INTRODUCTION
Women’s health refers to a branch of medicine that focuses on treating and diagnosing diseases and conditions that affect a woman’s physical and emotional health.
Holistic healthcare is complete or total patient care that considers the physical, emotional, social, economic, and spiritual needs of the person, his or her response to illness, and the effect of the illness on the ability to meet self-care needs [1]. We have 3 Aspects of this care:
1) Body:
- Diet
- Movement
2) Spirit:
- Purpose
- Relationship
3) Mind:
- Rest
- Personality
HOLISTIC GYNECOLOGY
Holistic Gynecology basically means a holistic outlook or approach to gynecological treatment and care, which means it utilizes the principles of holistic medicine. Holistic gynecologist often uses treatments like nutrition and botanical medicines to treat health problems [2].
Naturopathic medicine makes use of natural remedies in order to aid the body to heal within itself.
- Acupuncture
- Reiki
- Yoga
- Herbal medicine
- Nutritional counseling [2].
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
The menstrual cycle can say a lot about women’s health and describe the sequence of events that occur within a woman’s every month.
A menstrual cycle is considered to begin on the first day of a period. The average cycle is 28 days long; however, a cycle can range in length from 21 days to about 35 days. The menstrual cycle can say a lot about women’s health [3]. The specific events that occur during the menstrual cycle can be divided into four phases:
a) The menses phase: This phase, which typically lasts from day 1 to day 5-7, is the time when the lining of the uterus is actually shed out through the vagina if pregnancy has not occurred [3].
b) The follicular phase: This phase typically takes place from days 6 or 7 to 14. During this time, the level of the hormone estrogen rises. In addition, another hormone (FSH) to grow [3].
c) Ovulation: This phase occurs roughly at about day 14 in a 28-day menstrual cycle. A sudden increase in another hormone (LH) causes the ovary to release its egg. This event is called ovulation [3].
d) The luteal phase: This phase lasts from about day 15 to day 28. After the egg is released from the ovary it begins to travel through the fallopian tubes to the uterus.
The level of the hormone progesterone rises to help prepare the uterine lining for pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, estrogen and progesterone levels drop and the thickened lining of the uterus is shed during the menstrual period [3].
The figure 1 shows hormonal, ovarian and endometrial changes and relations throughout the normal menstrual cycle.
Fig. 1. Overall changes in normal menstrual cycle
CYCLE SYNCING
It is the practice of eating, exercising and aligning with the different phases of women’s monthly menstrual cycle [4]. Women’s monthly cycle can be compared to the four seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn, and is a beautiful way to think about it.
1. Winter
The Menstrual Phase, starts with bleeding and can last for around 1 to 7 days, but every woman is different [3]. Moreover, estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest. However, on the first day of the period, estrogen begins to rise but progesterone remains low [5].
The Vitamins and Minerals that body needs in this season:
Omega 3 oils: These are anti-inflammatory and will aid in reducing cramps
The herbs include Omega 3:
• Chia seed, Cruciferae vegetables, flax seeds, beans, pumpkin seeds, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, garlic, parsley, curry
Vitamin C: May be effective in reducing period cramps and speeds up shedding of the uterine lining.
• Berries, watermelon, Citrus
Iron/blood-building formula: During times of heavy flow, it can be helpful to supplement with iron to prevent anemia.
• Beans, dark leafy greens, beets, spinach, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate
Magnesium: A calming mineral
• Dark chocolate, wild Rice, brown rice, Buckwheat (гречка), mushroom
Carbohydrates to consume:
• Potatoes, corn, peas, sweet potato, pumpkin, carrots (other starchy vegetables) rice, and oats.
Exercise: At this stage, do gentle exercises such as going for a walk, yoga, or lifting lighter weight, as this will circulate the blood more efficiently which helps reduce cramping and discomfort. [5].
2. Spring
The Follicular Phase: This phase typically takes place from days 7 to 14 [3]. The period has stopped, and women feel a burst of energy. Estrogen and progesterone are on the rise. Estrogen and progesterone are on the rise [6].
The Vitamins and Minerals that body needs in this season:
Phytoestrogen: structurally similar to the body’s estrogen, it acts like estrogen;
Herbs are:
• Oats, flax seeds, Soy
Vitamin c: Liver detoxification and production of uterine secretions
• Avocado, tomato, cruciferous vegetables, lemons & limes, olives
Micronutrients: it is for Ovum support
• Pumpkin seeds, Bean sprouts
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin): Helps boost energy by rebuilding red blood cells
• Spinach, Beet, Peas
Omega 3 oils: Anti-inflammatory and aid in keeping hormones in balance.
• Cruciferae vegetables, flax seeds, beans, pumpkin seeds
Higher intensity workouts are a GO here! This is a great time to schedule those meetings or workshops as women are ready to embrace the world and feel social [6].
3. Summer
The Ovulatory Phase: approximately 14 days after the first day of period. This is the time that body will be releasing an egg into the fallopian tubes in preparation for fertilization [7]. The levels of estrogen, LH and FSH are at their highest giving lots of social and outgoing feelings.
