Earlier this month, I was diagnosed with Polycystic ovaries.
What prompted a trip to the Doctors? I noticed pigmentation and acne, particularly on the right side of my face and lower cheeks.
At first I thought this was just hormonal, the usual skin suspects that appear throughout my cycle, but as the stubborn blemishes would not fade with my usual go to nutrient toolbox, I knew this was my body's way of telling me to go within.
NOTE: Sometimes and often, our skin prompts us to look deeper, to what is truly going on, on the inside. The root cause. A blemish, rash, dryness, pimple or spot, is often just a symptom of that.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome symptoms: Whilst these can vary from woman to woman, mine included acne and irregular periods. I have suffered from both anxiety and depression in the past and the fluctuations in hormonal balance could have increased the risk.
(*side note: I overcame both my mental health challenges through both talking and holistic therapies inclusive of coping and healing tips and techniques. I will share my learnings within another post - they are learnings that I will be forever thank for and I am most happy to share my learned wisdom in navigating through mental health challenges with all that ask).
What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that affects how the ovaries work. It is the most common endocrine "disorder" in women. The clinical manifestation of PCOS changes from a mild menstrual disease to severe disruption of reproductive and metabolic capabilities.
My First Reaction
As the owner of a skincare and wellbeing brand, you can imagine my initial looping thoughts and the irony going around in my head - but I practiced what I preach and gave myself a sizeable scoop of self-loving thoughts and patience, whilst I went within. I also felt very scared - fearful I would not be able to have children. With sound Drs around me, this fear quickly subsided.
I gave love and a safe space to ALL thoughts that arose, allowing them to be seen, felt, and released and just like that, they went away.
The reality is that very few people's skin remains clear all of the time and yet this is not the reality we see on Instagram, nor one that we often talk about. Today I make this pledge, no reader will EVER see a filtered photo on ANY of Beautifully Nourished's social media.
The wonderful marketing team and I will consciously open up discussion about the natural fluctuations that occur within the female body during life's beautiful cycles, stages and phases.
The Womb and WOMB HEALTH is such a sacred and special place and an area of health that I will be talking more and more on as I work with herbs, nature, natural remedies, meditations and love, as I heal mine.
My Goal: To naturally restore my menstrual cycle within one full orbital spin of the Earth around the Sun.
For now, below I include where my journey has taken me so far.
Messages through Meditation
As a highly intuitive woman, I often receive premonitions, visions, insights and messages in the form of images, sounds and clear knowing. With this in mind, I decided to check in with my womb to find out exactly what's what!
Whilst some of the messages and insights shared are sacred and personal to me, one of the messages that was shared from my right ovary, stated "I would like to work with Ginseng and Maca Root". This was an interesting insight as I have not worked with Maca before. I began my research over the next days and learned how to embed it easily and tastily into my day. Interestingly enough, Maca is a renowned healing plant that does just the trick for these types of ailments.
I will also be working with the plant medicine: Cacao. Cacao provides, amongst many healing nutrients, high levels of magnesium, a nutrient that women are often deficient in.
Essential Oils Calling My Name
The essential oils that I am working with this month include myrrh, frankincense, and lavender. I mix these to a carrier oil: sweet almond oil and directly rub into my skin; on my belly, womb space and wherever else I feel guided.
How to Prepare Your Own Essential Oils
Choose the oils that you wish to work with - listen to your inner knowing on how to choose, I do not want to prompt you here as your healing will look different to mine. Lavender, thyme, clarity sage, ylang ylang, sandal wood and germanium are popular for the symptoms that present as part of PCOS.
- Once you have found your oils (or they have found you), add approximately 10 drops to every 20ml (4 x teaspoons) of carrier oil.
Carrier oils (often know as base oils) include arnica, apricot, borage, carrot (as within Beautifully Nourished's Vitamin ACE Serum), sweet almond, avocado, calendula and more.
* Choose high quality oils as they are a precious and potent part of the plant, with very specific healing properties. Do not apply essential oils directly to the skin, without a carrier as they may cause skin irritation.
What Causes PCOS?
The root cause of ovarian cysts is not yet completely known or understood. Many factors are believed to play a role in the growth of cysts, such as a female’s general state of health, weight, diet, history, genetics and way of life. For PCOS, obesity, hormonal imbalance, and higher blood glucose levels are closely linked to the condition.
Closing Thoughts
For me, this is an opportunity, an exciting time to reconnect with the sacred cycles and natural beating rhythms of my Body, Womb, Earth, Moon and Sun cycles. I have only just begun the descent inwards, to that sacred space.
I also take note of the timing, and why this knowing comes up for me now. I have my inclinations ;)
I have my first gynaecologist appointment on January 11th - whilst I will be saying no thank-you to medication at this point, I am holistically minded, and all methods of healing are interesting to me. ANY method and modality of healing that a woman chooses to go down is valid. May the confidence in my approach encourage you to be confident in yours. From medication to not, from contraception, to not, from breast feeding to not and so on.
I will share my journey as I go, and if you too are a woman on a similar journey, I would love to hear from you. There is a special kind of MAGIC when women come together!
All my love, Katherine x
Katherine Elyse Blake, Founder - Beautifully Nourished
