Seed Cycling Beginner’s Guide

LEARN | wellness | MENSTRUAL CYCLE

What is seed cycling?

Seed cycling is a daily practice of rotating seeds throughout the month that can help regulate a woman's cycle. Before all of the environmental inputs such as chemicals, artificial lighting, wifi, man-made radiation, and on and on, women would naturally cycle with the moon. Isn't it amazing that our menstrual cycles and the moon cycle are both 28-days long? I am continually in awe of this incredible connection we have to living on this planet. By including simple daily, monthly and yearly rituals in our lives, we can help reaffirm our energetic ties with the natural rhythms of the world. Additionally, seed cycling can help you connect more deeply with your own rhythm and femininity.

Your Menstrual Cycle

Tracking your cycle will help you know when to switch seeds, can help indicate when you've ovulated and will inform you of how long each phase of your cycle is, which will tell you even more about the health of your hormones. Day 1 is the first day you bleed and is the start of your cycle. Estrogen and progesterone are low, which signals your pituitary to produce Follicle Stimulating Hormone, which causes a follicle in your ovary to start to mature and produce estrogen. Increasing estrogen tells the uterus to develop the lining of the uterus to prepare for pregnancy. When estrogen peaks, Luteinizing Hormone is released from the pituitary and triggers the egg to be released from the follicle, also known as ovulation (ideally around day 12-16). The follicle that is left in the ovary becomes the corpus luteum, which starts to release progesterone and estrogen to continue to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. This second half of your cycle is called the luteal phase and lasts from ovulation to the day before your next period. Ideally, each phase is around 14 days, which leads to a 28 day cycle.

Seed Cycling Basics

Day 1- Day 14 or New Moon to Full Moon 2 tablespoons of any one or a combination of ground flaxseed, hemp seeds, and/ or chia

Day 15 - Day 28 or Full Moon to New Moon 2 tablespoons of any one or a combination of pumpkin seeds, ground sesame seeds and/or sunflower seeds

Special Situations

Menopause Seed cycling can be very helpful for perimenopause and menopausal support. I generally have women seed cycle for up to 5 years following the end of menstruation because the energetic rhythm of your cycle exists even after your period stops.

Men can seed cycle according to the moon using the opposite seed phases according to the moon or if he is in a relationship with a woman, the opposite phases of her cycle. This can be really helpful generally, but especially when preparing for conceive.

Great ways to include seeds into your routine

• Top yogurt, granola or oatmeal

• Add seeds to your smoothies or top smoothie bowls

• Add to salads

• Pumpkin, hemp and sesame seeds can be snacked on without grinding

• Chia pudding

Wisdom + insights provided by Dr. Kelcie from our medical board of advisors 

Dr. Kelcie Rosendahl is on our medical board of advisors and helps with our natural remedy formulas. She is a licensed naturopathic physician with a passion for individualized, evidence informed naturopathic care. Dr. Kelcie graduated with her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in 2018. Prior to her graduate studies, she received a B.S. in Human Physiology from the University of Oregon in 2012.During her clinical education, Dr. Kelcie completed rotations focused on primary care, physical medicine, IV therapy, minor surgery and community health where she had the privilege of working with underserved populations in the Portland- metro area. As a naturopathic physician, Dr. Kelcie has many tools in her tool kit including diet and lifestyle interventions, botanical medicine, hydrotherapy, physical medicine and pharmaceutical intervention when necessary. Her clinical interests include the treatment and prevention of chronic disease, women’s health concerns & pediatrics. She firmly believes in patient-centered care and aims to educate and empower her patients.To learn more about Dr. Kelcie and discover her practice here.