All blog posts from Dr. Allott are provided for educational and informational purposes only. As Dr. Allott is also a licensed medical practitioner, we must make it clear that nothing on the blog is intended to constitute medical advice, consultation, recommendation, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are concerned about your health, please seek appropriate care in your area.


Estrogen: changing the brain and body from menarche to menopause

In May's Connectors Group webinar, guest speaker Dr. Miranda Marti* of Whole Life Medicine discussed estrogen. Estrogen heralds changes not just in the physical body but in mood and libido. It also has the power to shift focus for relationships and careers, and change the salience of what the brain finds rewarding and reassuring.  For some women, these natural fluctuations of estrogen throughout life are experienced with grace, while other women may find themselves driven wild or to despair. 

Dr. Marti discussed why this occurs and how we can support hormonal changes, whether they be monthly cycles or the perimenopausal transition, with ease. The recorded webinar with slides is provided below in three parts. The full audio is available as a podcast.

In Part 1, Dr. Marti explains:

  • How estrogen levels change over a lifespan,
  • The different ways in which estrogen and progesterone affect brain function, and
  • How estrogen and serotonin-melatonin interact.

Dr. Miranda Marti, May 12th, 2017 (17:04 minutes)

In Part 2, Dr. Marti talks about:

  • Estrogen-dominant conditions,
  • 5 steps to balance estrogen, and
  • Answers questions from participants

Dr. Miranda Marti, May 12th, 2017 (23:34 minutes)

In Part 3, Dr. Marti explains:

  • Anxiety and the Vagus Nerve, and the Connection with Urinary Incontinence
  • 3 Steps for urinary Incontinence
  • And important differences between Vaginal Estrogen vs. Hormone Replacement Therapy

Dr. Miranda Marti, May 12th, 2017 (12:10 minutes)


*Dr. Miranda Marti is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in the connections between women’s health, digestive health (the 2nd brain) and mental health. In addition to her private practice at Whole Life Medicine in Kirkland, WA, she leads wellness groups at a Seattle-based drug and alcohol recovery program and is adjunct faculty for the Bastyr University Health Psychology Department.

Connectors Group

This Group is part of my online education for individuals and teams who want to improve their mental and physical lives. Research shows that when we develop healthy habits around eating, sleeping and moving our bodies, we have improved decision making, creative problem solving and health.

The Connectors Group consists of a wide range of people who are in positions to help other people navigate their lives better: mental health therapists, executive coaches, psychiatric nurse practitioners, supervisors and project managers, lawyers, teachers, and community organizers.

The group has been meeting on the 2nd Friday of every month, from 7:30-8:30 Pacific time, for over a year now. We cover topics such as:

  • Challenges and Q&A about how to successfully connect with friends, family and colleagues
  • How many of your buckets are full?
  • What makes anxiety worse
  • How to prevent colds and flus and how to feel better quicker if you do get sick
  • Using the EcoCycle to Plan for the New Year
  • How to interpret food labels - How do you know if something is healthy for you or not?
  • How the Mind, Brain, Body and Relationship work together to support our lives as creative responsive individuals who live in a rapidly changing world. 
  • Why it is essential to support our power supply (our Body): how and what we need to eat to have a stable Brain, a clear Mind, and connected Relationships
  • Open discussion about Mind, Brain, Body and Relationship connections

May's Connectors Group (on May 12th) will be lead by guest Dr. Miranda Marti, who will be talking about Estrogen: changing the brain and body from menarche to menopause. Estrogen heralds changes not just in the physical body but in mood and libido. It also has the power to shift focus for relationships and careers, and change the salience of what the brain finds rewarding and reassuring.  For some women, these natural fluctuations of estrogen throughout life are experienced with grace, while other women may find themselves driven wild or to despair.  Dr. Marti will discuss why this occurs and how we can support hormonal changes, whether they be monthly cycles or the perimenopausal transition, with ease.