Rescue You From The Rollercoaster of Perimenopause

Dr Kirstey Holland
  • 2.6 (5)
  • HEALTH & FITNESS
  • UPDATED DAILY

HELLO, I’M DR KIRSTEY HOLLANDI have worked with women for more than 20 years; women who are worn out from struggling with health challenges such as gut disorders, anxiety, weight gain and more.I have developed a methodology that aims to heal, seal and repair the gut, rebalance hormones and rescue metabolic health, so that my patients can be their best and most vibrant selves again, I call it: The Hierarchy Of Healing. This process comes to life with my Vitality Protocol, which consists of 7 elements, the way you: eat, sleep, move, think, test, connect and prescribe. The process and the protocol are held within a belief that health is bio-psycho-social.I am a university qualified Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and hold a double degree in acupuncture and herbal medicine. I am a practitioner of Environmental and Nutritional Medicine, Functional Medicine and Naturopathy. I’m a person-centred, trauma informed counsellor and a qualified health coach. I believe that the best approach to healthcare should be grounded in ancient wisdom while leveraging cutting edge science. The best approach can be personalised for every woman. Because we are all unique in our own special way.MY STORYWhy do I do what I do? Because I understand what it’s like to feel disease in the body. You see, I am a recovered food addict. When I was a teenager my parents went through an awful divorce and I was sent away to a boarding school where I relied on food for comfort and love and to stop the pain of loneliness.I was the girl who used food to calm myself and feel safe. I ate when I felt stressed and constantly tried to restrict my diet, only to then binge.I was told I was fat, felt shame about showing my body, and never felt good enough.This relationship with my body and food continued for years and the turn point really came for me when I started travelling and studying extensively throughout Africa and Asia, and in particular, India where my fascination with Eastern mysticism and Ayurvedic medicine developed.In spite of this journey, I continued to battle with and abuse my body through food. I was sad and depressed. I knew that my external representation was due to the internal pain I was feeling but I didn’t know what to do about it.My obsession to manage my weight and my own personal disillusionment with western medicine led me to study Traditional Chinese medicine and naturopathy in both Australia and in China. I earned my degrees at a number of institutions, broadening AND deepening my perspective.This journey of learning and practicing has led me to understand that as a woman, our health is intrinsically linked with our own experiences and trauma. I now know that the single most effective way to feel vibrant is to heal, seal and repair the gut, to rebalance your hormones and in the process, rescue your metabolic health.  When we do this we extend our health span, the time we feel healthy and vital during our life. I have been in clinical practice since 2000 having studied and practised alongside some of the best health practitioners around the world – focussing on how to live in a beautifully balanced way that allows us to feel comfortable in our own skin.I live by the 80/20 rule and use practical tools that are designed to support the stage of life I’m in: peri/menopause. I want you to know it’s possible to integrate your story into your health in a positive way. It’s possible to come back into balance, live a full and happy life and get off the rollercoaster so you can live a life that’s more harmonious and graceful.

  1. Raw Truths About the Perimenopausal Transition from inside The Vitality Conversations

    2D AGO

    Raw Truths About the Perimenopausal Transition from inside The Vitality Conversations

    Send me a text if you liked this episode. In this rich and wide-ranging episode, Dr Kirstey Holland opens with a deep dive into Phase 1 of the Hierarchy of Healing — and it all begins in the gut.  She explains why the gut is not a side topic but the central hub of perimenopausal symptoms, and how the gut-brain, gut-nervous system, and gut-skin axes are all connected to the brain fog, anxiety, bloating, and breakouts so many women are experiencing. But this episode goes far beyond gut health.  Dr Kirstey is joined by two women from the Vitality Conversations community, and together they explore some of the most profound — and rarely spoken about — aspects of the perimenopausal transition: - Why perimenopause is a full neuroendocrine upgrade, not a breakdown - The second puberty no one prepares you for — and why it's actually a graduation - How your gut instinct is your first brain, and why healing your gut sharpens your discernment - The friendship shifts, identity shifts, and even sexual shifts that come with this phase - Why perimenopause is being dangerously confused with menopause in mainstream medicine — and what the difference actually means for your hormones - The radical permission you need to rest, to be whole, and to stop abandoning yourself - How to bring your partner into the journey so you grow together This episode is part science, part soul work — and exactly the conversation most women are having behind closed doors but rarely out loud. Mentioned in this episode: On Our Best Behavior by Elise Louen The work of Dr. Emeran Mayer (gut-brain axis) Lara Briden & Professor Jerilynn Prior on progesterone and perimenopause Jane Hardwick Collings on the phases of a woman's life Photographer Anne Bloom (natural aging photography, Amsterdam) Support the show The information shared in this podcast does not substitute working with your primary health care provider; it is general in nature and not considered personalised advice. Visit us online for more information or if you wish to work with Dr Holland. thehollandclinic.com For your daily dose of women's health related info and ideas  on how to gracefully live through health and wellbeing transitions your body experiences, visit our Instagram instagram.com/thehollandclinic

