macro girls: help!!!

Ok, i've been eating macro for about a year now, having come from 10 years on lacto-ovo vegetarian diet. I exercize and all that regularly, have no major health issues, but!!!! My mother, younger sister and I have amazingly irregular menstral cycles. I had been on the pill since I was 16, almost 10 years but dropped it when i began to eat macro, without the pill I tend to go 6 months or more without a period.

I've tried stricter macro cleansing diets, qi gong liver massages, daikon hip baths and even vitex or chasteberry fruit pills, but nothing is working!!! I heard that if I went to see a homeopathic doctor they would be able to help me, any suggestions??? It makes me so sad how quickly my gyno just put me on the pill without really looking into why! too many of us are on drugs for symptoms and no one's looking into the reasons why. Thanks girls, any help is great help!

[Cool Dude]

Hi chipchewmunk,

Welcome to Cybermacro.com the place where people usually come to get macrobiotic advice.

If you want homeopathic advice like that usually given by homeopathic or naturalpathic physicians and counselors, then you'll probably have to go to a homeopathic or naturalpathic website

So here's some macro advice...

There are a number of women in macrobiotics that know something about gynecological problems.

One is Jessica Porter who wrote in her book The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics:A Philosophy for Achieving a radiant Mind and a Fabulous Body

"Menstruation

As we all know, women go through a complete hormonal cycle roughly every twenty-eight days. And like every natural cycle, it is a complete trip from yin to yang and back again. The menstrual cycle consists of two phases. First, during the time between menstruation and ovulation the uterus is repairing its lining, or endometrium. The body is concentrating its energy toward this effort and toward the follicle maturing in the ovary. This phase is more yang. Second, during ovulation when the ovum is released, extreme yang becomes yin, and we enter phase two. If the ovum is not fertilized, the body becomes more yin, prepares to shed the endometrium, and phase two concludes with the hormonal signal to release. If however, the ovum is fertilized, the body goes on a completely different journey of pregnancy (which is very yang), but too omplicated to cover here in detail.

So why do crave chocolate right before your period? Let's think of it this way: in summer, you crave foods that help you to align with the season-fruits, salads, and other good stuff that cause expansion. In winter, you gravitate toward foods that contract you. Using that same intuition, women naturaJiy crave expanders like sugar, chocolate, and sometimes alcohol right before their periods, which is the time of greates expansion.So, youre doing fine already. However, if you are also eating lots of meat, chicken, eggs, salt, dairy, and baked flour (all very yang), you are inviting in as much Of not more) contraction than expansion. Eating these foods during phase two of your cycle is like eating ice cream in winter. It goes against the tide. Too much yang energy in the body can lead to cramping backaches, headaches, or even more serious menslrual complications. So, if youare feeling the onset of PMS, do yourself a favor and go easy on the yang foods:

. Reduce or eliminate fish or any other animal food.

. Reduce salt intake go easy on seasonings, pickles, and condiments.

. Reduce or eliminate all bread and bakedvflour products-you'll thank me.

. Avoid white sugar. But go for sweets like rice syrup, barley malt, or even maple syrup. .

. Emphasize leafY greens and lighter cooking styles.

. Feel free to reduce whole grains, emphasizing vegetables and grain products.

. Go for lighter grain dishes like buIghur wheat, couscous, and noodles.

. Have some fruit.

. If you're in good health, relax with a Rice Dream Chocolate sundae (see p. 119).

. If you're in good 'heallh (and not a recovering alcoholic), have a beer or some sake.


Staying yin by eating good-quality macrobiotic foods can make your period a comfortable, even joyous expression of your alignment with nature. For lessening menstrual cramps, see Daikon Drink (p.183)"



Be Well.

Cool Dude

[Klara]

macro - great bio - life

I referred Mark in a different post to the article by Michael Rossoff - Michael's main contention is that sometimes we have to have a wider approach to mb, and not just close off other avenues.

I know in Ginat's healing story (on this site) she tried many things to help her with her healing.

I know in many classes I take on mb, other topics are brought up such as massage, energy healing, exercises, visualization and even chanting.

