venus delight
fall 2024, vol. 2
Hello Venusian Beauties,
Welcome to the season’s second instalment of Venus and the Pearl.
So much has changed since my last full-length newsletter. I returned from my trip to Los Angeles, almost immediately ran an 8km race, and then launched into some truly career-shifting power moves.
I am now part of the team at Nurture and Flo in Cook Street Village and will start practising at their sister clinic Opal Wellness in Esquimalt’s West Bay Marina on December 2nd. I love my new workplaces and I know you will, too.
I recently received additional training in acupuncture spa facial techniques from Sasha Ormiston, R.Ac. and I’m offering a delightful new treatment for all my Venusian beauties. In fact, these treatments are on special for Black Friday at both Nurture and Flo and Opal Wellness! More on that below.
Finally, I hired Emily Johnson of Wildling Studio, the brilliant graphic designer who has created some of the most iconic Vancouver Island brands like Nurture and Flo, Opal Wellness, Picot, Deja Well, and DIGO Studios. We’re still in the middle of the process, but I’m offering a few glimpses of the rebrand here and will fully unveil it in the next newsletter.
Though I’ve shared relatively little about it, I’m at the tail end of the Integrative Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Mentorship with Dr. Laura Erlich of Mother Nurture Wellness in Los Angeles. My first article in this newsletter is a compilation of fertility tips I’ve gathered from the internship about where to begin if you’re thinking of starting a family.
This time of the year can feel hectic and quite tender as the days grow darker and the holidays approach, so I’ve included a timely piece on keeping your spirits high in the face of SAD (seasonal affective disorder).
Finally, we’ll close out with the latest round of pearls for your venusian soul where I highlight the people/places/things I’ve been loving lately.
Yours in Venusian delight,
Andrea Penagos, R.TCM.P., L.Ac.
Registered TCM Practitioner (BC) + Licensed Acupuncturist (California)
Follow me on IG at @andreapenagos.wellness
venus delight - black friday special
From the depths of my femme imagination, I bring to you the Venus Delight Acupuncture Spa Facial - a relaxing, luxurious experience with high-end botanically-infused products tailored to your skincare needs.
The 90-minute Venus Delight treatment includes a double cleanse, gentle exfoliation, body and facial acupuncture, face mask, neck and shoulder massage, and a customized combination of jade rolling, gua sha, and facial cupping.
This treatment usually costs $225, but it's on special for a limited time at $175 - the price of a regular 75-minute Initial Facial Acupuncture treatment! Schedule as many acupuncture spa facials as you like at this price until the special ends.
In addition, 60-minute Follow-Up Facial Acupuncture Treatments are on special at $125 (regular price $145). Schedule as many follow-up facial acupuncture treatments as you like at this price until the special ends.
The best thing about it is that both treatments are eligible for direct insurance billing, so you can get pampered AND use your benefits before they expire at the end of the year!
Generally, one full course of cosmetic acupuncture consists of 10 sessions scheduled 1x/week or 2x/week (for quicker results). Enjoy the Venus Delight treatment as a stand-alone experience, or kick off a 10-session cosmetic acupuncture course with this luxe treatment. Remember you can get your follow-ups discounted, too! Book at Nurture and Flo or Opal Wellness.
Gift certificates for the Venus Delight Acupuncture Spa Facial (and Follow-Up Facial Acupuncture treatments) make excellent holiday gifts for all the Venusian beauties in your life, especially if that beauty is you. Please message me directly for gift certificates.
fertility-forward living
Since April, I’ve had the pleasure of being a mentee in Dr. Laura Erlich’s Integrative Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Mentorship, expanding my knowledge of hormonal health, menstrual regulation, and fertility in the context of both Chinese and Western Medicine.
Dr. Laura Erlich, DTCM, LAc, FABORM, is a Holistic Fertility and Obstetric Specialist, licensed acupuncturist, birth doula, and owner of Mother Nurture Wellness in Los Angeles, and has been working in hormonal health for over two decades helping her patients achieve healthy pregnancies naturally or with the help of assisted reproductive technologies like IVF (in vitro fertilization) or IUI (intrauterine insemination).
If you’re thinking about conceiving in the near future or want to live a fertility-forward lifestyle in hopes of having a family later on in life, it is always a great time to start preparing your body for having a baby. Ultimately, preserving our fertility means cultivating whole-body health, balancing our menstrual cycles, and optimizing follicle development, ovulation, and implantation. We want our eggs to be viable, the uterus to be receptive to nourishing a pregnancy, and for our body to be able to safely carry a pregnancy to term.