The Vitamins and Minerals that body needs in this season:
Anti-inflammatory
• Turmeric, Types of berries, Bell pepper
Nutrients: To produce a healthy egg
• Avocado, Almond, sunflower seeds
Light cereals
• Brown rice, Quinoa, Oats
Aphrodisiac foods: Increasing physical strength
• Dark chocolate, strawberry, Pistachio, Ginger, Cinnamon, Figs
Fiber: support liver cleansing
• Fruits, vegetables, sprouted nuts, plus plenty of probiotic-rich foods.
This is a wonderful time to be social, network, go on a date, schedule staff meetings and have those tough conversations. The head is clear, and you are ready for more social interactions. The body wants tend to take it a little easier than the previous two weeks and doesn’t feel like such a machine working at its full capacity [7].
4. Autumn
The Luteal Phase: approximately 15 to 28 Days. This is the time that body can go in two ways. Either the egg has become fertilized and it prepares itself for attachment to the uterus. Or it is not fertilized, and the body prepares itself to shed so the cycle can begin again. The mood can be up and down, some days may have great energy, and other days may be feeling low. The hormones are dropping rapidly which brings on the crappiest of feelings, such as premenstrual stress and all the symptoms that accompany that. Serotonin is also declining which is why feeling slightly depressed and tired. In addition, the decline in progesterone triggers cravings for all kinds of food but particularly rich fatty carbs and sugar. Furthermore, they are always starving [8].
The Vitamins and Minerals that body needs in this season:
Magnesium: A calming mineral which a deficiency of can cause bloating and other PMS symptoms.
• Spinach, beet greens, swiss chard, avocado, banana, organic dark chocolate, quinoa, almonds
Vitamin B: Reduce swelling, anxiety and muscle cramps
• Carrots, sunflower seeds
Spices: Reduce bloating and digestive problems
• Ginger, Turmeric, Black pepper, Cumin, push
Magnesium, sodium, potassium: Dealing with a craving for chocolate and chips
• Cruciferae vegetables, green vegetables
Phytoestrogen: structurally similar to the body’s estrogen, it acts like estrogen
• Oats, flax seeds, Soy, Fennel, Complex carbohydrates (sweet potato, Pumpkin, Carrots, pear, beet)
Now is the time to be patient and listen to what the body needs and wants. Because of feeling lower in energy, this is the time may also lose motivation to exercise [8].
Cycle syncing is only a guide, and everybody is different and experiences different things.
SEED CYCLING
Seed cycling is the practice of eating specific seeds during the two main phases of the menstrual cycle (follicular and luteal) to help promote the healthy balance of estrogen and progesterone levels [9]. Seed cycling is diet supplementation with four different seeds: flax, pumpkin, sunflower and sesame [10]. These seeds contain specific vitamins, nutrients, and fatty acids that are believed to support hormonal function. Instructions are:
• Days 1-14 of menstrual cycle (or menstruation to ovulation)
1-2 tablespoons flax seeds
1-2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
• Days 15-28 of menstrual cycle (or ovulation to menstruation)
1-2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
1-2 tablespoons sesame seeds [10].
Follicular phase (menstruation to ovulation):
During the first phase of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase), pumpkin seeds and flax seeds help improve the estrogen levels while preventing excess estrogen. Flax seeds contain lignans which bind to excess estrogen. Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc which helps support progesterone production as move towards the progesterone rise in the second phase of the cycle [9].
Luteal phase (ovulation to menstruation):
During the second phase of the cycle (luteal phase), sesame seeds and sunflower seeds help boost progesterone production Sesame seeds are a rich source of zinc which helps boost progesterone production and also contain lignans that help block excess estrogen while progesterone rises. Sunflower seeds are high in vitamin E and selenium. Vitamin E can help boost progesterone production, while selenium helps detox the liver of excess estrogen [9].
USE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY TO MAKE A DRUG ACCORDING TO HORMONAL SEASONS
To date, various nanodrug systems have been developed for different routes of administration.
Nano-drug systems have been employed to improve the efficacy, safety, physicochemical properties, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile of pharmaceutical substances. According to some articles, it was extracted seeds oil with the help of nanotechnology.
Flaxseed oil is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of ALA (α-linolenic acid), which has vital roles in all sorts of bodily functions, including inflammation, heart, and brain health. However, the susceptibility of omega-3 fatty acids to oxidation and also lack of a convenient method to deliver these invaluable compounds into the lower sections of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are still unknown. An in vitro study was performed to use ultrasound to produce oil-in-water nanoemulsions of flaxseed oil stabilized by different wall materials in order to control the release of omega-3 fatty acids in GIT. Nanoemulsion as a potential tool to enhance the stability and bioavailability and also control the release of bioactive compounds under the desired conditions [11]. The fabricated nanoemulsions were assessed in terms of particle size distribution, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and in vitro gastric and intestinal digestions. Results indicated that the nanoemulsions coated had a relatively uniform distribution and all particles distributed in less than 1000 nm [11]. Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions have been utilized as delivery systems for the encapsulation of PUFA and increasing emulsion stability [12]. Nanofibers, as a suitable raw material for the production of carriers of useful oral composition, flaxseed is an important source for extracting the material needed in the production of nanofibers. In this research, nanofibers have been produced from flaxseed mucilage, which can be a by-product of flaxseed oil production workshops, but a synthetic polymer has been used to improve the properties of these nanofibers [13].
