Holy Basil Benefits

Holy Basil Benefits & Hormonal Balance

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Adrenal, Anxiety, Depression, Mood, Sleep Leave a Comment

Holy basil is an herb used for hormonal balance, blood sugar support, anxiety, cholesterol, and inflammation by many people. As I’ll explain in this article, research has shown holy basil benefits range from stress and mental/ emotional support to helping with fatigue and providing nutritional support. Holy Basil Benefits:  Addressing hormone balance takes a holistic approach, but holy basil is …

Benefits of Passionflower for Anxiety

Benefits of Passionflower: How to Calm Anxiety

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Adrenal, Anxiety, Depression, Mood, Balancing Your Hormones, Brain Health, Wellbeing Leave a Comment

Passionflower is an herb that has been used for centuries to support a calm state in the nervous system. It is well tolerated by most and has a low side effect profile, making it an ideal gentle herb to create a sense of peace in the body.    Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is an herbal medicine used to support a healthy emotional …

Postcoital Dysphoria

Postcoital Dysphoria: Why Am I Sad After Sex

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Anxiety, Depression, Mood, Mood & Emotions, Sex Hormones, Sexual Health Leave a Comment

When you engage in consensual sex, you expect it to be a positive emotional experience leaving you feeling happy and relaxed. But when you feel sad after sex, you may wonder what is going on and if this is a normal or a common experience for women.  While most research on female sexual dysfunction focuses on what happens before or …

Increase Oxytocin Naturally

How to Increase Oxytocin Naturally

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Anxiety, Depression, Mood, Brain Health, Mood & Emotions Leave a Comment

The feeling of love and relaxation you experience when cuddling with your kids or having sex results from releasing oxytocin.  The hormone oxytocin is the “love hormone” that promotes trust, connection, attachment, and relaxation. It plays a critical role in social behavior and female reproduction. In fact, women have more oxytocin than men.  Oxytocin has many health benefits, and most …

How Women Can Reduce Holiday Stress and Burnout

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Adrenal, Anxiety, Depression, Mood, Balancing Your Hormones, Sleep, Stress Reduction Leave a Comment

Time with family, holiday lights, special food, and fun drinks are some of the many things we love about the holidays. But let’s be honest: The holidays can be more than stressful. The pressure to make everything “perfect,” plus extra get-togethers, travel, and gift-giving, can all add up. For women, who tend to do it all, the holidays can be …

Why Am I In A Good Mood After My Period Starts?

How Hormones Affect Mood Throughout Your Menstrual Cycle

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Anxiety, Depression, Mood, Menstrual Cycle, Mood & Emotions Leave a Comment

Why Am I In A Good Mood After My Period Starts? You’re likely well acquainted with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), the set of symptoms that can occur in the days leading up to your period. But have you ever noticed that once your period actually starts, the clouds seem to part, and you suddenly feel a whole lot better? It’s not …

serotonin and depression

How Does Serotonin Affect Depression?

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Anxiety, Depression, Mood Leave a Comment

You probably know serotonin best as the “happy molecule,” but how exactly is it linked to our mood? This hormone plays a role in digestion, sleep, memory, and more but is best known for its impact on regulating happiness, anxiety, and mood. Low serotonin levels in the brain can lead to symptoms of depression, so understanding this powerful hormone is …

increase serotonin naturally

How To Increase Serotonin Levels

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Anxiety, Depression, Mood, Brain Health, Exercise, Libido, Sleep, Stress Reduction Leave a Comment

Serotonin is a key hormone in promoting feelings of happiness and well-being. It plays a role in regulating your digestion, sleep, bones, inflammation, libido, and memory. If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, mood disorders, or insomnia, you may want to ask your doctor about a possible serotonin deficiency. You can support your body’s natural happiness hormone by understanding how serotonin …

benefits of rhodiola

14 Ways Rhodiola Can Benefit Your Health

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Adrenal, Anxiety, Depression, Mood, Stress Reduction, Weight Loss Leave a Comment

Rhodiola rosea is an herb known for increasing energy, improving mental and physical stamina, and for building resilience to stress.   While Rhodiola may be one of those herbs that you may not have heard of — yet. But it is a versatile and powerful tool and rhodiola benefits in improving hormonal health. From helping the body adapt to stress via …