Eliminating environmental toxins may play a role in supporting our reproductive health. Here’s our short-list for minimizing exposure and maximizing defense against environmental toxins.

1. Whenever possible choose organic and hormone-free foods.

2. Use a probiotic to help support good digestion and elimination.

3. Add an Organic Phytonutrient Powder to your diet to bolster anti-oxidant support and regularity.

4. Ask about our ART Recovery/Prep Program and products like Female Balance that can support our body’s detoxification processes.

5. Make sure your body care products contain NO synthetic dyes or fragrances, NO lab-derived preservatives or emulsifiers and NO detergents.

From: Ruder et al. Human Reproduction Update, Vol.14, No.4 pp. 345–357, 2008

We are very excited to introduce a new line of body care products called Anointed Body Care to our Pulling Down the Moon stores.

Valencia Orange – Tea Tree – Rosemary & Myrrh Deodorant by Anointed Body Care

Pulling Down the Moon invites you to try this 100% handmade deodorant infused with the seductive scent of oranges, a refreshing hint of tea tree and a splash of musky, down-to-earth rosemary and myrrh.While many antiperspirants contain aluminum, which may release toxins into the body while preventing the natural detox process, Anointed Body Care deodorants are aluminum-free and lovingly handcrafted with the finest all natural ingredients: only pure vegetable oils, pure water, pure essential oils, natural preservatives and natural emulsifiers are used. All of their products are crafted for superior performance from earth-friendly and animal-free ingredients to refresh and invigorate your soul.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR STORE

Hope Scented Body Lotion

Pulling Down the Moon encourages you to let yourself get carried away with Hope Scented Body Lotion created by Anointed Body Care. The scents of rose geranium, oranges and lemons will take you to a place where your worries are gently soothed away by this ultra-creamy lotion that contains Natural Oils and Vitamin E to nourish and moisturize your skin. Smooth on after bath or shower for daily radiance and silky skin.

Faith Scented Body Lotion

Pulling Down the Moon would like you to experience the benefit of Anointed Body Care’s all-natural, handcrafted Faith Scented Body Lotion. The scented infusions in this ultra-creamy lotion will remind you to stay grounded as you surround yourself with the earthiness of bergamot and cedarwood and encourage you to rise above your worries with the heavenly scent of lavender. Faith contains Natural Oils and Vitamin E to nourish and moisturize your skin. Smooth on after bath or shower for daily radiance and silky skin.

Anointed Body Care products are lovingly handcrafted with the finest all natural ingredients: only pure vegetable oils, pure water, pure essential oils, natural preservatives and natural emulsifiers are used. All of their products are crafted for superior performance from earth-friendly and animal-free ingredients to refresh and invigorate your soul.

Anointed Body Care products contain NO synthetic dyes or fragrances, NO laboratory-derived preservatives or emulsifiers and NO detergents. Each label clearly identifies the product’s contents and scents.

While breathing seems to be an elementary, even unconscious, activity most of us would benefit from breath work.  Our patterns of work keep us curled around computers or slumped in our cars.  Common breathing problems include short shallow breathing, holding our breath due to stress, reduced physical activity and time in nature as well as poor posture that limits our ability to take full, deep breaths.   Yoga sages also believed that our breath reflects the state of our mind.  Traditional teachings state that the more we can control our breathing the better we will be able to work with our negative thought patterns.

Our new drop-in class in River North is called “Pranayama & Meditation:  Tools for Rejuvenation” and will be a weekly exploration of yoga breathing and meditation techniques designed to promote rejuvenation and well-being in a supportive environment.  In this weekly drop-in class you will experience the supportive community of Pulling Down the Moon, learn gentle stretches to encourage better breathing patterns and delve deeper into the benefits of specific yoga breathing techniques (pranayamas).  Each session will end with a short meditation.  All are welcome at any stage of the fertility or pregnancy journey.

This weekly drop in class will be held at our River North Center on Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. starting November 1.  Don’t miss it!

