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Embracing FlowAuthor: Heather Allmendinger
Imagine celebrating Christmas with a newborn, a 9 year old, and your 39 year old husband passing away suddenly in your bedroom. On the outside, I looked calm and collected, yet internally, I was numb and actually telling myself to breathe, any thought beyond the inhale/exhale pattern was too overwhelming. Not only was I dealing with the passing of my husband and life with a newborn, my corporate life changed too when a new management team was assigned. As I pulled the broken pieces back together, realization hit, I needed a new start; Id outgrown the corporate world, it was time to share my love of the products Id been using, but sales felt gross to me. So, I went back to school, earning three health coaching certifications. In the process, I saw how little we know and talk about the menstrual cycle. We dont know how it works or how it interacts with every single system in our body. The taboo of menstruation had to stop! Flashbacks of my grandmother giving me the period talk, the absolute hatred of my painful, heavy, nauseating, passing out periods, to the embarrassing nurses office trip with bled through dark pants and being handed WHITE sweatpants! I remember the shock and excitement of my first pregnancy, the frustrating 14 months of secondary infertility plus gestational diabetes with my second child, treatment of cervical dysplasia, and my own cycle syncing journey which has allowed me to appreciate and enjoy my period. Imagine embracing your period every single month? I wondered how much of this could have been avoided? I knew I wasnt alone in these experiences. Thats why I created Vivydus, the Full of Life Company whose vision is to change how menstruation is viewed by society and the mission to provide an educational, holistic, safe space for all individuals to learn and discuss the menstrual cycle from puberty through menopause. Join me on this journey as we learn, break the taboo, and openly discuss how we can authentically and uncompromisingly be full of Language: en Genres: Education for Kids, Kids & Family, Parenting Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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85 - Dr. Jeffrey Brown: Painful Periods Are Not Normal: Rethinking Hormones, Endometriosis, and Women’s Health
Episode 85
Friday, 13 March, 2026
Painful periods are often dismissed as “normal.”But what if they’re not? In this episode of the Embracing Flow podcast, Heather Allmendinger sits down with functional medicine physician Dr. Jeffrey Brown to explore a different conversation around women’s health, hormones, and chronic cycle pain. Many women silently struggle with symptoms such as debilitating cramps, heavy bleeding, PMS, brain fog, mood swings, and fatigue. Too often, the only solutions offered are birth control, antidepressants, or surgery. But what if there are deeper root causes that deserve attention? Dr. Brown shares insights from more than 15 years of experience working in functional and regenerative medicine, helping women understand how inflammation, hormone balance, gut health, and lifestyle factors can influence menstrual health. In this conversation, we discuss: • Why painful periods are frequently normalized in modern healthcare • The difference between progesterone and progestin • What endometriosis and adenomyosis are and why they can be so debilitating • How stress, inflammation, and gut health influence hormone balance • The surprising role testosterone plays in women’s health • Why strength training and lifestyle changes can support hormonal wellbeing • How women can begin advocating for their bodies and their health This episode offers something many women have never been told before: Painful periods are not something you simply have to live with. Whether you are personally navigating painful cycles or supporting someone who is, this conversation brings education, compassion, and hope to the journey of understanding women’s health more deeply. Listen now and join us in changing the conversation around menstrual health. Meet Dr. Jeffrey Brown: Dr Brown is an osteopathic functional medicine physician. Attended NY College of Osteopathic Medicine. Completed residency at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dept. of Family Medicine After becoming frustrated with traditional medicine's approach to health care while practicing family medicine, he became board certified with the American Academy of Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine. He has been focused on improving women's health care for over 15 years. His passion is helping women eliminate painful menstrual cycles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjeffreylbrown/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKcuSjq89tXh4dVoUbJd0KA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffreybrown.do?igsh=OXBsNWh2ZTNkaTBp&utm_source=qr Website: https://hormonehealthwithdrbrown.com/ Free webinar on March 11 @7pm EST. Free gift for attendees. The link is hormonehealthwithdrbrown.com/webinar-registration Connect with Heather Allmendinger!Freebies: https://linktr.ee/vivydusWebsite: https://vivydus.com/podcast/FB Group: https://facebook.com/groups/611487486871608/FB Personal: https://www.facebook.com/heather.m.allmendingerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivydus/Website: https://vivydus.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmallmendinger/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VivydusPolkaDot Powerhouse: https://www.polkadotpowerhouse.com/referral?atid=10634Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3Dpf8nwAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.












