Ep. 28: Living with Chronic Illness in a Hormonal Body | Dysautonomia, POTS, Long COVID & EDS

Ep. 28: Living with Chronic Illness in a Hormonal Body | Dysautonomia, POTS, Long COVID & EDS

In this episode of the Hippie Martha Hormone Hour, I’m joined by Elizabeth Bertch — a nutritional therapy practitioner, fertility awareness educator, and movement instructor who has been living with long COVID since 2022. We explore the overlap between long COVID, POTS, EDS/hypermobility, nervous system dysregulation, hormones, and the menstrual cycle through the lens of lived experience. This conversation dives into the complexity of chronic illness, symptom flares across the cycle, autonomic dysfunction, fatigue, inflammation, connective tissue, pacing, and the emotional reality of navigating a body that no longer feels predictable. We also discuss the idea that chronic illness may be more dynamic and interconnected than the common “genetic predisposition + trigger” narrative — touching on stress physiology, nervous system regulation, epigenetics, and the relationship between hormones and chronic symptoms. This episode is an honest conversation about patterns, healing, and the questions many people with chronic illness are still exploring. Topics discussed: * Long COVID and dysautonomia * POTS symptoms and autonomic nervous system dysfunction * EDS and hypermobility * Hormones and the menstrual cycle * Chronic illness symptom tracking * Nervous system regulation * Inflammation and stress physiology * Cycle-related symptom flares * Pacing and recovery * The emotional side of chronic illness If this episode resonates with you, be sure to hit the follow button, leave a review, and share it with someone navigating chronic illness, long COVID, hormonal health challenges, or nervous system dysregulation. Connect with Elizabeth: Instagram: no_elizas [https://www.instagram.com/no_elizas/?hl=en] Website: www.elizabethbertch.com [www.elizabethbertch.com] Connect with Ashley:  Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thehippiemartha⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thehippiemartha]⁠  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thehippiemartha.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thehippiemartha.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠] Have a topic you want to learn about? Leave a comment or send a message to Ashley. *Remember this is NOT medical advice just sound wisdom.

Ep. 27-Beyond Band-Aids: Root Cause Healing, Fertility, and Metabolic Health

Have you ever felt like your symptoms were being managed but never truly explained? Are your symptoms trying to tell you something deeper? In this episode of the Hippie Martha Hormone Hour, I sit down with Dr. Theresa Osmer to discuss root-cause healing, functional medicine, fertility, hormones, metabolic health, and supplementation. We cover: • Functional medicine vs. conventional medicine vs. naturopathic medicine • What "root cause" really means • Why hormones are often just one piece of the puzzle • The connection between stress, gut health, metabolism, and hormones • Fertility support for both women and men • The importance of metabolic health before conception • Testing vs. guessing when it comes to supplements • Common supplement mistakes • Foundational habits that support long-term health And a fun rapid fire Q & A. If you've ever felt dismissed, stuck, or frustrated by symptom-based care, this episode is for you. How to test your insulin resistance:  Score = (Fasting insulin, uIU/mL)x(Fasting glucose, mg/dL) / 405  *Goal is that your score is 2 or under Connect with Dr. Theresa Osmer: Instagram: @drtheresaosmerWebsite: www.flowchiro.com [http://www.flowchiro.com] Connect with Ashley:  Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thehippiemartha⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thehippiemartha]⁠  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thehippiemartha.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe to the Hippie Martha Hormone Hour so you never miss an episode. Have a topic you want to learn about? Leave a comment or send a message to Ashley. *Remember this is NOT medical advice just sound wisdom.

Ep. 26- Understanding Your Body as a Living System

In this episode, Ashley sits down with licensed midwife Tesa Lubans to explore a revolutionary way of understanding the female body — not as something broken or in need of fixing, but as a living, intelligent system. They dive into biological literacy, ovarian intelligence, fertility beyond pregnancy, mothering, and how stress, environment, and systemic disconnection impact women’s health. This conversation challenges conventional narratives around hormones, infertility, postpartum healing, and aging. Key Topics: * The Language of Living Systems TM * Biological literacy vs. hormone hacking * Ovarian communication and egg intelligence * Fertility as a whole-body expression * The impact of stress and environment on hormones * Hysterectomy and system disconnection Key Takeaway: Your symptoms are not failures — they are communication. Resources & Support: We shared some names and studies with you in this podcast here they are.Cait Scudder-themillionairemother [https://www.instagram.com/themillionairemother/?hl=en] Julia Bond- iamjuliabond [https://www.instagram.com/iamjuliabond/?hl=en#]Jamie Sea - Currency Academy https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adx0659 [https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adx0659] https://stemcell.ucsf.edu/news/why-does-female-fertility-decline-so-fast-the-key-is-the-ovary [https://stemcell.ucsf.edu/news/why-does-female-fertility-decline-so-fast-the-key-is-the-ovary] As always thank you so much for listening. You can learn more about Tesa and her work on IG @sacredasamother [https://www.instagram.com/sacredasamother/?hl=en] or connect through email at Tesa@sacredasamother.co Be sure to check out Ashley's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thehippiemartha⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thehippiemartha]⁠ and to work with Ashley head over to her website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thehippiemartha.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.thehippiemartha.com] Have a topic you want to learn about? Leave a comment or send a message to Ashley. *Remember this is NOT medical advise just sound wisdom.

Ep. 25- I thought it was Peri...it wasn't that simple

At 35, I thought my body was breaking. Irregular cycles, low energy, hormone symptoms—it felt like everything was pointing to perimenopause. But what I discovered changed not only my health… but the entire way I understand the body. In this episode, I’m sharing my personal journey—from confusion and mislabeling to clarity through cycle tracking and root-cause healing. In this episode, we cover: * The symptoms that made me think I was in perimenopause * What was actually going on (thyroid, gut, blood sugar, burnout + more) * How birth control impacted my cycle and hormones * What fertility awareness and cycle charting revealed * Why testing without context can lead to more confusion * The exact shifts I made to support my body * What it really means to heal vs. “fix” hormones Resources & Support: Want to understand your cycle and symptoms on a deeper level? ✨ 3-Month 1:1 Mentorship ✨ Personalized support for hormone health, cycle tracking, and root-cause healing Next Episode: In Part 3, we’re diving into HRT, birth control, and how to actually make informed decisions about your care. As always thank you so much for listening. Be sure to check out Ashley's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thehippiemartha⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thehippiemartha]⁠ and to work with Ashley head over to her website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thehippiemartha.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.thehippiemartha.com] Have a topic you want to learn about? Leave a comment or send a message to Ashley. *Remember this is NOT medical advise just sound wisdom.

Ep. 24 Is It Really Perimenopause?

You’re in your 30s or 40s, something feels off… and suddenly the internet is telling you it’s perimenopause. But is it? In this episode, we’re breaking down what perimenopause actually is—and just as importantly, what it isn’t. Because while your symptoms are real, the label you’ve been given might not be the full picture. This is the start of a powerful series designed to help you move from confusion to clarity when it comes to your hormones, your cycle, and your body. Ashley covers: * What perimenopause really is (in simple, clear terms) * Why symptoms are often mislabeled as “just hormones” * The difference between perimenopause, menopause, and primary ovarian insufficiency * Common root causes that can mimic perimenopause * Why one hormone test doesn’t give you the full picture * How to begin understanding your body through patterns—not guesses * A powerful mindset shift: from “what’s wrong with me?” to “what is my body asking for?” Your body isn’t broken—and perimenopause isn’t something to fear. It’s something to understand. Resources & Support: Philosophy shared Jane Hardwicke Collins https://janehardwickecollings.com/honouring-rites-of-passage-in-a-womans-life/ [https://janehardwickecollings.com/honouring-rites-of-passage-in-a-womans-life/] If you’re ready to stop guessing and start understanding your body, I offer:✨ 3-Month 1:1 Hormone Restoration Mentorship (limited spots available)✨ A la carte care from pre-recorded workshops [https://www.thehippiemartha.com/courses/peri-menopause-101-2/] to one off consults. Reach out to learn more @ ⁠www.thehippiemartha.com⁠ [www.thehippiemartha.com] Next Episode:In Part 2, I’m sharing my personal story—what I thought was hormone chaos, what was actually going on, and what changed everything. As always thank you so much for listening. Be sure to check out Ashley's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thehippiemartha⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thehippiemartha]⁠ and to work with Ashley head over to her website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thehippiemartha.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.thehippiemartha.com] Have a topic you want to learn about? Leave a comment or send a message to Ashley. *Remember this is NOT medical advise just sound wisdom.