Sengupta, P Health impacts of yoga and pranayama:  a state of the art review.  Int J Prev Med 2012 July; 3(7):444-458

As you may imagine, we get a lot of questions regarding fertility yoga.  It would be helpful to know what’s on your mind regarding the topic.  Do you have any specific questions for us?  If so, please send them in and we’ll do our best to respond.  At the Moon we generally recommend women who are trying to conceive try yoga.  Our reasons are as follows:

1.  Yoga has been shown to reduce stress.  Chronic stress can impact our ability to conceive as well as cause other health problems.  The process of “trying” can be enormously stressful so yoga helps us be healthier now and prevent potential future repercussions of stress.
2. Better brain chemistry through yoga!  Yoga has been shown to increase levels of GABA, a brain chemical that is in short supply in cases of depression and anxiety.
3. Yoga’s gentle stretching helps to release tension in the muscles of the hips and groin.  Stretching tight muscles and connective tissue can reduce constriction of blood vessels and nerves, potentially improving blood flow to reproductive organs.
4. Yoga moves stagnant, tight body tissue which can help remove waste and toxins from the body through the lymph system.
5. New clinical research conducted with Fertility Centers of Illinois showed that participation in Pulling Down the Moon’s six week Yoga for Fertility program significantly reduced anxiety levels.

Here are two poses you can use to gain some of the benefits above (more are found in the yoga chapter of our book Fully Fertile). 

Hip Opener.  Lie on your back and cross the right ankle on to the left knee.  Keeping your low back grounded on the floor, draw the left leg in toward the body.  Thread your right hand through the triangle created by the right knee and interlace your fingers behind the left thigh.  You should feel a gentle stretch in the right hip/low back.  If you experience any discomfort in the knees, release the leg and practice the pose with the left foot on the floor.  Repeat other side.

Reclining Bound Angle  Lie back on a blanket or pillow with the soles of the feet together.  Let the knees drop out to the sides and stretch the arms out from the body.  Breathe here, allowing gravity to help release the hips and groin.

Once you know your “exercise personality,” we can begin to make recommendations. In general, a fertility-friendly exercise program should include cardiovascular exercise that is low-impact and low to medium intensity, which means keeping our heart rate under 60% of max. Exercise modalities like strength-training are also fabulous when you’re trying to conceive. Strength training increases lean muscle mass and helps us keep our bodies strong and shapely (although we need to be careful here – a body fat percentage of at least 22% is generally accepted as necessary for a regular menstrual cycle). In addition to looking good, lean mass means increases metabolism and builds stronger bones. Yoga is another must-try for those who are trying to conceive. The yoga poses increase strength, improve flexibility and help to balance our hormones. Yoga has been proven to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol and specific yoga postures can be used to increase the flow of blood and life energy (prana) to reproductive organs.

So get out and exercise, but exercise wisely. For some of us, this will mean increasing our exercise levels, and for others it will mean slowing down – and some of us will find that what we’re doing is just right. Remember, this is not the time to try and get ripped, drop your body fat percentage to “Hollywood” standards or train for a marathon. A fertility-friendly exercise program will leave you feeling nourished and relaxed.

For summer that meant enjoying the melons, berries and tender greens that grow in abundance. Yet there is no need to despair for fall and winter. Instead of spending a fortune this winter on raspberries that have been shipped from half-way across the world, take a deeper look at your local flora. Farmer’s markets are one way to explore what’s locally and seasonally available in your area. Many big grocery chains have begun to label produce as locally-grown when applicable. With their rich, deep flavor squash, sweet potatoes, onions and dried mushrooms have the muscle to stand up to chilly days.

Here are some tips for reaping the best of Fall’s fertility bounty:

1. Think slow, think stew. Fall and winter vegetables tend to be tougher and heartier than the delicate sprigs and tender fruits of spring and summer. Kale, collards and sweet potatoes hold up well to slow-cooking methods like stewing or braising. The benefit of stews and one-pot-meals is that the veggie cooking liquid is consumed as part of the dish, thus preserving nutrient content.

2. Bake, bake, bake. Cruciferous vegetables, including cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts release a caramel sweetness when slow roasted in a hot oven. These vegetables are fertility “must eats” and contain compounds that help regulate our body’s hormone levels. The heat from the oven warms your home, too.

3. Experiment with beans. Bean soups and chili are nourishing dishes that contain fiber that promotes healthy digestion and elimination as well as stabilize blood sugar levels.

4. Squashes and sweet potatoes are anti-oxidant powerhouses. Slow roasted or mashed, they can also quench a sweet tooth. Here’s an easy fertility-friendly recipe: rub sweet potatoes with olive oil, sea salt and chipotle pepper powder and wrap in foil. Cook all day on low in your slow cooker and the serve with a squeeze of fresh lime.

For specific nutrition advice regarding fertility-friendly eating or weight loss for optimal fertility, click here and book an appointment with one of our Pulling Down the Moon Fertility Nutrition specialists in the Chicago and/or DC Metro area. Phone consults are also available.

