Many integrative health followers are becoming more comfortable with the fact that optimizing lifestyle and nourishment can result in better health outcomes. Furthermore, essential oils’ lovers everywhere are also enjoying the advantage of their drops of superpower to optimize their cellular functions. Still, few have contemplated how one’s culture impacts wellness through its influence on thoughts and perceptions.
Recently, I explored this concept that beliefs, emotions, and social connections impact hormones and health. I discussed how interactions between the environment (epigenetics), nourishment (nutrigenomics), and relationships (sociogenomics) can change how our DNA is expressed. With new technologies and increased awareness of how genes function, these new “omic” studies have debunked the old concept that the destiny of our health was determined at birth.
Interestingly, we also now have evidence that we don’t just inherit our genetics from our parents, but also their environmental imprinting. These epigenetic patterns can be passed down into future generations. (source, source, source, source, source)
Although the mechanisms behind the the cellular nitty-gritty details discussed above are interesting, viewing it from a broader, cultural and relational perspective is just as compelling and pertinent. Specifically, the influence of societal beliefs and our relationships can also change our genetic expression, even in our brain which ultimately effects our behavior! This means that we become the sum of who we spend our time with. This perpetuates habits and responses that lead to the survival of species.
In my latest blog, I present an overview on how culture shapes and interacts with a woman’s biological, physiological, and psychological experience of menopause. I peer into different societies’ expectations and what individual women may experience.
I hope you take some time to review this article and reflect on how perception, belief, and expectations of our culture may be effecting you or someone you love in their transition into menopause, and health in general. Read more here.
This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. (Affiliation link.)
Disclaimer: This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic quality essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been tested for purity and standardized constituents. There is no quality control in the United States, and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only to contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin. The studies are not based solely on a specific brand of an essential oil, unless stated. Please read the full study for more information.
Thanks for the images, Pixabay! 