    1h 16m
  2. Stop Feeding The Circus

    3D AGO

    Stop Feeding The Circus

    Send me a text if you liked this episode. The world is loud right now, and it is engineered to keep you reacting. We start by naming the “political circus” for what it is and then choose a calmer, more powerful practice: coming back to the present with one question, “am I okay right now?” From that baseline, we talk about what nervous system regulation actually looks like in daily life, and how clarity returns the moment you stop feeding fear with your attention. Even practical scenarios like transport stress become solvable once you are thinking creatively again.  From there, the conversation turns into a grounded, detailed look at perimenopause and inflammation. We unpack pelvic and hip pain, cycle timing, tender breasts, and what those signs can suggest about high oestrogen presentation and progesterone support. We also cover oestrogen clearance and liver support in plain language, including fibre, indole-3-carbinol, calcium D-glucarate, and how to “teeter” supplement dosing up and down so you are not guessing. If you deal with endometriosis, cyst-driven inflammation, or that feeling of being thrown around by hormone swings, you will feel seen here.  We also go into energetic hygiene for people who hold others, why spiritual bypassing tends to boomerang, and how midlife can be an initiation rather than a crisis. On the supplement front we share nuanced takes on NAC vs glutathione (including candida considerations), creatine, and the realities of NAD therapy, including why IV NAD infusions can be more effective than oral forms and why supervision matters when histamine is in play. We finish with a simple reminder from spirit: lighten the load, laugh, dance, and make room for the next version of you.  If this landed, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a nervous system reset, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation. What part do you want to try first: the “am I okay right now?” check-in or the dose-teetering approach? Support the show The information shared in this podcast does not substitute working with your primary health care provider; it is general in nature and not considered personalised advice. Visit us online for more information or if you wish to work with Dr Holland. thehollandclinic.com For your daily dose of women's health related info and ideas  on how to gracefully live through health and wellbeing transitions your body experiences, visit our Instagram instagram.com/thehollandclinic

    55 min
  3. Body Literacy, Hormonal Rhythms, Symptom Signals and Self-Awareness

    APR 21

    Body Literacy, Hormonal Rhythms, Symptom Signals and Self-Awareness

    Send me a text if you liked this episode. Episode Summary In this session, Dr Kirstey introduces body literacy — the foundational skill that underpins every other pillar of the Vitality Clinic programme.  She explains how to decode the body's symptom signals, understand hormonal rhythms across the menstrual cycle, and recognise the biochemical connections between food, stress, sleep, and how we feel.  Using the four stages of competence framework, Dr Kirstey helps members identify where they are in developing this skill and how to begin building it through simple, consistent daily observation.  Vitality Clinic members are guided to choose one signal to track and begin using their Vitality Clinic diaries as a personal body map. Keen to take a look yourself? https://workwith.thehollandclinic.com/the-vitality-clinic/ Chapters 0:00 — Introduction to Body Literacy What body literacy is, why it matters, and why most women were never taught it. The Symptom Signal Reframe Symptoms as communication from the body, not failures or random events. The Five Parts of Body Literacy Recognising signals, identifying patterns, understanding hormonal rhythms, seeing biochemical connections, and making informed decisions. Your Cycle as Your Map A walkthrough of the follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases and how each shapes mood, energy, sleep, and metabolism daily. Body Literacy Without a Cycle How women with irregular or absent cycles can still track rhythms using weekly patterns. The Four Stages of Competence A framework for understanding where you are in learning body literacy and removing self-judgment from the process. How to Build Body Literacy Practically The 90-second daily observation practice, choosing one signal to track, and using the Vitality Clinic diaries. Reflection Questions and Next Steps Guided questions to deepen self-inquiry and instructions for continuing inside the platform. Key Insights Symptoms are signals, not failures. Every symptom — fatigue, brain fog, mood shifts, bloating, sleep disruption — is the body communicating something specific about its biochemistry, not evidence of a body breaking down.Body literacy is a skill, not an instinct. Most women were conditioned to override their body's signals rather than read them. This is a learned cultural pattern, not a personal failing, and it can be unlearned.The menstrual cycle is a daily map. The day of the cycle directly shapes mood, energy, sleep, metabolism, and food preferences. Once women begin tracking symptoms against their cycle day, the body becomes predictable rather than chaotic.Daily observation is the most powerful practice. Tracking even one signal — energy, sleep, mood, hunger — for 30 to 90 days builds a personalised record that no doctor, app, or algorithm can replicate. Authority over health begins with this record.Unconscious competence is the goal. The endpoint of body literacy is not a programme to follow but a way of living — where supporting yoSupport the show The information shared in this podcast does not substitute working with your primary health care provider; it is general in nature and not considered personalised advice. Visit us online for more information or if you wish to work with Dr Holland. thehollandclinic.com For your daily dose of women's health related info and ideas  on how to gracefully live through health and wellbeing transitions your body experiences, visit our Instagram instagram.com/thehollandclinic