At Pulling Down the Moon, when we come across a tough problem we often turn to our acupuncturists and ask “isn’t there a needle for that?” It seems like every day we read another study where researchers find that acupuncture is beneficial for something…especially fertility. Recently the focus was on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Researchers in Sweden announced that electro-acupuncture improves hormonal profiles and menstrual cycle regularity in patients with PCOS when compared to physical exercise and control groups.

Evidence is piling up that acupuncture is an effective treatment for PCOS. This latest study spotlighted one potential mode of action for acupuncture. The women from the both the acupuncture group and the exercise group actually showed a decrease in the activity of their sympathetic nervous system. In addition, women in the acupuncture group showed a decrease in unhealthy belly fat (abdominal adiposity) when compared to the exercise and the control groups. This finding is exciting because abdominal fat is associated with many of the negative health consequences associated with PCOS, including diabetes and heart disease and potentially infertility as studies show that “apple shaped” women may be more prone to infertility than “pear shaped” gals.

We know that the stress hormone cortisol promotes fat storage in the belly as opposed to peripheral storage depots (a.k.a. tush and hips). Stress also aggravates blood sugar regulation and can negatively impact reproductive function. It is possible that these findings suggest a new direction for healing for PCOS that emphasizes stress reduction. If so, in addition to diet and exercise, the new prescription for PCOS should emphasize meditation and relaxation as well as exercise and diet for optimal efficacy.

Click here to schedule an appointment with a Pulling Down the Moon fertility acupuncture specialist in Chicago or Rockville today!

Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2009 Aug;297(2):R387-95. Epub 2009 Jun 3

Inflammation is our body’s immune response to damaged cells, infection or allergy.  Acute inflammation is our body’s immediate response to injury or infection and is characterized by redness, heat, swelling and pain that are caused by increased blood flow into the inflamed area.  In addition to increased blood flow, the acute phase of inflammation is characterized by the presence of white blood cells and phagocytes (immune cells that clean up cell damage by “eating” it).  In a healthy body, acute inflammation is matched by an anti-inflammatory response that takes over once injury is past and promotes healing in the damaged tissues.  Chronic inflammation results when the acute immune response remains active as a result of stress digestive problems, environmental toxins, allergies, etc.   In the case of chronic inflammation, pro-inflammatory immune cells continue to circulate in the body and damage healthy tissues including blood including vessel linings (atherosclerosis), joint tissue (arthritis) and gut mucosa (food intolerance).  Interestingly, the mediators of inflammation are also implicated in insulin resistance.  Chemical messengers released by the immune cells of the inflammation response actually cause target cells in the fat and liver tissue to lose their ability to respond to insulin.

Acute inflammation is actually a normal part of many reproductive processes – cyclical changes in the ovaries, egg maturation and ovulation, and changes in the endometrial lining all have an inflammatory component.  However, conditions like endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and premature ovarian failure have been linked to chronic inflammation and adverse pregnancy outcomes.  Researchers hypothesize that chronic inflammation may impair the uterine environment and/or disrupt the specific chain of immune system events that allow an embryo to implant (Levin et al. 2007).

The main chemical mediators of inflammation are prostaglandins, chemical messengers that turn the immune component of acute inflammation on and off. Prostaglandins are made on an “as-needed basis” from long-chain fatty acids present in the cells of an infected/damaged area. There are two main groups of prostaglandins: pro-inflammatory prostaglandins (called Phase 2 prostaglandins) which stimulate acute inflammation at the injury site and the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins (called Phase 1 and Phase 3 prostaglandins) that turn it off.

Arachidonic acid is the main pro-inflammatory Series 2 prostaglandin active in the body. Its role is to signal the acute inflammatory response in injured cells and is released in the presence of injury or irritation. Arachadonic acid is present in our diet in animal products (meat and dairy) and can also be manufactured from linolenic acid (also known as Omega-6 fatty acid found in corn oil, soy bean oil and in the meat of animals that are fed corn).  On the side of the “good guys” is eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which is chiefly found in marine plants and animals. EPA is part of a family of compounds called Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids that also includes alpha linoleic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA is the lipid structure our body uses to make beneficial prostaglandins that reduce inflammation.

The “primitive” human diet contained an estimated 1:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats. Today our diet is far more skewed toward the pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids, about 10:1. Unfortunately, since the fatty acids we eat are ultimately incorporated into our tissues, this dietary shift has skewed our physiology toward inflammation.

