Can The Moon Balance Hormones?
In Chinese medicine we have the concept of yin and yang. Yang is masculine and represents the sun, fire, light, heat, extroversion, and high energy. Yin is feminine and reflects the moon, water, darkness, cold, quiet and reflective thinking.. Our U.S. culture, especially in cities, is predominantly yang in nature described by being loud, angry, stressful and competitive. In the past, women often exhibited hormonal imbalances and men notoriously suffered from heart attacks. Today men and women equally share hormonal imbalances. Men are now 50% responsible for infertility in couples and suffer with “low T”, ED and prostate issues like never before. The incidence of heart attacks occurs as often for woman as they do for men. In essence, our lifestyle is “burning out” our yin energy. Sadly these issues are surfacing at younger ages. To restore yin in both men and women, there are several valuable moon practices we can consider.
Exposing ourselves to moonlight and being immersed in the darkness of night, generates melatonin production in the pineal gland. It can also trigger a desired drop in cortisol to provide a deep sleep. When we sleep is when we heal. The best sleeping hours for restoring health are between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM. Aligning your slumber period with this time schedule helps combat insomnia and poor sleep quality. It will take time to restore the ideal circadian rhythm, but knowing how to do it and why, gives motivation for this practice.
When the sun sets and darkness befalls us, honoring natural cycles helps restore hormonal balance and ideal sleep quality. Avoiding artificial light is a challenge with this evening quest. Cities are lit up outside at all hours, so getting into your home by 8:00 PM is the best choice. TV and other screen time at night is another hurdle to overcome. The blue light of TV and phones stimulate brain activity at a time when strong provocations should be averted. Planning to read a book (on paper) at night with a yellow light, helps create a progressively darker setting before bed.
For woman specifically, the moon’s effect has greater relevance. Women are the embodiment of the yin element and therefore more highly impacted by the moon. Statistically more babies are born at or around full moons. A moon cycle is approximately 29 days just as a woman’s menstrual cycle. Ideally a woman’s flow should start at the new moon, but many will start at the full moon instead.
For achieving deep sleep, a normal circadian rhythm and restoring a healthy menstruating cycle, we want to sleep in a completely dark bedroom all month. This may require room darkening shades, but well worth the investment. At the time of the full moon, which may last up to 3 days, open the shades or curtains to expose the room to the moon’s light. If this is not possible, consider buying a full spectrum light and using it as a substitution. Place the lamp in an adjacent room to cast it’s light into the bedroom from a distance, so it’s not too bright.
For menstruating women, it may take 3 or more months to restore her cycle. Aligning one’s cycle with the ideal days of the month can regulate toward 5 days of flow. Continuing this practice may also diminish cramping, clotting and heavy bleeding over time. Once a woman’s cycle is in sync with the moon, harmony and yin balance prevent hormonal storms from erupting.
Historically, the moon had a mystical and beneficial quality to human life. During Egyptian times and throughout indigenous cultures the allure of moonlight was revered for its great value on health. As I write about so many practices and natural offerings to improve health, I hope to motivate our ‘yin-deficient’ society towards balance and faith in the natural approach to life.
Dr. Julie Wilson 6009 N Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL. 60646 773-481-9988
http://drjuliewilson.com