there is little scientifi c evidence to sup- port this theory. Using data from the app Clue, researchers did not fi nd a correlation between women synching up their menses with other women using information from 1500 women.
Is Melatonin Our Mediator with the Moon?
Dr. Sari Cohen, ND hypothesized that our menstrual connection to the cycles of the moon may be infl uenced physiologi- cally by the effect of melatonin, a hor- mone that is tied to circadian sleep cycles and is released in the dark. The evidence she provides for this assertion includes that the pineal gland, a hormone regulat- ing structure in your brain that is part of the neuroendocrine system, is sensitive to light and infl uences menstrual hormones as well as melatonin. Melatonin levels tend to be higher during menstruation and lower during ovulation with other repro- ductive affects.
If melatonin is a mediator of men- struation through its effects on the pineal gland and our exposure to light infl uences this rhythm, it is clear that this system has many disruptors in our modern times. Artifi cial Lighting, enhanced by “screen- time”, Electromagnetic Frequencies (EMFs), night-shift work, exogenous hormones, endocrine disrupting plastics, pesticides, medication, and birth control pills we are exposed to in our daily lives and environ- ment may play a role in the disruption in our natural rhythms and connection with the moon and our nature rhythms, as well as, increase our risk of chronic diseases and the rising rates of infertility.
Effective Integrative Medical Treatments for Menstrual Disorders
Integrative medical treatments for
which there is evidence for effectiveness in treating menstrual disorders with minimal to no side effects includes: nutritional supplements prescribed by a naturopathic doctor or functional medicine practitio- ner, energy medicine, yoga, meditation, energy psychology, exercise, body thera- pies (chiropractic care, manual therapy, craniosacral therapy, etc.). The benefi t of using these integrative therapies instead of the birth control pill as fi rst line medi- cal therapy for the treatment of menstrual disorders is that it poses no risk and can result in benefi ts beyond the treatment of the menstrual disorder, such as, improved sleep, digestive function, immunity, psy- chological and physical well-being. In Tra- ditional Chinese Medicine, our menses are an important sign and symptom of how our general health is and its treatment, rather than being suppressive, is supportive along with the whole system to bring the mind, body, and spirit back into balance.
Have We Lost Touch with Each Other and the Infl uence of the Moon?
“It is argued that at times marked out
by the moon’s phases, women used ritual means to bring their emotional energies into harmony, this cultural intervention in turn assisting in the realization of women’s physiologically-given potentialities for synchrony,” states Knight. Knight asserts that the synchronization of menstrual cycles and secluded moon time served less as a scientifi c fact than a cultural
way to organize society that left women time to gather. “If we could discern something universal within ritual and mythology which pointed unmistakably to menstrual synchrony as its source, then matters might be different”. It is up to us, as individuals, and as a collective group to choose to reimagine, and rebrand our moon time and how we treat it. Regard- less of the paucity of data to suggest we synchronize our cycles with the moon and with each other, there is great poten- tial benefi t in ritualizing and celebrating our light and dark cycles and to gather, empower, and support each other in a holistic way through our joy and suffering and maybe even howl at the moon once in a while.
Dr. Artemis Morris is the Academic director of Master in Integrative Health and Healing at The Graduate Institute www.
learn.edu; Professor of Nutri- tion at The University of Bridge-
port, Human Nutrition Institute; Medical director and founder of Artemis Wellness Center
www.drartemis.com and author of The Anti-Infl ammation Diet for Dummies. She is an integrative medical practitioner and enjoys lecturing on holistic health and the Mediterranean diet for medical confer- ences and to a wide array of audiences. See ad on page 41.
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22 Natural Nutmeg - October 2019
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