When it comes to health and disease, it's a question that pops up frequently.
When facing a complex and multifaceted condition like PCOS, PMDD, unexplained infertility, or endometriosis, the curiosity to understand the root cause is pretty natural.
When dealing with communicable diseases like chickenpox or measles, it's easy to pinpoint the culprit. We know the bug, treat it, and move on.
The complexity of diseases like polycystic ovarian syndrome isn't just about symptoms; it's about untangling a web of factors that stretch across your life, environment, and even back to before you were born.
It would be easier if we could point to one thing and say, "That's it!"
But life—and health—operates in the grey. Your diet alone didn't cause your PCOS or endometriosis, and while nutrition is crucial, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. It's part of a larger strategy that involves understanding and managing multiple facets of your health. In other words, a multimodal approach is what's going to benefit the most.
Chasing a singular root cause can often lead to frustration and can even slow down the process of finding effective strategies to improve your health and well-being.
The journey isn't about finding that one thing that will fix everything; it's about understanding the complex interplay of factors and engaging in a variety of health habits that collectively support your well-being. Health isn't a destination—it's an ongoing, multifaceted journey.
Our understanding of chronic and complex conditions is continuously evolving, influenced by new science, shifting societal norms, and changing health paradigms.
So, try to keep this nuance in mind–managing your health and disease is more about living a balanced, informed, and empowered life, while finding the strategies that work best for you.
I wrote "The Period Literacy Handbook" to explain some of this nuance. I'm also accepting new patients on a rolling basis if you're looking for individualized support with your hormone-based concerns.
