This collection of self-care activities has been a part of my regular practice for decades now.

I have recommended each of these exercises or tips to patients to begin the rebalancing of their system. They are gentle but effective ways for us to create more support in our busy lives. Many of these practices will take little time to add to your routine and I guarantee that you will be so happy you did.

Often, we don’t realize that things could be smoother in our lives.

We begin to grow accustomed to how we feel and see it as normal. Many people have tension and stress that is held within the body and adapt to it. We can support ourselves with self-care techniques that unwind the tension and relax the body so it can be calmer, more grounded, and get better rest.

Working with the elements will allow you to support your whole system-mind, body, and soul.

In doing so, you create the balance and support your reproductive system needs to jump-start the holistic approach to healing...

By Lisa Borg-Anderson

Today we are looking at Mucus. Cervical mucus to be exact. How to learn what to look for, how to track it, and ways to improve the quality at home with food therapy and self-care.

 As part of my intake with patients, I always ask: how is your cervical mucus?

Is it clear that there is a shift in color, quality, and elasticity?

Do you feel a hormonal shift and have a greater level of desire during the ovulation window?

Many know what I am asking. But often, many ask me, "what do I look for?"

Okay, ladies, starting around day 10 or 11 of your cycle, I ask for women to look for a change. There is a range of days women notice this change, anywhere from days 3 to 5 is typically seen. Like your period, there can be a smaller amount in the beginning and then it increases and has a peak day... but not to worry if you feel there isn’t a huge change because I am here to support you in improving your mucus!

Well, your cervical mucus is easiest and most...

Now that your period is over…

It is the ideal time to nourish yourself as your body is now preparing a new follicle for your next cycle.  Specifically, we need to boost yin during your follicular phase from cycle day 3 to ovulation, which is ideally between cycle day 13 and 15.

So what is Yin anyway?

Well, It’s probably a term that you’ve heard before in close correlation with Yang. In Chinese medicine, Yin is the physical substance of the body and Yang is the physiological function. For example, Yang moves the blood through the heart which is Yin and causes the contraction of the muscle.

More importantly, Yin is the general term to include all bodily fluids including blood. And for those of you working on a cycle with Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI) or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or trigger shots this is even more important for you as your body maybe trying to mature multiple follicles at once. This is a big job and we need to honor our bodies and support...

As a fertility acupuncturist, and as an adolescent who suffered from painful periods,  I can tell you that they don’t have to be painful, all-consuming or something to dread. Periods can be just a time of the month. Really! Isn’t that so exciting??

I for one, have been working towards helping my clients reach this life-changing experience. Our bodies are amazing and the pattern of hormones, changes in our physiology can, with little adjustments, be more comfortable. Of course, reducing pain and discomfort is important but really, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. The real magic happens when we look at the whole body and start to heal so that the body can transition from having a period, releasing a follicle to building up the lining again without stagnation or blockages.

Okay so here is the first BIG on

Avoid cold (temperature or raw) foods or drinks about a week before your period!!!

What I mean is, let your lunch warm up on the counter or put some warm...

I admit that I am late to the party but, MATCHA?!

There are so many health benefits to super beverage. One of the reasons it is superior to ordinary green tea is that matcha is the whole tea leaf ground into a powder. The fact that it is the entire leaf means it has a higher concentration of EGCG, which is a powerful antioxidant.

This makes matcha an especially wise option for women trying to conceive because it reduces the formation of free radicals because of the catechins (like EGCG) it contains and, as a result, helps to protect the DNA of our cells which means it is protecting egg supply.

It has also been stated that green tea may be effective in reducing sperm abnormalities so it is a great choice for men who are trying to improve their fertility as well. Not to mention it still has some caffeine (about 25-50% less caffeine than coffee or espresso) which makes it a nice substitute for those who can't live without their daily dose. According to Mayo Clinic, caffeine intake...