    17 min
  4. Become the Archaeologist of Your Own Beliefs

    FEB 12

    Become the Archaeologist of Your Own Beliefs

    Send me a text if you liked this episode. This is an episode about the stories we carry — and the moment we finally put them down. Dr Kirstey Holland shares why healing in perimenopause isn’t about doing more, but about releasing what’s been weighing you down. Through personal reflections on food addiction, shame, autoimmunity, and nervous system survival, she invites you into radical honesty, simplicity, and self-compassion. Your body is not against you. Your symptoms are not your identity. And your vitality is closer than you think. Support the show The information shared in this podcast does not substitute working with your primary health care provider; it is general in nature and not considered personalised advice. Visit us online for more information or if you wish to work with Dr Holland. thehollandclinic.com For your daily dose of women's health related info and ideas  on how to gracefully live through health and wellbeing transitions your body experiences, visit our Instagram instagram.com/thehollandclinic

    32 min
  5. Born Into Chaos, Called to Heal: My Story and Why I Do This Work

    JAN 31

    Born Into Chaos, Called to Heal: My Story and Why I Do This Work

    Send me a text if you liked this episode. In this deeply personal episode, Dr Kirstey Holland shares the story that shaped her life, her nervous system, and her life’s work.  Born in a nunnery in rural Africa, raised amidst beauty, danger, trauma, and deep connection to nature, Kirstey reflects on a childhood marked by instability, fear, and extraordinary resilience. She speaks candidly about early trauma, dysregulated nervous systems, chronic stress, insulin resistance, hormonal disruption, and how these experiences ultimately forged her path into medicine.  This episode weaves together ancestry, trauma, biology, and healing—showing how the body holds the score, how regulation is possible at any age, and why women in perimenopause deserve better care, better explanations, and better outcomes.  Kirstey shares the framework she now lives and teaches:  Repair the gut.  Rebalance hormones.  Reclaim metabolism.  And why true health is never just physical—it is always biological, psychological, and social.  This is not just a story.  It is a reclaiming.  And an invitation for women to trust their bodies again.  Support the show The information shared in this podcast does not substitute working with your primary health care provider; it is general in nature and not considered personalised advice. Visit us online for more information or if you wish to work with Dr Holland. thehollandclinic.com For your daily dose of women's health related info and ideas  on how to gracefully live through health and wellbeing transitions your body experiences, visit our Instagram instagram.com/thehollandclinic

    39 min
  6. "Heal-Seal-Repair Protocol" - what do I recommend to repair your gut?

    06/08/2024

    "Heal-Seal-Repair Protocol" - what do I recommend to repair your gut?

    Send me a text if you liked this episode. Today I  introduce you to my Heal-Seal-Repair Program. It's designed to address gut health and various related health issues. The program focuses on reducing gut inflammation through a structured Elimination Diet Schedule, identifying individual trigger foods, and categorising foods into five groups: ideal, reasonable, acceptable, foods to eat with caution, and foods to avoid.  The program consists of a four-week detox phase and an eight-week reintroduction phase.  Participants are encouraged to carefully monitor their body's reactions to foods reintroduced gradually.  The program emphasises personalised dietary choices and provides flexibility in meal planning, aiming to promote overall health and well-being.  I also touch on complementary protocols like intermittent fasting and ketogenic beverages and highlight the importance of consulting healthcare providers for comprehensive health assessments. Enjoy! 00:00 Introduction to the Heal-Seal-Repair Program 00:41 Understanding Gut Health and Inflammation 01:46 The Elimination Diet Schedule 04:39 The Five Food Categories 08:38 Problematic Food Components 13:17 The Detox and Reintroduction Phases 17:37 Monitoring and Recording Reactions 29:36 Flexibility and Personalization 39:57 Conclusion and Next Steps Support the show The information shared in this podcast does not substitute working with your primary health care provider; it is general in nature and not considered personalised advice. Visit us online for more information or if you wish to work with Dr Holland. thehollandclinic.com For your daily dose of women's health related info and ideas  on how to gracefully live through health and wellbeing transitions your body experiences, visit our Instagram instagram.com/thehollandclinic

    41 min
  7. When is the best time to enrol into a health program?

    11/23/2023

    When is the best time to enrol into a health program?

