It used to be pretty common to hear women speak about their nerves. Nowadays, I find we tend to use the more technical term "hormones". Hormones are a little more elusive- conjuring up visions of scientific little chemical droplets flowing through our veins, perhaps a little too much of one and not enough of another. Lacking an exact system of measurement, you can't do much about them- no adding a pinch of one or shedding an ounce of another. I certainly don't deny their existence, but I don't find it helpful to conceptualize any part of my physiology as something I am at the mercy of, either.
"Nerves", on the other hand, are much more concrete. These are the branches of the nervous system, collecting and relaying impulses. Oh yes, they do depend on chemical reactions within the body- but it is a bit easier to work with them. They can be shielded from sensory overload- think sitting quietly for a moment in a favorite chair with a cup of tea, taking a bath, doing anything, really, of a calming nature. Nerves can be aired out a bit when they get stagnant- in fact, I think our nerves *need* a walk outside in the fresh air every day. A woman can take a little more responsibility for her nerves than she can for her hormones- which is, perhaps, why our medical model doesn't like to speak of them... heaven forbid we should be self-sufficient and not need an expert- the whole medical economy might roll over and die.
My friend called the other day and asked about natural supplements or therapies for brain fog which seems to set in especially during her cycle. She made the obvious connection between Vitamin D deficiency and hormones (Vitamin D is more similar to a hormone than a "vitamin", from what I've read)- and that's great (incidentally, I highly recommend Garden of Life's new D3 supplement- high quality). But I often view Vitamin D deficiency as a product of the modern life. It is almost like "nature deficiency"- lack of sunlight, lack of general closeness to the earth and nutrient density. D is a fat soluable nutrient, and some great sources are fish (cod liver oil) and raw grassfed dairy (forget about that synthetically Vitamin D enriched milk, I don't think it's in a form that is bio-available - not really useful to the body). Especially in spring, when the cows are eating rapidly growing green grass.... oh that positively golden cream and butter, the rich stuff; mmmm.... which leads to a whole 'nother topic- how pathetically fat deprived North American women are, and often how antagonistic they are to fat. I think there is a strange misconception that if you eat fat, you will be fat- but for most body types ("constitutions"), I don't find this to be true. My entire diet strategy is based around the idea of getting as much healthy fat into my diet as I can. The more fat I eat, the more full I feel, and the less I overeat. I feel good, I get lots of nutrient dense food, and I don't munch on empty carbs all day to "stay skinny". Not only do I feel full, but fat is absorbed slowly, so it balances out more quickly absorbed carbs you many be eating so they do not spike your blood sugar. Hence, you are more even keel physiologically, and this translates into a more calm and clear state of mind. Do not underestimate the effect of steady blood sugar on your nerves, ladies!
What kind of fats am I speaking of? Nuts, eggs, butter, coconut milk, coconut oil, full fat dairy, and even the fat from meat, if it's healthy grassfed meat (tallow, schmaltz, bacon grease, MMMM!). We have it programmed into our heads that saturated fats are bad, but the proof is in the pudding. People who lived before us ate these foods and, in combination with a generally higher level of activity and involvement with nature, they were much less obese... and by the way, those heart studies that implicate saturated fat with poor heart health fail to mention that those who have low saturated fat are not actually "healthier"; rather, other things give way before their hearts. Many people with low cholesterol are battling with strokes, cancer, and suicidal depression instead of suffering from heart problems. And especially with women, low cholesterol in old age is correlated with higher rates of dementia. These are the things that never got much publicity when the Framingham Heart Study, which forms the basis of much of our current ideology of cholesterol, saturated fat, and heart health, was reported on.
Ahh, back to our nerves and mental clarity. Sure, there are a few herbs or natural products which might be good for this. But holistically speaking, mental clarity is a result of a balanced person. When the stormy days of our cycle approach, it takes special care to stay in balance. As a woman goes through her month, she mimics all the seasons of the year. Week one, during her period, is her "winter". Her body temperature is at its lowest, her "precipitation", analogous to the snow in winter, falls heaviest as she menstruates, and her body is cleansing, releasing, depleting. This is a time for a special emphasis on warmth (I am working on knitting some special warm things for myself for this time of my cycle- some fingerless gloves, a cozy scarf, wool socks, and a light sweater). Warming drinks, like teas, are called for now. With the depletion of life (shedding blood), I make it a point to have a portion of rich grassfed meat, such as steak or roast, rich in iron, to give back to my body. Week two, when she is entering into her fertile time, is her "spring". Just as spring in a rainy season, fertility brings a moist terrain- many women can tell when they are fertile just by their cervical fluid consistency. I find this week of potential procreation to be an incredible time of energy and for a woman with no interest in the creative act of conceiving a baby, harnessing the energy of your sexuality by channeling it into creative pursuits other than procreation- such as artistic endeavours or whatever way you find to create or produce life-enriching things- is a very balancing. During summer, or the third week, body temperatures are hot and the physical terrain is dry, with little cervical secretion. Your summer week is the week you will most likely naturally feel calm and as though life is "easy breezy". But hold on tight; week four, autumn, is notorious for its stormy weather! Use Bach's flower remedies as needed and work extra hard to support your rollercoaster emotions. This is the week to be extra mindful of how you react.
Thinking a little more about brain fog, I would guess its not necessarily a "bad" thing. Fog is a weather pattern that comes and goes, and although it may not be convenient, we must weather the weather. Time to slow down, "mother the mother" (nurture yourself!), listen to your body. And if you feel it is something more serious, something you simply can't live with, pay attention to your instincts and investigate further.
