Understanding Your Mind, Mood, and Hormone Cycle

Understanding Your Mind, Mood, and Hormone Cycle was written for women who want to understand the sometimes, confusing physical and psychological changes they experience each month. It is also suggested reading for men who deal with hormonal women daily; and for educators, healthcare and social welfare professionals who support women of all ages that are struggling with physical and behavioral issues caused by hormonal changes. It is the product of a nine-years of research, analysis, and writing. This richly illustrated, pioneering, book is co-authored by Leslie Carol Botha and H. Sandra Chevalier-Batik, with original graphics by Nicholas Batik. Medical researcher, H. Sandra Chevalier-Batik provides extensive clinical background to support the findings of this book. The conversational writing style makes it easy and compelling to read, while the richly footnoted text makes this a valuable resource for professional healthcare providers. The book explores on the very essence of a woman’s being — the fundamental nature of the female hormone cycle; and was written to fill the void of practical, menstrual health education that focuses on understanding the delicate mind/body connection — a connection that has the power to bring about health or disease in the body. Contrary to current medical thinking and pharmaceutical industry messaging that encourages women to deny, ignore, suppress and replace their natural hormone production with synthetic hormone birth control and hormone replacement therapy, Botha and Chevalier-Batik believe that the hormone cycle is the foundation of women’s health and well being. Modern medicine has promoted the concept of specialization, encouraging women to consult specialists to treat isolated aspects of our body and mind, rather than consider our body as an integrated system, and exploring the relationship of the hormone cycle with other cycling systems in our body. Creating health begins with a shift in this perspective to one that recognizes the whole body is greater than the sum of its parts; a shift that recognizes that health is our birthright and represents our natural state. Such a change in perception can change how we express vibrant health and inner peace. Using the tools and information provided in this book, women can learn to perceive symptoms as biometric feedback from our bodies about our diet, lifestyle and the state of our mental, emotional, and spiritual self. These symptoms are the “tell” for conditions such as: hormone imbalances, depression, mental confusion, exhaustion, autoimmune disorders, allergies, and reproductive disorders. The purpose of this book, is to help you tap into the magnificent intelligence of your body and interpret its profound language to finally understand your mind, mood, and hormone cycle. Using the tools and exercises provided you will learn to live with in your hormone cycle to prevent re-occurring gynecological problems and mental/emotional imbalances; Perhaps for the first time in your life, you will feel like you can reach your full potential by acknowledging your strength and who you truly are. It is our goal to open your eyes to the real you — a woman who can trust herself, has confidence in her actions, understands her feelings and knows how to create a fulfilling life by living with her hormone cycle With brilliant simplicity, the authors tie the menstrual cycle into the other natural cycles of the universe and to the Paleolithic wise women who tracked their cycles on antler bones. These wise women understood that menstruation was vital natural cycle that held power. These foremothers became the first mathematicians, agriculturists, and healers by applying their menstrual wisdom to their culture’s survival. It is imperative that we understand all of the cycles in our lives. Women must be pro-active in all aspects of their wellness. Education and the willingness to ask questions and demand answers is a start.

Leslie Carol Botha, Women's Health Educator, author, publisher, and broadcast journalist is an internationally recognized expert on women’s hormonal health. Botha’s 30 years of research demonstrates how hormone changes/fluctuations in the menstrual cycle affect women’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. Botha is a member of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, and an advisory board member for the Cycles Research Institute.  In 2006, Botha received the Edward R. Dewey Award for her pioneering research on how women’s hormonal fluctuations affect their behaviors.  The award was bestowed by the Foundation for the Study of Cycles. Her research is also featured in a recent book titled: The World According to Cycles- How Recurring Forces Can Predict the Future and Change Your Life by Samuel A. Schreiner, Jr., published by Skyhorse Publishing. Schreiner has noted that Botha is “one of the most prominent twenty-first century natural cycle thinkers.” H. Sandra Chevalier-Batik co-founded Pleiades Publishing Services in 1992. In addition to her work as a Publisher, she joined the Holy Hormones Women’s Menstrual Education Project as Principal Research Analyst in 2002.  Her responsibilities focused on the collation of statistical data, developing reports, publications, and training materials; with a particular emphasis on women’s health, the pharmaceutical industry, and government funded health initiatives. Sandra has conducted over 300 seminars and workshops and has been a featured speaker at national and international publishing conferences. Sandra has earned a reputation for making highly complex subjects easily understood. Her informal approach helps put both readers and class attendees at ease and ready to tackle unfamiliar material. Her many years of research analysis, curricula development and training experience has helped her bring a real-world sensibility to her work with the Holy Hormones Menstrual Health Education Project.