    Send me a text if you liked this episode. It's coming to the end of the year, Thanks Giving, Christmas, New Year celebrations, holiday seasons .... So: when is the best time to start a health program? In this episode, I share valuable insights on establishing an individualized roadmap for vitality and focusing on personal health.  I discuss the importance of understanding one's unique biochemistry, debunking the idea of a one-size-fits-all diet.  Allow me to highlight the significance of nourishing the body with nutrient-dense foods, making peace with what works for each individual. I also emphasise the role of self-care, balancing blood sugar, and optimizing hormones for long-term health. Support the show The information shared in this podcast does not substitute working with your primary health care provider; it is general in nature and not considered personalised advice. Visit us online for more information or if you wish to work with Dr Holland. thehollandclinic.com For your daily dose of women's health related info and ideas  on how to gracefully live through health and wellbeing transitions your body experiences, visit our Instagram instagram.com/thehollandclinic

    25 min
  8. How childhood trauma impacts your health

    11/14/2023

    How childhood trauma impacts your health

    Send me a text if you liked this episode. In this talk, I explore several dimensions of health beyond just the physical.  Let me reflect on my background growing up in a violent household and how it affected my health-related behaviors.  I want to highlighting the interconnection between our biological, psychological, and social aspects.  Let me share what I know about emotional eating, body dysmorphia, addiction, stress, and inflammation of the brain and gut.  I cannot over emphasise the significance of practicing mindful eating, establishing strong personal boundaries, and nurturing oneself.  How do you achieve radical self-responsibility?  Start with minor changes that lead to a healthier you and overall well-being. Support the show The information shared in this podcast does not substitute working with your primary health care provider; it is general in nature and not considered personalised advice. Visit us online for more information or if you wish to work with Dr Holland. thehollandclinic.com For your daily dose of women's health related info and ideas  on how to gracefully live through health and wellbeing transitions your body experiences, visit our Instagram instagram.com/thehollandclinic

    22 min
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2.6
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

HELLO, I’M DR KIRSTEY HOLLANDI have worked with women for more than 20 years; women who are worn out from struggling with health challenges such as gut disorders, anxiety, weight gain and more.I have developed a methodology that aims to heal, seal and repair the gut, rebalance hormones and rescue metabolic health, so that my patients can be their best and most vibrant selves again, I call it: The Hierarchy Of Healing. This process comes to life with my Vitality Protocol, which consists of 7 elements, the way you: eat, sleep, move, think, test, connect and prescribe. The process and the protocol are held within a belief that health is bio-psycho-social.I am a university qualified Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and hold a double degree in acupuncture and herbal medicine. I am a practitioner of Environmental and Nutritional Medicine, Functional Medicine and Naturopathy. I’m a person-centred, trauma informed counsellor and a qualified health coach. I believe that the best approach to healthcare should be grounded in ancient wisdom while leveraging cutting edge science. The best approach can be personalised for every woman. Because we are all unique in our own special way.MY STORYWhy do I do what I do? Because I understand what it’s like to feel disease in the body. You see, I am a recovered food addict. When I was a teenager my parents went through an awful divorce and I was sent away to a boarding school where I relied on food for comfort and love and to stop the pain of loneliness.I was the girl who used food to calm myself and feel safe. I ate when I felt stressed and constantly tried to restrict my diet, only to then binge.I was told I was fat, felt shame about showing my body, and never felt good enough.This relationship with my body and food continued for years and the turn point really came for me when I started travelling and studying extensively throughout Africa and Asia, and in particular, India where my fascination with Eastern mysticism and Ayurvedic medicine developed.In spite of this journey, I continued to battle with and abuse my body through food. I was sad and depressed. I knew that my external representation was due to the internal pain I was feeling but I didn’t know what to do about it.My obsession to manage my weight and my own personal disillusionment with western medicine led me to study Traditional Chinese medicine and naturopathy in both Australia and in China. I earned my degrees at a number of institutions, broadening AND deepening my perspective.This journey of learning and practicing has led me to understand that as a woman, our health is intrinsically linked with our own experiences and trauma. I now know that the single most effective way to feel vibrant is to heal, seal and repair the gut, to rebalance your hormones and in the process, rescue your metabolic health.  When we do this we extend our health span, the time we feel healthy and vital during our life. I have been in clinical practice since 2000 having studied and practised alongside some of the best health practitioners around the world – focussing on how to live in a beautifully balanced way that allows us to feel comfortable in our own skin.I live by the 80/20 rule and use practical tools that are designed to support the stage of life I’m in: peri/menopause. I want you to know it’s possible to integrate your story into your health in a positive way. It’s possible to come back into balance, live a full and happy life and get off the rollercoaster so you can live a life that’s more harmonious and graceful.

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