The compounds in pumpkin are para-aminobenzoic acid, polysaccharides, proteins, peptides, and sterols, which are biologically active compounds. Alkaloids, palmitic acid, oleic, linoleic, and flavonoids are also abundant in squash. Pumpkin leaves also contain compounds such as phenolic compounds and 11E-octadecatrienoic acid. [14] Research shows that these proteins and polysaccharides have antibacterial, cholesterol-lowering, anti-mutation, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant, immune-modulating, and suction-boosting effects [15]. Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of protein, phytosterols, and vitamins with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties such as tocopherol, unsaturated fatty acids, and minerals such as zinc. Lipoxygenase is an enzyme that produces inflammatory mediators. The antioxidant properties of the oil and its flour have been determined. Phenolic compounds in the extract Pumpkin seeds inhibit lipid peroxidation. On the other hand, the use of nanotechnology in various sciences is very common. Nanocomposites were made from pumpkin seeds for wound healing due to their anti-inflammatory properties [14].
Recently, the edible oil obtained from the pumpkin seeds (pumpkin seed oil, PSO) has aroused interest due to the crescent number of studies associating its consumption to health benefits in some conditions. Emulsification in nanostructured systems (<200 nm) has been recognized as an effective alternative to overcome technical difficulties related to the incorporation of bulk oils into water-based food products, given their lipophilic character. Therefore, with the development of PSO nanoemulsions, this oil could be more readily incorporated in different preparations. In addition, PSO nanoemulsions can be used as a vehicle for the delivery of fat-soluble bioactive compounds or other target lipophiles incorporated into the oil phase, or as a base formulation for the preparation of excipient emulsions [16].
Sunflower extracts were to some extent used in traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Nanoemulsion of oil in sunflower seed water was prepared. Oily phase of oil emulsion in sunflower water consisting of sunflower oil, ethanol, and Tween80. After preparing the components of the oil phase, the components are mixed well and then at a temperature of 86 ° C. They were kept at 1 ° C for 1 hour, then cooled to ambient temperature, and after mixing the water with the oil phase, the mixture was homogenized by amplitude (amplitude72) for 15 minutes through an ultrasonic homogenizer. During the homogenization period, the temperature of the emulsion is frozen. The range of 15 ° C was controlled. The prepared nanoemulsion mixture is 14% oil in sunflower water of the total emulsion [17].
Turmeric and the edible oil of sesame seeds are the essential ingredients of Indian food created by ancestors and established the belief of the curative effect of food for many generations. Considering the anti-inflammatory effects of turmeric, a nano-emulsion of turmeric-infused in edible sesame oil was formulated, with a globule size of 200-250 nm using high-energy microfluidization [18].
Nanoemulsions are scatterings of nano-scale droplets framed by shear-instigated bursting. Nanoemulsions are characterized as W/O (water-in-oil) or O/W (oil-in-water) emulsion creating a transparent product that has droplets measured between 20 and 200 nm and does not have the penchant to combine. Nanoemulsions have several fascinating physical characteristics that are not quite the same as or are more extraordinary than those of small-scale emulsions. Nanoemulsions show up different from microscale emulsions since the droplets can be a lot littler than optical wavelengths visible. Therefore, nanoemulsions can show up about transparent in visibly and display a little dispersion. This work aims to study the effect of using nanoemulsion particles on the stability of sesame seed oil emulsion. The traditional and nanoemulsions form of sesame oil were prepared. Characterization of these emulsions particles was conducted using zeta potential and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The TEM results of nanoemulsion particles of sesame oil showed that spherical droplets and nearly similarity in shape in nanoemulsion in compared with semi spherical and varied particles size in traditional one. Creaming index, centrifugation test, conductivity and freeze-thaw cycles were used to evaluate all type of prepared emulsion stability. The nanoemulsion particles of sesame oil were found to be more stable than those of traditional one. These results indicated that the nanoemulsion process could increase the stability of prepared emulsion. [19].
CONCLUSION
Due to the importance of seed cycling in women’s holistic in the regulation of hormones, treatment, and prevention of some diseases, according to findings, all women should be used cycle seeds. Given the advances in nanotechnology oils, and essential materials of these grains can be extracted to improve their effectiveness.
Due to the importance of the issues that were mentioned, in the future, with the help of nanotechnology in the field of pharmacy and material optimization, particular drugs can be produced for each hormonal season according to the body’s needs based on hormone changes in women’s hormonal seasons.