We're all in this great adventure together, all trying to figure it out the best we can. For myself personally, and maybe for many mb people, pill popping (vitamins) or even homeopathic solutions doesn't seem to fit in the "balance" of schemes, yet I can understand when something is challenging you in your health, you do need to look wherever there might be hope for an answer.

Did a counselor put you on the stricter cleansing diet? Macrobiotically, they have tools (oriental diagnosis) where even a strict cleansing diet would be adjusted for your particular condition. Sometimes even a small fine tuning can make a huge difference.

I wish you healing and good rhythm.

Klara

[Ciara]

Hey Chipchewmunk,

I have experienced this exact problem and know many other women who have major iregularities with their cycles. There are so many reasons for this, it could be environmental or stress related, but in my experience, our nutrition is the single most influencing factor on our cycles.

I am not a strict macrobiotic precisely because of this issue (and also because my willpower sometimes fails me!!). I don't believe that the macro diet provides enough healthy fats for women. I went to see a naturopath because I hadn't menstruated in about 9 months. She was amazing, and treated me in a totally holistic way, which was in stark contrast to my doctor who was basically like "So do you wanna go on the pill or what?", she didn't ask me any questions about my life or what could be causing the problem.

Anyhow, my naturopath encouraged me up my fat intake - I'm eating much more olive oil, ABC nuts (almonds, brazils, cashews, which create a whole protein as well as providing good fat), avocado and more fish than I am strictly comfortable with (morally speaking). The result is that i now menstruate regularly, pretty much on a 28-30 day cycle. She also put me on Vitex which has been hugely successful for my body. The important thing is though, that you have to do all the right things at once to kick start your body. I would HIGHLY recommend that you see a naturopath.

I hope this helps. My best friend has experienced basically the exact same problem, but she lost her period for over a year! She now menstruates regularly again after seeing the same naturopath. Try to find a naturopath who is a specialist in fertility. It hurts the pocket a bit but is worth it for your health.

Ciara

Thanks so much to all for your help, I just contacted a naturopathic doctor who specializes in women's health. I agree ciara, it's worth whatever seeing a specialist even here in nyc (the land of expensive...well, everything!) may cost me.

[evelyn]

hey all....
I still have time to adjust I suppose--I am 17 so it has only begun. However, my cycle is very irregular and the last time was about 4 months ago. I am a runner and my doctor has told me that the constant movement or w/e causes me to have it less...the fact that I have very little body fat is another factor according to the doc...I am new to macrobiotics personally because I only conducted research on the lifestyle but have not followed it myself. I really enjoy brown rice and some vegetables that a macrobiotic person may have...but I have all types of other foods as well. I would like to find someone in my area (Long Island NY) who may be able to help me so that my cycle is regular or closer to regular....my doctor had me on an ice-cream and peanut butter diet about 2 months ago---I decided the ice cream every night was a bad idea but continued w/ the peanut butter (pb+j sandwiches) So--any advice, assistance, contact ppl info is greatly greatly appreciated...Thanks

[Curious]

hi evelyn- i'm also pretty young, 19. i just randomly found out about macrobiotics a few months ago when i went to a free dinner offered in the area (and met Jessica Porter there! author of the hip chick's guide to macroiotics). it was completely random. i was wondering how you got involved with this so early too? cheers

[evelyn]

Hey--
I was enrolled in a science research program. For the first year I worked with a cardiologist studying myocardial infarction-- the build up of plaque causing heart attacks. I learned so much about the function/anatomy of the heart--potassium channels...But I wanted to see the if diet/food would affect those in risk of heart attack or those who had survived...Ironically, around the same time a family friend who lives out on the Island was suffering from pancreatic cancer and went to the Kushi Institute for a consultation...I talked with him and have been into macrobiotics ever since. I am not macrobiotic myself but I try to stay away from certain foods....nice to meet you

[Ciara]

