Week 5 · Your endocrine system, gently

Hormone Foundations

With the gut healing underway, we turn to hormones. This week is about understanding — not yet actively rebalancing — because hormonal health requires the gut and nervous system foundations you've been building.

1

How hormones actually work

Hormones are messengers, not villains. They respond to signals: blood sugar stability, stress levels, sleep quality, nutrient status, and environmental inputs. You can't force hormones into balance — you create the conditions under which they balance themselves.

2

The cortisol connection

Cortisol is the master hormone. When cortisol is dysregulated (too high at night, too low in the morning), every other hormone suffers. This is why we addressed the nervous system in Week 3 — cortisol regulation is hormonal work.

3

Seed cycling basics

An introduction to seed cycling — using flax, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds to support oestrogen and progesterone balance across your cycle. A gentle, food-based practice many members find remarkably effective.

Do these daily

Morning light
10 minutes of natural light within 30 minutes of waking to anchor your cortisol rhythm.
Seed cycling (optional)
If you cycle, begin the seed rotation. Full instructions in your resource library.

Sit with these

If you menstruate: where in your cycle were you this week, and how did you feel?
How did morning light affect your energy and mood this week?
This week's herb
Maca
An endocrine adaptogen. Begin a small daily dose if your practitioner has cleared it for your specific picture.
Your action this week
Get 10 minutes of morning light daily. Begin seed cycling if applicable.