A simple way to understand our hormones and their effects on our physiology is through the Yin/Yang mandala, the balance of opposites. Yin is calming, cooling, hydrating, and energy-building, while Yang is activating, motivating, heating, and energy-depleting. For optimal health, the balance between Yin and Yang in our bodies and environment must be just right—just like a plant needs both water (Yin) and heat (Yang) to grow.
Female sex hormones are primarily Yin—they nourish and lubricate tissues—while stress hormones are primarily Yang—activating and drying.
When Yang Takes Over
Our environment, and the qualities we often prioritize, are predominantly Yang, while the female body is naturally more Yin. Our lives are filled with career pressures, rushed schedules, long days, and busy social agendas, all of which often lead us to neglect our body’s essential need for rest and rejuvenation. This neglect signals to the body that survival is at stake.
As a result, the adrenal glands become exhausted trying to keep up with rising cortisol levels caused by stress, which weakens the immune system. At the same time, the digestive system shuts down, hindering nutrient absorption and creating congestion. Blood sugar levels become erratic, and the thyroid, responsible for regulating metabolism, stops functioning optimally. Survival trumps reproduction - the ovaries cease functioning properly, impacting reproductive health. We experience depleted energy levels, increased anxiety, and irritability. And many other complaints, that we often do not feel comfortable talking about.
...Now, are the statistics on women’s wellbeing starting to make sense? It's no wonder so many women feel out of balance!
What You Can Do
Here are a few simple ways to start increasing Yin to restore balance:
Prioritise Self-Care: Implement daily routines that focus on self-care. Conscious breathing is one of the fastest ways to calm the nervous system and reduce cortisol levels. Meditation builds resilience and calms the mind. You could also take a walk in nature, practice Yin yoga, or simply lie down—whatever fits best into your life.
Support Gut Health: Your gut is often referred to as the "second brain" for a reason. It’s responsible for a healthy immune system and the production of hormones like serotonin, which directly influences mood, cognitive function, sleep, memory, and more. Eating pure, warm, homemade meals of fresh ingredients—including pulses, whole grains, vegetables, and healthy oils—forms the basis of a healthy gut. Limiting meals to three times per day gives your digestive system enough time to work properly and avoid stagnation.
Stimulate Healthy Blood & Lymph Flow: When blood and lymph flow are restricted due to blockages and stagnation, next to overall feeling of heaviness and depleted energy, in our reproductive track this shows as menstrual cramps and heavy bleeding. A simple way to alleviate this is by using castor oil—referred to as "miracle oil" in Dutch—which has the natural ability to stimulate lymph flow, dissolve stagnation, and cleanse the liver.
Restoring balance doesn’t happen overnight, and finding the right routines, nutrition, and lifestyle for you can feel overwhelming, especially when so much is changing in our physiology.
Much love,
Kreetta
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