Using Essential Oils and Functional Medicine for Hormone Balance and Sexual Health with The Girlfriend Doctor, Dr. Anna Cabeca, DO, OBGYN, FACOG (Ep. 406)

(Listen to the Full Episode Here)

Hormones are tiny yet powerful chemical messengers in our body that impact every organ system. The smallest changes in their levels can profoundly influence our physical and emotional wellness. Having an awareness of how these alterations affect women, and what symptoms, diseases, and conditions they are at risk for related to them is important.

Unfortunately, many women are uncomfortable speaking with their doctor about their desire for holistic approaches and/or the changes their bodies are going through due to hormonal shifts. Furthermore, many practitioners don’t have experience with effective integrative, natural solutions for addressing the causes and symptoms of hormonal imbalances.

Thankfully, there are some compassionate physicians who are educated and can teach us how to successfully navigate the transitions women go through. In this incredible episode of the Essential Oil Revolution, I discuss how to optimize female and sexual health naturally with the go-to guru on these subjects.

We are joined by Dr. Anna Cabeca, DO, OBGYN, FACOG. She reviews all the basics you need to know about hormonal health, the major foundations for balancing hormones, and how to incorporate essential oils to aid various hormonal and women’s health issues.

Dr. Cabeca is an internationally esteemed triple-board certified OB-GYN, functional medicine and anti-aging expert, author, influencer, formulator, lecturer, educator, innovator, researcher, and the beloved Girlfriend Doctor. Dr. Anna is the author of three- best-selling books, The Hormone Fix, Keto-Green 16, and MenuPause.

Dr. Anna is also the founder and CEO of The Girlfriend Doctor and is the host of the popular Girlfriend Doctor Podcast. Her website is a one-stop go-to for all topics and products related to female issues.

Below is an overview of what we covered during the show, but you will want to listen to the whole episode to enlighten yourself with this critical information.

What You Will Learn In This Episode:

• The far-reaching impact of hormones on the whole body (.45 sec)
• An overview of how essential oils support the hormone-brain axis (1.40 min)
• Dr. Anna’s bio and background (3 min)
• How Dr. Anna became interested in integrative women’s health and what led her to be a renowned women’s health advocate (6.40 min)
• Why one would want to extend their hormonal cycle (11 min)
• Why hormones are so important, and which are the key players in overall health (12 min)
• The “school of hormones” including the students (estrogen, progesterone, vitamin D, and DHEA), professors (cortisol, insulin, and adrenaline), and the dean (oxytocin) (13 min)
• The importance of connection and oxytocin for healing hormones (16.20 min)
• Key factors that throw off hormones (16.50 min)
• Ways to balance insulin and stress for hormone health (19 min)
• The many roles of oxytocin and how to enhance it to support hormone balance (20 min)
• The most healing thing one can do for hormone balance (21 min)
• Why balancing blood sugar is important for hormonal and overall health (22.45 min)
• How and which essential oils support the key factors of hormone balance (24 min)
• Why sexual health is important (27 min)
• The “Three D’s” that drive down libido/sex drive (28.50 min)
• What health issues, besides sexual discomfort, vaginal dryness can lead to (31.15 min)
• What can interfere with desire and the surprising link to springtime (32.30 min)
• The difference between vaginal estrogen, oral estrogen, and DHEA for vaginal health issues and which is safest (34 min)
• How Dr. Anna’s natural vaginal cream contains the safest hormone to support vaginal health as well as a specific patented, natural stem cell source (36.40 min)
• How to use essential oils with Dr. Anna’ natural vaginal cream (40 min)
  • One can create more pleasure and sensuality by adding a drop of rose or geranium oil to the cream.
• The importance of regular pap smears to check on the health of the uterine lining (41 min)
• The vital roles of adaptogens for supporting hormonal health (44.32 min)
  • Dr. Anna’s Mighty Maca product is full of effective adaptogens.
• An essential oil vaginal lubricant DIY (46 min)
  • Mix in equal parts fractionated MCT oil with aloe vera gel and add 2-3 drops/oz of your favorite essential oil to a pump container.
  • 2-3 oz of the pump is all you need per serving.
• Can essential oils increase estrogen and hormonal levels? (47 min)
• Why detox and avoiding chemicals is critical for hormonal balance (49.30 min)
• Our “Second Spring”: The belief systems around menopause and how it impacts our health (51 min)
• The importance of pleasure in our lives (56 min)
• A bonus trick to Dr. Anna’s DIY! (58.20 min)
• Closing Questions to get to know more about Dr. Anna – so inspiring! (58. 50 min)

Be sure to access the full episode and show notes here.

Click here to access more resources and detailed notes from the show.

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