While fertility is a nuanced topic that requires bespoke strategies for each person, here are a few general recommendations I’ve learned from the Integrative Fertility Mentorship that offer a solid foundation on how to begin.
Understand your baseline. Head to your doctor’s office and request a work-up with labs investigating your hormonal, thyroid, and metabolic health, along with iron and Vitamin D levels. If you have a history of chronic conditions, ask them to check on those markers, too. Same goes for your partner (it takes two!). If applicable, have them get their sperm tested. This gives you both a starting point should you need to address any health issues prior to conception.
Reduce your inflammation levels. For an embryo to successfully implant into the uterine lining, the uterus must first downregulate its internal immune system to accept the embryo, which contains only half of your genetic material (half of an embryo is non-self, ie: belonging to the other parent or donor). High levels of inflammation lead to an upregulated immune system which has a harder time accepting a pregnancy. Focusing on an anti-inflammatory diet, reducing toxic or allergic exposure, regulating stress, and addressing existing inflammation with herbs and supplements supports the uterus in being immunologically flexible enough to carry a pregnancy.
Mind your metabolic health. Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar levels, can disrupt the delicate hormonal balance necessary for follicle development, interfering with the growth and maturation of those follicles, leading to fewer and poorer quality eggs. High blood sugar levels also lead to increased production of reactive oxygen species (also known as free radicals), potentially damaging the DNA of the egg via oxidative stress. Maintain healthy blood sugar levels by eating protein at every meal, enjoying complex carbohydrates, engaging in regular exercise (weight-lifting is best), and integrating herbs, supplements, or medication, if necessary.
Eat a nutrient-dense diet. Specific nutrients that help us produce healthy follicles include CoQ10, Vitamin D, folate, Omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants, which protect against oxidative stress. Fertility-forward foods include organ meats, bone broth, bone marrow, pasture-raised eggs, shellfish, oysters, cod liver oil, nuts, seeds, berries, dark leafy greens, and fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and herring. Consider a prenatal with methylated folate, and choose supplements based on any deficiencies that need to be repleted. Pro tip: make sure you know how your iron levels are doing with a ferritin (stored iron) test, especially if you’re vegan or have heavy periods.
Seek appropriate care and diagnoses. If your cycles are irregular, excessively painful, or if you just have a feeling your health is not where you’d like it to be, seek additional investigation. Labs, imaging, and accurate diagnoses of reproductive conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, etc. offers invaluable information that guides treatment and helps you reach your ultimate goal of growing your family. Remember, you have medical autonomy and are at choice regarding how you want to be treated - whether that be through allopathic medicine, traditional medicine, or a combination of both.
Consider acupuncture and herbal medicine. Acupuncture increases pregnancy rates in people undergoing IVF by strengthening the body, regulating hormones, reducing stress, and improving blood flow to the reproductive organs. Choose a practitioner with additional training and specific experience in fertility treatments. Book an appointment at Nurture and Flo or Opal Wellness.
If you are hitting roadblocks on your fertility journey, know that many individuals and couples face similar challenges. Don't hesitate to seek professional help from practitioners trained and specializing in fertility who can provide guidance and support throughout the process. By seeking support and maintaining hope, you can navigate your fertility journey with resilience and optimism.
navigating SAD
Feeling down as the days get shorter? Many people (including myself) experience a seasonal slump, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which can be exacerbated by the pressures of the holiday season.
Depression and SAD are common in Northern latitudes. The Canadian Psychological Association reported that 15% of Canadians experience mild forms of SAD and around 2-3% experience SAD severely. In 2022, 7.6% of Canadians aged 15 and older experienced a major depressive episode in the past year (and I sense that depression is severely under-reported).
As an LA girl living in the Pacific Northwest, seasonal affective disorder hits me hard most years, but this year feels different. As I’ve shared before, I’ve made significant lifestyle changes in the past year and I truly feel these have all come together to improve my mental health and emotional resilience.
Here are a few battle-tested strategies to combat the winter blues:
Get outside consistently : Take a walk, have lunch outdoors, or simply sit by a sunny window. Rain or shine, I take a morning walk with my dog and I’m convinced the early morning light exposure has completely shifted my circadian rhythm for the better.
