The womb as a portal to sacred union.

“There is no scientific evidence that defines the womb as a sacred portal. This is a deeply held spiritual belief for many, including myself.”

This understanding comes from my own life journey- through initiations, healing, and personal transformation over the past few decades. It is also rooted in my studies and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic Medicine, two systems that hold rich wisdom about the feminine body and energy.

In Ayurveda, the womb is considered sacred- home to Shakti, the divine feminine principle of the universe. It is seen as a seat of feminine intuition, creativity, and cyclical wisdom. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the womb is central to a woman's overall health. The menstrual cycle is seen as deeply connected to the cycles of nature- especially the lunar cycle. As women, we ebb and flow like the moon: new, waxing, full, and waning. When we align with this rhythm, we honour the natural intelligence within our bodies.

Souls are birthed through this portal. Whether or not we choose to have children, the womb holds an energetic imprint of creative power. It is the centre of our intuitive knowing. On a cellular level, our connection to the maternal line runs deep. Female eggs begin forming in the fetus at around 20 weeks gestation. This means that the egg that created you was forming inside your mother- while she was still in your grandmother's womb. That’s a sacred lineage.

The process of conception itself is extraordinary: if a fertile egg meets a viable sperm, a new life begins to form, calling in a soul. Cells divide, multiply, and over the course of nine months, a new human being is shaped within the womb. The magic of this is not just biological- it is deeply spiritual.

In yogic and tantric traditions, Shakti is the feminine life force energy. She is said to rest coiled at the base of the spine in the sushumna, or central energy channel. Through practices such as meditation, pranayama, yoga, and mantra, Shakti can be awakened. As she rises, she travels upward through each energy centre (chakra), ultimately uniting with Shiva, the masculine principle, at the sahasrara or crown chakra- birthing spiritual awakening and sacred union.

We all carry both feminine and masculine energies, regardless of gender. The ida channel (lunar, feminine) flows to the left of the spine; the pingala (solar, masculine) flows to the right. Through conscious breath- such as alternate nostril breathing- we can activate and balance these forces within ourselves.

The womb space, governed by the swadisthana or sacral chakra, connects us to our emotional body, sexuality, and creativity. Through inner work- using tools such as breath, ritual, movement, and meditation- we can reconnect with this powerful centre.

In Ayurveda, supporting the womb and the divine feminine involves herbs, detoxification, sacred rituals, and tailored lifestyle practices. These can be used to bring harmony to the body and mind, and to align with the natural rhythms of the moon and seasons.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the uterus is called Zi Gong, meaning “palace of the child.” The Ren Mai and Chong Mai meridians are two of the eight extraordinary channels related to reproductive and feminine energy. Menstrual blood is known as Tian Gui, or “heavenly water.” Its colour and flow are viewed as reflective of a woman’s qi (vital energy) and blood health.

Yin is the receptive, dark, nourishing energy that builds and restores. Yang is its active, expressive counterpart. One cannot exist without the other. Together, they dance in balance- just like the feminine and masculine within us.

Womb Work: A Sacred Feminine Path

Womb work is a sacred feminine journey-one of reclaiming intuition, honouring cyclical wisdom, and deepening trust in our bodies. It may involve supporting the release of emotional and energetic imprints held in the womb space, including intergenerational or ancestral stories.

Through traditional medicines like Ayurveda and TCM, we are offered practices that work on physical, emotional, spiritual, and energetic levels. These traditions honour the womb not only as a biological organ, but as a portal of wisdom, power, and spiritual connection.

Womb healing is not about fixing or rushing. It is about remembering, reclaiming, and resting into our own sacred rhythm- individually and collectively.

This blog is based on personal experience and traditional wisdom from Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is offered for spiritual and educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace medical or psychological care.

The Science of Stillness: How Acupuncture Calms the Nervous System

“...many of us are living in a constant state of low-grade stress without realising it.”

Stress can be defined as the physical and psychological response to perceived demands and pressures.¹ It is highly subjective-what causes stress for one person may have little effect on another, and for someone else, it may trigger complete overwhelm or even breakdown. Our modern lives are relentless in the daily pressures we face, and many of us are living in a constant state of low-grade stress without realising it.

Chronic stress is now recognised as a precursor to a wide range of physical and mental health issues. If left unaddressed, it can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental health conditions.¹

Common symptoms of stress include:

• Insomnia or poor sleep
  
  

• Persistent fatigue
  
  

• Feelings of overwhelm
  
  

• Reduced mental clarity and concentration
  
  

• Digestive disturbances
  
  

• Depression or anxiety
  
  

In 2011, the World Health Organization predicted that by 2020, mental health problems, including stress-related disorders would become the second leading cause of disability worldwide.²

How Stress Affects the Body 

The body’s stress response is a natural biofeedback mechanism designed to help us cope with challenges. When we encounter a stressor, the body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which activate systems such as the cardiovascular system to increase heart rate and blood pressure, preparing us for action or survival.

