 6 and its important to keep a healthy ratio between omega 3 and 6 for hormonal balancing. Furthermore, essential fatty acids provide the building blocks for making hormones.
Phase 2: Luteal Phase ( Day 15-28 of your cycle)
- 1 tablespoon organic, raw ground sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon of organic, raw ground sunflower seeds
- Evening primrose oil supplement that contains 500mg
Sesame seeds also contain lignans to block excess estrogen and sunflower seeds contain selenium to assist the liver in the detoxification process of excess hormones. I also recommend taking evening primrose oil as it contains GLA ( gamma-linoleic acid) which inhibits the production of inflammatory prostaglandins which can lead to menstrual pain.
Results
From my experience, it usually takes 3-4 months before this will start making a noticeable difference to you and your cycle. Like anything, there is no such thing as a quick fix, and you need to put in the time to see the results. It’s very important to be consistent with this protocol, so keep a journal, checklist, or set an alarm on your phone, as this will also have a big impact on your results.
If you or someone you know is suffering from irregular cycles or a victim of painful period symptoms, remember this is usually your body trying to tell you something is off. Give seed cycling a try, its 100% natural and the only side effect is you may feel a heck of a lot better 🙂
XO
B