Strive to decrease intake of omega-6 fats (refined oils like corn and soy, and processed foods made with these oils) and increase the intake of omega-3’s (dark leafy greens, walnuts, seeds, fatty fish). The most bio-available sources of omega-3’s are marine/fish oils. Unfortunately, due to environmental toxicity concerns, intake of fatty fish must be limited in women who are pregnant or trying to conceive. As such, we do recommend a high-quality fish oil supplement that provides ample omega-3s.

You may be surprised to think of your digestive system as part of your immune system, but our gut actually functions as our body’s first line of defense – eliminating bacteria and other bugs before they can infect our internal environment. When the digestive system is challenged, by such conditions as stress, illness or food sensitivity, infection and/or inflammation can result. Frequent bouts of diarrhea, constipation, intestinal bloating/cramping and heartburn can all be symptoms of an inflamed digestive tract. Chronic inflammation of the digestive tract can impair our body’s ability to break down and absorb the nutrients in the food we eat. In addition, gut inflammation may affect other organ systems, including the reproductive organs, which are in close proximity. These factors, taken together, are why we take a very close look at digestion and digestive symptoms as they relate to fertility.

Right now our probiotics are on sale Buy One Get One online and in-store. To save, use the code PRO12. Click here to take advantage of this offer.

Hena Shomali, L.Ac. sat down with us to explain what to expect and how to make the most of your acupuncture sessions at Pulling Down the Moon:

What can someone expect from their acupuncture appointment at Pulling Down the Moon?

A visit to our clinic is felt by most to be a deeply restorative, healing break from the normal stresses of life. Coming to the clinic for regular treatments can help establish a new respect for the rhythm of your body and the importance of  a calm pacing in life. The clinic is designed to promote relaxation with pleasing decor, soft lighting and peaceful music in the treatment rooms.

Here is how our treatment works: First, we will discuss your medical history or get an update on your symptoms. You will then be directed to a treatment room, where you can lie down and relax on a treatment table. Patients are given privacy to disrobe, down to their undergarments, if it is deemed necessary by the acupuncturist and then instructed to rest on a heated treatment table, underneath a sheet. If at some point during the treatment the acupuncturist needs to get access to certain parts of the body to activate specific points, the patient will always be asked first and appropriately draped for modesty.

For the patient, the acupuncture treatment will normally feel very relaxing and restorative. Many patients also report feeling powerful energy flowing within their body and a deep connection to healing energies and experiences.

How should a patient prepare for their appointment?

You should wear something comfortable ( e.g. sweatpants, a comfortable t-shirt, shorts, etc.) for your acupuncture appointment. Try to avoid drinking or eating something that will stain the tongue before your visit. We will typically ask that watches and bracelets be removed, so you may want to keep jewelry to a minimum. Try to arrive on time or a little early to be sure your entire experience is soothing. It is best to have light meal prior to your appointment.

Is there anything that may happen during a session which patients should be aware of?

A common acupuncture side effect during treatment is drowsiness and you may fall asleep on the table. This is a normal reaction and is usually an indicator that your body is in need of some serious “down time”. In our world of stressful productivity, you may feel driven to push your body beyond its normal limits in order to get things done. You may not realize just how run down you are until you are given permission to truly relax, which is what occurs during an acupuncture session.

Occasionally you may get dizzy, experience nausea or even a notice a general euphoria during a session. If this occurs, it is usually during the very first acupuncture session and is due to being overly hungry, fatigued, or overstimulated during the session. In this case, communicate what is going on to your acupuncturist and the needles will be removed. You will feel normal again within a few minutes.

What would you recommend your patients do to get the greatest benefit from their acupuncture sessions? 

To achieve the greatest benefits, it is important to follow a consistent treatment plan that your acupuncturist will develop specifically for you and with you. The treatment plan will be outlined at your first visit and revised as your acupuncturist observes your response to care. The treatment plan will address your present symptoms along with your short term and long term goals.

You can rest assured that the positive effects of acupuncture may typically begin right after your first visit. However, acupuncture is a therapy and consistent treatments allow for your healing to progress more quickly. Generally speaking, your therapy will be designed in such way that you are treated more frequently at the beginning and, once your symptoms decrease, your treatment becomes more infrequent until you are on a maintenance schedule. The maintenance schedule is unique to each patient and will be discussed with your acupuncturist at the appropriate time.

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If you would like to book an appointment in our Rockville office click here to schedule online or call us at 301-610-7755. To schedule an appointment in the Chicago-land area click here to visit our online booking or give us a call at 312-321-0004.