The ancient healing technique of seeds rotation

Are you experiencing irregular periods, heavy flows, substantial PMS, or going through peri-menopause and menopause?

You might want to try an old naturopathic technique called the rotation seeds circle that is using four different seeds to regulate the production of estrogen and progesterone and balancing the female menstruation cycle.

This ancient healing technique has a curious connection with the lunar phases and it seems that women who have a healthy balanced menstruation cycle are in synchronization with these phases.

The female menstruation cycle has a follicular phase that corresponds to the days 1-14 of her cycle (day 1 is the first day of your period) and a luteal phase that corresponds to the days 15- 30 of her cycle. The follicular phase is synchronized with the new moon and the luteal phase is synchronized with the full moon.

The balance between estrogen and progesterone is one of the keys to your hormonal balance. Many hormonal players affect your balance but in this article, I would like to focus on estrogen and progesterone only. So, let just stick with the basics.

THE FOLLICULAR PHASE

In the follicular phase, the estrogen levels are low and you want to stimulate their production, so your body has enough material to build up your endometrium (uterine lining). Some women might be worried about stimulating their estrogens because they are already ESTROGEN DOMINANT but you don´t have to worry about it. For this to be fully understood, we first need to establish that not all estrogens are “bad”. Estrogen-dominant women tend to have high estradiol, also known as E2.

High estradiol (or estrogen metabolites) can be the cause of tender breasts, mood swings, hair loss, weight gain, fibroids, endometriosis, breast and ovarian cysts, and even breast and ovarian cancer. Flaxseed suppresses estradiol production and also help estradiol metabolism in a positive direction by generating a higher ratio of the protective metabolite 2-hydroxy-estrone versus the more harmful 16-hydroxy-estrone. You can find out more about this process and what is estrogen dominance in the article “The elephant in the room called Estrogen dominance”.

In this phase you should consume daily:

• 1 tablespoon of freshly ground flaxseed (do not use the pre-ground flax meal, it has little potency).

• 1 tablespoon of pumpkin seeds.

Flax seeds contain a high amount of lignans, which are important for estrogen metabolism. Pumpkin seeds contain a high amount of zinc, which primes the body for progesterone production.

THE LUTEAL PHASE

In the luteal phase, you want to stimulate the production of progesterone. This sex hormone will help thicken the uterine lining and prepare it for implantation (important for your fertility and pregnancy). Low progesterone levels can manifest in similar ways like high estrogen, along with feeling anxious, not being able to fall or stay asleep, and menstrual headaches. Infertility and miscarriages can also be due to low progesterone levels.

In this phase you should consume daily:

• 1 tablespoon each freshly ground raw sesame seeds.

• 1 tablespoon of freshly ground sunflower seeds.

Sesame and sunflower seeds contain a high amount of zinc, selenium and vitamin E, which can directly improve the production of progesterone in the luteal phase. Sesame seeds are also high in lignans, which will help balance and block excess estrogen levels. At this time in the cycle, estrogen should be lower while progesterone rises and lignans can support this shift. Sesame seeds are also high in omega-3 fatty acids which help cellular membrane and hormonal signalling.

All your seeds should be freshly grounded or pre-grind for a week’s worth and kept in an air-tight container, in the fridge to prevent oxidation, preferably organic, unroasted, unsalted/unseasoned, unshelled. If you are having problems digesting seeds, soak them overnight.

Seed Rotation can be helpful with regulating women’s hormones at virtually every stage in her life - menstruating, menopausal, or post-menopausal. In following this seed rotation protocol, women have noticed hormone symptoms have been reduced or completely disappeared within just a few months of beginning the protocol. Short cycles have lengthened and long cycles have shortened, and missing periods have even come back.

This technique is based on a 30-day cycle but not all women have the same length of cycle, so it´s important to note that women with longer or shorter cycle have to adjust this technique to their rhythm, which is why it is important to keep track of your cycle to fine-tune to best match when the follicular phase moves to the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle.

Ovulating women

If you are still ovulating, you should know by the cervical mucus if you are entering the luteal phase. It becomes wetter, clearer and more slippery/stretchy and clear, like egg white. You can also measure BBT (basal body temperature) orally, rectally, or vaginally. Your body temperature rises with ovulation. You need to keep track of this data since the first day of your cycle (the first day of your last period).

Perimenopausal women

For women who have just a slightly longer or shorter cycle than 28-days (within 1-3 days longer or shorter) or who has unstable periods (typical for perimenopausal women), start your follicular seeds from the first day of your period to ovulation. Then, switch to luteal phase seeds after ovulation.

Menopausal and post menopausal women

For women with amenorrhea (no cycles) or who are menopausal, follow the phases of the moon. Take the flax/pumpkin seeds from the new moon to the full moon. Then take the sesame/sunflower combination from the full moon to the new moon.

Balancing your hormones is a process that requires patience so don´t get discouraged if you are not seeing changes right the way. You should be feeling changes in 3-4 cycles but it´s recommended to carry on with this technique even after substantial changes are noticed.

So, I hope you will enjoy this ancient technique. For sure, your hair, skin and nails are going to appreciate the flow of vitamins and minerals.