Hey Evelyn,

I live in Sydney, Australia, so I can't offer local help or ideas for who you could go see. A Naturopath who specialises in fertility has been ideal for me personally.
Excessive exercise will definitely set you back in terms of your cycle. It is unfortunate, but that's just how it works. As I said in my last post, I reckon the best thing you can do for yourself is to eat lots of good fats like olive oil, nuts, avocado, etc. If you can put a bit of weight on it will probably help. Your doctor sounds a little misguided though - refined sugars and saturated fats are never a good idea, even when you are trying to gain weight.
As i said to Chipchewmunk, I reckon it is worth it to go see a specialist, for sure.
Good luck with it all, keep us updated.
Ciara

[Klara]

To Curious,

Wow, I'm envious!!!! Free dinner AND meeting Jessica Porter. You must live a charmed life!!!! What a wonderful wonderful way to be brought into macrobiotics. And all of you so young!!! Strength to all of you, the next generation. Maybe you all will be able to bring this world to a better place. Meanwhile to all of you, have patience and enjoy every new discovery.

Klara

[Curious]

thank you Klara. it was a lucky situation looking back, but at the time it was just something to do on a thursday night. i should say that Jessica Porter is hands-down one of coolest people i've met. very laid back, funny, lots of energy. really inspiring and she had good advice to give to me about personal diet changes.

chipchewmunk, here are my two cents on the topic.. if you've been on the pill.. your body may be a bit frazzled from the hormone shifts and will need a good amount of time before it recovers. diet shifts have always caused my menstruation to do strange things but i wouldn't be very concerned if you feel healthy.

not getting your period does not mean that you are not ovulating and will be unable to get pregnant. it simply means that your body may be "reabsorbing" and saving the tissue rather than expelling it. in fact some people think this is a really good sign!! read this:

http://www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com/menstruation.htm
"Hemorrhage in the uterus is no more normal than is hemorrhage in the brain or lungs."

this information particularly concerns the raw diet which may be seen as yin. and menstruation itself makes the female body slightly more yin than a man's because it lets out the flow of blood.. therefore, menstruation may become unnessesary on such a diet. you might want to take a look at what you're eating - raw foods? its no surprise that oily and meaty foods can quickly return the cycle back.

one woman says: " On raw foods - even more nutrients - and no cooked foods, menstruation stopped. But if I ate an amount of something cooked, menstruation would start the next day. It is said that raw eggs are nutritious, so I tried that once. My body said no, but I swallowed some anyway. Within the hour I got painful PMS cramps and menstruation, due to the raw egg. What menstruation does is get rid of an amount of blood. This way new - fresh and clean - blood has space to be produced. "

i think macrobiotics can go a long way in explaining the process occuring here. also note that people who tend to be healthier and more athletic lose their period right away. i know the whole women's track team at my school loses their period during season. its something worth thinking about. perhaps we should question our thoughts about the health of the process.

well, that's my input. good luck.

[lysia jones]

Hello, I find the yang early and yin later phases interesting. What about the moon? We should theoretically bleed with the full moon? I track when I ovulate and due to stress that is often delayed. When I finally ovulate, then it is for me 14 days till menses. I take my temp. Aside from varying from 24-40 days I am pretty regular. I cant eat icecream- it kills me. Parsley is a good herb for the flowing action. Some use color at different phases from white to red to honor the energy of ones cycle. Reduction of unnatural light and exposure to the moon is a nice balancer. Just thoughts...

For the woman who started this thread,
I HIGHLY recommend that you try chaste tree again, but only in a tincture/extract form. The pills did not work for me and the extract did!!
Of course along with a healthy diet, ect....
Good luck!

One more suggestion - this one also worked just as well as the chaste tree tincture. It's just a matter of whether you want an herbal or purely macro approach. You can make a black bean juice by boiling 1 cup of black beans to about 5 cups of water for about an hour and 1/2. You can then drink a cup of this juice 1-2 times per day. You can save it for 2 days and heat slightly before having a cup. This works amazingly to regulate cycles and encourage a healthy flow. You can read about this in a book "Healing Ourselves" by Naboru Muramoto - it is out of print but can be purchased used.

Your name is "unregistered" Oh no!!! But thanks so much for the tincture and black bean drink advice, much appreciated. I visited the Naturopathic doctor and she put me on a host of vitamins, namely a bio-gyn that's got some chaste berry in it. We'll see how it all goes! Thanks again