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What Is Holistic Health?
Holistic health is a comprehensive approach to wellbeing that considers the whole person—mind, body, emotions and connections —rather than just focusing on symptoms or isolated issues.
It emphasizes the interconnectedness of all aspects of health, recognizing that physical, emotional, mental, and social factors all contribute to optimal wellness.
Holistic health encourages lifestyle habits that foster wellbeing including: balanced nutrition, regular movement, stress management, healthy relationships, and mindfulness to create harmony within the body and mind.
By addressing the root causes of ill-health and promoting positive lifestyle habits, a holistic health to female health can support improved wellbeing at each stage of lfie.
What Are The Different Female Hormonal Stages
Female physiology produces a number of key hormonal stages. Some stages are universally experienced, whereas others are associated with pregnancy.
Each stage is marked by significant changes in hormone levels. These stages include:
Puberty
This typically begins in late childhood and includes the development of breasts, under-arm and vulva body hair as well as the onset of periods and the development of a regular menstrual cycle. This is under the control of hormones from both the brain and ovaries.
Menstrual Cycle
This is the monthly fluctuation of hormones including estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone, which co-ordinates ovulation and a monthly period. Women with sensitivity to the cyclical changes of the menstrual cycle can experience pre-menstrual symptoms or in severe cases pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder.
Pregnancy
During pregnnacy a female experiences the highest levels of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to support the developing fetus, placenta and prepare her body for childbirth.
Postpartum
After childbirth, the hormone levels that were high during pregnancy (especially estrogen and progesterone) rapidly drop. This can contribute to mood swings, depression, and physical changes as the body returns to its pre-pregnancy state.
Lactation
During nursing (breastfeeding) there are pulsatile levels of prolactin which promotes breast milk production and oxytocin which promotes bonding. High prolactin also inhibits the hormones of the menstrual cycle so some women experience symptoms of low estrogen such as vaginal dryness or low mood.
Perimenopause
The transition phase leading up to menopause, where estrogen and progesterone levels become irregular, causing symptoms such as hot flashes, mood changes, and disrupted menstrual cycles.
Menopause
This is officially marked 12 months after the last menstrual period.
Postmenopause
The stage following menopause, where the body adjusts to consistently lower levels of estrogen and progesterone, requiring ongoing attention to health risks such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and changes in cognitive function.
Each stage is marked by its own set of physical, emotional, and health-related challenges that benefit from careful management and support.
What Are The Root Causes Of Chronic Disease?
Chronic inflammation is the process that underlies most chronic illnesses such as:
heart disease,
stroke,
cancer,
diabetes,
chronic kidney disease,
chronic liver disease,
autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, coeliac disease, Crohn's disease
neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and small vessel dementia.
Intermittent inflammation in the body is critical for survival during injury and infection. It is the immune system's job to create inflammation as part of it's role in defense and repair of the body.
But certain triggers relating to our lifestyle, can promote ongoing chronic inflammation in the body, which disrupts the immune system balance in the body. These can be social, environmental and lifestyle factors.
Related: Menopause and Inflammation
What Factors Trigger Or Promote Chronic Inflammation?
Stress And Trauma Contribute To Chronic Inflammation
Physical, emotional and psychological stress to the body can all trigger chronic inflammation.
Stress of any kind causes a ‘fight/flight/freeze/fawn’ reaction in the body which involves increased production of cortisol and catecholamines (stress hormones) and other hormones associated with this response.
These hormonal responses trigger are essential for our survival as human beings, in the face of a threat to our survival such as infection, injury or psychological trauma.
But when these inflammatory immune reactions are chronically triggered, or when there is a massive flooding of the system, as what happens with trauma, the body becomes stuck in the fight-flight response. In these cases the inflammatory immune response of the body constantly switched on.
With chronic inflammation , the immune system is constantly on alert, leading to a heightened state of distress leading to symptoms of unwellness, which overtime can develop into chronic diseases.
Adverse Childhood Experiences Increase The Risk Of Chronic Disease
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic experiences that happen before the age of 18.
Studies have consistently shown that ACEs are associated with an increased risk of many chronic diseases including:
heart disease,
stroke,
diabetes
liver disease
some cancers and
autoimmune diseases in women.
These associations are a result of the body’s response to psychological and physical trauma, which is manifest in chronic inflammation.
Some common ACEs include: physical abuse; neglect; emotional abuse; parental separation and divorce; violence or substance misuse in the home.
As Bessel van der Kolk writes 'the body keeps the score' and for people who have experienced adversity, particularly those without adequate support systems to help balance that adversity there are ongoing physiological responses as the body seeks to navigate safety in the world.
Gut Dysbiosis Contributes To Chronic Inflammation And Disease
Gut dysbiosis is an imbalance in the gut bacteria (gut microbiome) with reduction in a diverse amount of health promoting gut bugs and an expansion of inflammation promoting bugs.
