serotonin deficiency symptoms

Serotonin Deficiency – What’s The Risk?

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Balancing Your Hormones, Brain Health, Hormonal Birth Control

Serotonin (also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT) is one of the most talked-about neurotransmitters– molecules that help your nervous system communicate. You may know it as “the happy molecule” because of its role in regulating happiness, anxiety, and mood. The best-known indicators of low serotonin include depression and anxiety, but it plays a larger role in the body1 as well. …

benefits of rhodiola

14 Ways Rhodiola Can Benefit Your Health

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Adrenal, Anxiety, Depression, Mood, Stress Reduction, Weight Loss

Rhodiola rosea is an herb known for increasing energy, improving mental and physical stamina, and for building resilience to stress.   While Rhodiola may be one of those herbs that you may not have heard of — yet. But it is a versatile and powerful tool and rhodiola benefits in improving hormonal health. From helping the body adapt to stress via …

progesterone weight gain

Does Progesterone Cause Weight Gain?

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Menstrual Cycle, Perimenopause/ Menopause, Period Problems

Hormones. It’s easy to blame them for everything, from mood swings to food cravings to those extra pounds that don’t quite make sense. While weight fluctuation can be totally normal and healthy, truly unexplained weight gain can point to a hormone imbalance and might be your body’s way of asking for extra help. If weight loss is a goal, it’s …

best perimenopause supplements

15 Perimenopause Supplements for Happy Hormones

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Balancing Your Hormones, Libido, Perimenopause/ Menopause

Perimenopause is a time of hormonal decline as the body prepares to stop ovulating and shift into menopause. While ideas of shifting hormones may feel you with a sense of dread, there are many nutrition, lifestyle, and perimenopause supplements that can help you maintain your energy, mood, and overall well being.  Perimenopause can be a confusing time in a woman’s …

what is interstitial cystitis

What Is Interstitial Cystitis?

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Autoimmune Disease, Balancing Your Hormones

Interstitial cystitis (also known as Bladder Pain Syndrome) is a chronic condition involving bladder pain that you cannot attribute to another known cause. Interstitial cystitis symptoms include pain in the bladder or urethra, a frequent need to urinate, and sometimes pain throughout the pelvic floor.  Interstitial Cystitis or Bladder Pain Syndrome most commonly affects women but can also affect men. …

magnesium health benefits

Magnesium Benefits: 15 Ways This Mineral Boosts Health

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Balancing Your Hormones, Cramps, Food, Headaches & Migraines, Herbs & Supplements, Pregnancy, Thyroid & Hormone Balance

Magnesium is near the top of the list of crucial nutrients. It is the fourth most plentiful mineral in the human body, and it helps with things like your heartbeat, sleep cycles, muscle contraction, energy production, immune function, hormone balance and so much more. When you dig into the research, the magnesium benefits seem endless. Safe to say that getting …

perimenopause signs

Perimenopause Symptoms and Treatment

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Perimenopause/ Menopause

You’ve probably heard of menopause, which officially occurs the year after you completely stop having a period. There’s a transition period before menopause that a lot of women experience called perimenopause. This is a time when perimenopause symptoms start to crop up even though you feel like you’re much too young for that nonsense. While some women have a completely …

what is breast implant illness syndrome

What Is Breast Implant Illness?

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Autoimmune Disease

Breast implant illness is starting to gain attention in the medical community. Breast implant illness (BII) is the term used to describe symptoms associated with breast implants and can range from joint pain, skin rashes, hair loss, and headaches to chronic fatigue, anxiety, neurological issues, and brain fog. Many women who identify as having BII experience symptoms after having breast …

endometrial hyperplasia treatment

What Causes Endometrial Hyperplasia + What to Do About It

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Endometriosis, Estrogen Dominance

Endometrial hyperplasia can be the cause of heavy periods, large clots in the menstrual blood, and in some cases, cancer. Often excess estrogen in the absence of sufficient progesterone, known as estrogen dominance, causes the cells in the lining of the uterus  (the endometrium) to grow abnormally thick. When the endometrium becomes too thick, you end up with a condition …