At the same time, non-essential systems are temporarily down regulated to conserve energy. For example, energy is diverted away from the digestive system and redirected to the heart and muscles. This is why many people experience digestive issues during times of stress.

Under normal circumstances, once the stressor has passed, the body’s feedback loop kicks in to restore balance, returning all systems to their regular rhythm. However, during chronic or prolonged stress, the body remains in a heightened state, continuously flooded with cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, this can lead to dysregulation in other systems, especially the sleep-wake cycle.

Cortisol plays a crucial role in regulating our circadian rhythm. Ideally, cortisol levels should be highest in the morning - to help us wake up and feel alert and lowest at night -to support rest and repair. But when the body is stuck in a stress cycle, cortisol may spike in the evening and dip in the morning, leading to fatigue upon waking, disrupted sleep, and ongoing exhaustion throughout the day.

How Traditional Chinese Medicine Understands Stress

Chinese Medicine and acupuncture have been used for thousands of years to bring the body back into balance by restoring the smooth flow of Qi (vital energy) through the meridians, or energy channels. Rooted in holism, Chinese Medicine incorporates theories such as Zang Fu (the functional organ system) and the Seven Emotions to understand how emotional states and environmental factors contribute to illness and imbalance.²

In TCM, stress is typically understood as a disruption of flow, it causes Qi and blood stagnation, which often generates heat in the body. This stagnation affects the internal organ systems and can lead to both emotional and physical symptoms. 

How acupuncture supports the nervous system, promotes calm, and helps the body return to a state of balance.

Chronic stress causes an imbalance between the sympathetic (activating) and parasympathetic (regenerating) capacities of the nervous system. One of the best analogies I’ve heard to understand this comes from my high school psychology teacher: think of a parachute when thinking of the parasympathetic nervous system. The parachute brings a person gently and safely back to the ground, just as the parasympathetic system helps bring the body out of “survival mode” and into a more relaxed, regulated state.

Some emerging research suggests that acupuncture may help influence the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic aspects of the central nervous system. In some studies, regular acupuncture treatments were associated with markers of increased parasympathetic activity, suggesting a potential for supporting the body’s capacity to regulate and rest.³

What does the current research say?

Some preliminary research indicates that acupuncture may support the body’s ability to manage symptoms associated with stress.

For example, a clinical trial conducted by Huang et al. involved 18 participants with elevated stress levels. Those treated with acupuncture reported improvements compared to the sham and control groups.

Another study by Arvidsdotter et al. suggested that an integrative treatment approach including acupuncture may offer some benefit over conventional care alone, though more research is needed. Similarly, Schroeder et al. reported reduced levels of perceived stress in a group receiving acupuncture, compared to those receiving sham treatments.

While these findings are promising, it’s important to acknowledge the limitations, such as small sample sizes and high dropout rates. These early studies provide insight into how acupuncture may influence stress-related symptoms, but more robust research is needed before firm conclusions can be made.

Final notes on Acupuncture and stress:

In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is used to support the flow of Qi and the balance of the vital organ systems. Each person receives a tailored treatment plan based on their constitution and current state of balance. This is one of the strengths of traditional medicine systems, they are personalised, not one-size-fits-all. This is the beauty of traditional medicines. They are individualised to each patient because we are so unique and when we treat the root of the issues- we will all have a different story, a different accumulation of stress or imbalance that has formed the root. 

As part of holistic care, practitioners may also recommend dietary and lifestyle adjustments, along with stress reduction practices such as yoga, meditation, and qigong are practical ways to help with stress reduction and building resilience and internal balance. From my personal experience in practices like Tai Chi, yoga, and qigong, I believe that these methods work cumulatively over time to help support the body’s natural intelligence and resilience. They are not quick fixes, but integrated into daily life, they may contribute to a deeper sense of balance.

1. Brenner J., Wild, B., Joos S., Samstag Y., Buckert M. & Valentini J (2020) Acupuncture in persons with an increased stress level. PLoS ONE 15(7) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0236004 

2. Huang, W., Howie, J., Taylor, A, & Robinson, N. (2011) An investigation into the effectiveness of traditional Chinese acupuncture for chronic stress in adults. Complementary studies in clinical practice 17(1), 16-21 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.05.013

3. Wild B, Brenner J, Joos S, Samstag Y, Buckert M, Valentini J (2020) Acupuncture in persons with an increased stress level. PLoS ONE 15(7) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0236004 

4. Arvidsdotter T, Marklund B, Taft C. (2014)Six-month effects of integrative treatment, therapeutic acupuncture and conventional treatment in alleviating psychological distress in primary care patients. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014; 14:210 https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-210