Gut dysbiosis is caused by diets that consist of processed and synthetic foods, especially those characterised by;
high sugar,
high fat,
low fiber.
Gut dysbiosis is also influenced by other factors such as
repeat or long-term antibiotics treatment
medications such as medications for reflux and anti-inflammatory drugs.
stress
Gut dysbiosis leads to a chronic inflammatory state, as an increase of pro-inflammatory bacteria leads to an increase in cytokine production, which causes inflammation.
There is emerging research that suggests gut microbe imbalance and/or vaginal bacteria imbalance is involved in the development of:
endometriosis and
some gynaecological cancers such as ovarian and uterine cancers.
Infections And Chronic Inflammation
Certain infections can trigger a chronic inflammatory response in the body, such as:
H. Pylori which can cause chronic inflammation that leads to a stomach ulcer or stomach cancer.
HPV that can cause chronic inflammation and lead to cancer of the cervix, vagina, penis or anus.
Hep B or Hep C that causes chronic inflammation in the liver and can result in liver cancer.
Environmental Toxins
Toxins from the environment such as air pollution and heavy metals, like mercury or lead may also cause chronic inflammation. Exposure to environmental toxins can disrupt the delicate balance between the different components of the immune system and promote an inflammatory response with long-term consequences.
The most common environmental toxins people choose to use or consume include alcohol and cigarettes and vaping. These are harmful for the body as they contain toxic substances that can trigger inflammation.
In particular alcohol increases the risks of diseases such as:
alcoholic liver disease and cirrhosis and
cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.
Cigarette smoke, along with vaping has been associated with an increased risk of respiratory conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Hormonal Transitions
There are a number of hormonal transitions that females experience that can contribute to an increased risk of ill-health.
From puberty to pregnancy and menopause, the fluctuations in hormones like estrogen and progesterone impact everything from mood and metabolism to bone health and heart health. These hormonal changes having important impacts on other hormonal systems such as cortisol, insulin and thyroid function, as well as the immune system.
During menopause, for example, the decline in estrogen can raise the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and can impact cognitive function.
Hormonal imbalances during the reproductive years can contribute to conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis, affecting fertility and overall wellbeing.
By addressing these changes holistically—through lifestyle adjustments, hormone support, and proactive health management - you can mitigate these risks and maintain optimal health throughout your life.
Lifestyle Medicine
Lifestyle medicine is an essential aspect of our approach to holisitic health.
Read about the 6 pillars of lifestyle medicine.
Read about Physical and Mental Wellbeing for Students.
Lifestyle medicine is a scientifically based field which focuses on how our lifestyle and environment impacts on health. This includes aspects like nutrition, exercise, stress management and relationships. These are the main areas that need to be addressed in order to create sustainable health outcomes.
Practicing integrative medicine means we work together to support lifestyle changes that become heath habits for life that aims to reduce chronic inflammation driven by the upstream causes.
I enjoy empower my clients to make changes in their life to improve their health and wellbeing as they come to understand what is driving their ill-health. Taking a long-term health approach I provide coaching to support positive lifestyle changes to optimise health.
How Does A Holistic Approach To Female Health Support Optimal Health?
Female physiology is constantly changing and I am passionate about working with clients in ways that create health habits that work for them in different life stages.
Regardless of your health state, or illnesses, integrative medicine is an excellent approach to start transforming your health so that you can feel better and get more out of life.
Is Integrative Medicine the same as Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine focuses on the underlying causes of illness that are influenced by the interaction between genetic predispositions and the environment in which one lives in. It takes a systems biology–based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease and uses principles of lifestyle medicine as well as supplements and medications that address the root cause not simply remove symptoms.
Integrative medicine certainly includes an examination of root causes of illness, but also evaluates the client as a whole and not just as a disease. Integrative medicine sees the client as a person with a combination of mental, emotional, physical cultural and spiritual needs that are interdependent on each other and affect the entire well-being of the person.
Integrative Medicine NZ
Dr Deb Brunt @ Ōtepoti Integrative Health clinic would love to support you with a holistic approach to your health and wellbeing.
She practices Lifestyle Medicine and Integrative Medicine in New Zealand and Health coaching internationally. She has a passion for supporting women adapt to their changing female physiology for optimum health and wellbeing no matter what stage of life or health conditions they experience.
Dr Deb Brunt | Ōtepoti Integrative Health | www.otepotiintegrativehealth.co.nz/book-now
Join our Meno Thrive program to optimise your health and wellbeing during perimenopause and menopause.
FAQ
What is the difference between holistic and integrative medicine?
Integrative Medicine is a type of holistic science-based philosophy of healthcare. It combines the best of conventional western medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies to optimize health and wellness. It includes lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise and stress management in addition to traditional medicines.
References
Furman D, Campisi J, Verdin E, et al. Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the life span. Nat Med. 2019 Dec;25(12):1822-1832.
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