Take Vitamin D: If you live in a northern latitude, work indoors, or don't get much sun exposure, consider taking a Vitamin D3 supplement like Thorne’s D3/K2 liquid supplement. Note: this combination of nutrients is commonly seen due to its action on calcium. Vitamin D3 helps your body absorb more calcium and Vitamin K2 helps your body transport it to your bones and teeth rather than letting it sit in your arteries and other soft tissues. Consult your healthcare practitioner for dosage guidelines.
Stay active: Regular exercise like strength training, brisk walking, or jogging can boost your mood and energy. If the weather's too harsh, join a gym, head to an exercise class, or try at-home workouts via an app like Peloton. Find me sweating in the name of wellness M-W-F mornings at Panthera, my favourite strength and conditioning class in Victoria.
Prioritize social connection: Spending time with loved ones can help alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation. Think about 3 of your fave people, and make it a point to schedule some quality time with them.
Cultivate mindful moments: We all know by now that mindfulness techniques like meditation or yoga reduce stress and anxiety. What I’ve been playing with lately is layering meditation onto other activities like listening to guided visualizations on my daily walks, or being extra present at while work, strength training, and writing (I’m doing it right now!).
Reduce inflammation: You’ll be surprised to find our that depression and systemic inflammation are linked, so it benefits our mental health to eat an anti-inflammatory diet (think berries, fruits, veggies, mushrooms, nuts, and fatty fish), limit processed foods, and be more proactive about managing our stress. Add anti-inflammatory herbs to your diet like turmeric, ginger, garlic, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, and rosemary, or integrate an Omega-3 fatty acid supplement. I use Nordic Naturals’ Ultimate Omega.
Lean on herbal allies: Some of my favourite herbs to alleviate depression include holy basil/tulsi, wood betony, mimosa bark, and St. John's Wort, all summer-flowering herbs that bring the sunshine to the fall/winter seasons. It's best to consult with a healthcare professional before taking herbal medicine as they may interact with medications used to treat depression or other mood disorders, including tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, and MAOIs. Book an online herbal consult here.
Get acupuncture: Acupuncture is a relaxing, uplifting, non-pharmaceutical intervention to improve emotional resilience and help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Book acupuncture with me in Victoria at Nurture and Flo or Opal Wellness.
If you deal with seasonal depression, know you’re not alone. There are tools and strategies to help you weather the darker seasons with more ease and grace, and I encourage you to lean on them and your community for support.
pearls for your venusian soul
YINA, San Francisco, California: I first tried this TCM-infused skincare line at the acupuncture spa protocol workshop I attended with Sasha Ormiston at Opal Wellness this fall. Their top-of-the-line botanical cleansers, oil serums, and mists were the central products used in our facial rejuvenation treatments, and they are absolutely beautiful. YINA’s products smell amazing and left my skin feeling moisturized and rejuvenated while being gentle enough for my sensitive, rosacea-prone skin. I will soon be using these treasured products in the Venus Delight treatments (once they ship to Victoria from the US), and you can snag your own at Opal Wellness.
Wind Cries Mary, Victoria: I recently dined at Wind Cries Mary in Victoria’s Bastion Square. Victoria is famously haunted and (gasp!) public executions used to happen in this square, hence the name? IDK, but the food was delicious. My partner and I started with the signature tater tots with jalapeño ranch and lumpfish caviar (great), then had the Dupuy lentil ragout with mushrooms and kale (incredible), and the fried chicken with semolina cubes and pickles (good). We also had a few mocktails with non-alcoholic gin (the Pick Me was lovely and had salal berries), but I could have gone without. Our neighbours at the bar were having the hand-rolled ricotta gnudi and I honestly wish I had ordered it. Would recommend for a date or dinner with friends, and will definitely be going back to try the gnudi.
To Be Magnetic, Los Angeles: You either love it or hate it, but LA’s most well-known manifestation program is one that I’ve used for years. If you want to get into it, I highly recommend their Expanded Podcast, and TBM is currently running their end-of-year challenge on the topic of authenticity AND their yearly sale, where you get over 20% off of their year-long Pathway experience. Personally, I have TBM to thank for making the decision to leave LA in 2019, relocating to Victoria in 2020, my recent work upgrades, and the soon-to-be-revealed rebrand of my dreams.
Thank you for your readership and stay tuned for the next volume of Venus and the Pearl.
The information provided in this newsletter is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new diet, exercise program, or supplement/herbal regimen, and reach out to your doctor about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.