Take the Upgrade: 137. Your healing story with Dr. Karyn Shanks

137. Your healing story with Dr. Karyn Shanks

Jan 18, 2021

Karyn Shanks, MD, is a physician, teacher, and author of Heal—A Nine-Stage Roadmap to Recover Energy, Reverse Chronic Illness, and Claim the Potential of a Vibrant New You.

In this episode, Kari and Dr. Shanks discuss the important and, often times complex, topic of hormones and how we can begin to work toward balance in this area.

When an individual is suffering as a result of hormone imbalances, it is important to take a broad lifestyle approach. Many times, we can correct and relieve the suffering through focused self care (eating well, sleep, exercise, managing stressors). But there are cases when self care alone isn’t enough to get our body into the correct balance. That’s where the use of bioidentical hormones can be utilized. Women who require supplemental hormone therapy shouldn’t view the use as a “failure” but should rest in knowing that hormone therapy can be safely and successfully utilized.

We all know the toll stress can take on our bodies. Dr. Shanks explains that when we are stressed, our body is in survival mode and our bodies focus solely on producing what we need for survival, but the body isn’t able to make other hormones necessary to keep us in balance.

On the flip side, stress isn’t inherently bad. Stress is the physiology that supports us so that we can face life’s challenges. And it’s through those challenges that we grow and become successful. The difference between bad and good stress is perspective.

To wrap up this episode, Dr. Shanks shares her top three practical ways to start supporting your body naturally: