The Rollercoaster of Perimenopause
HELLO, I’M DR KIRSTEY HOLLAND I 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 STORY Why 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.
Episodes
Send me a text if you liked this episode.
Episode Description:
In this group coaching session, Dr Kirstey Holland guides four patients through their most pressing perimenopause and menopause questions — from sleep breakthroughs and gut healing to the truth about testosterone therapy. Raw, real, and packed with clinical insight, this is the kind of honest conversation most women never get in a doctor's office.
Highlight Topics:
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 man...
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 return...
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...
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-c...
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 ner...
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....
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 i...
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 dysmorphi...
Send me a text if you liked this episode.
Hello gorgeous,
this episode was recorded in the spur of the moment, as I'm driving home from dropping my son to his cricket match.
If you want to ditch the myriad of symptoms that derail your good days as you go through perimenopause, you need the right approach.
There's a "hierarchy of healing" that allow you to fix the vast majority of uncomfortable symptoms and reduc...
Send me a text if you liked this episode.
Good morning from the Holland Clinic, on a rainy but refreshing day in Melbourne. We understand the many complexities involved in your search for health and vitality, which can feel increasingly daunting as we grow older. Yet, rest assured that you are not alone on this journey; we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Often, as a society, we look for a single magic bullet to s...
Send me a text if you liked this episode.
In this episode I discuss:
- What is estrogen?
- High estrogen or estrogen dominance? The signs of too much estrogen.
- What causes estrogen dominance?
- The importance of testing estrogen levels during perimenopause.
- Basic treatment ideas for estrogen
- 5 steps to naturally reduce excess estrogen
Enjoy!
In best health,
Dr Kirstey Holland
Send me a text if you liked this episode.
In this longer episode I talk about how I approach the healing journey with my patients and clients.
What is it like working with me, when all you want is ridding yourself of annoying, perhaps painful, perhaps embarrassing, perhaps super uncomfortable, perhaps life crushing physiological symptoms???
Let's sit down.
Send me a text if you liked this episode.
Topics for today:
- the vital connection between sleep and weight management,
- sleep and weight loss in pain,
- perimenopause and the power of supplements and lifestyle changes.
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 o...
Send me a text if you liked this episode.
In this chat that I originally posted on Insta, I am all fired up about the ways we can tackle and improve the symptoms of perimenopause.
or example: I have been traumatised by diet culture.
It doesn't have to be this way.
Enjoy!
Much Love
Dr Kirstey Holland
The information shared in this podcast does not substitute working with your primary health...
Send me a text if you liked this episode.
We're going to discuss what is perimenopause.
We're going to discuss, what are perimenopausal symptoms, could I potentially be in perimenopause?
And then I've got a bit of sexy research for you at the end. I know that you think research can't be sexy, but wait, I'm gonna prove you wrong.
The information shared in this podcast does not substitute...
Send me a text if you liked this episode.
Dr Holland is opening up her clinic to the world.
This podcast is a recording of a live session from late November 2022, titled: "Rescuing You From The Rollercoaster Of Peri/Menopause".
Dr Holland's approach to treating women for symptoms of peri/menopause starts with ensuring the gut health is restored, as it is so central to the human immune system and wellbeing.
Listen to the...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.