Ovary-Acting

In this solo episode, Dr. Jennifer Ashby explores your yoni — your "jade gate" — through the medicine she practices. Why the clinical word we grew up with comes from the Latin for "sheath for a sword" (named by men, for men), why "yoni" (Sanskrit for source, sacred space, origin) fits better, and how East Asian Medicine has mapped this tissue across a woman's whole life: the four channels that meet at the yoni, the concept of Tiangui (heavenly water), the heart-kidney axis, the emotional layer, and where ancient theory and modern microbiome science describe the exact same thing.

The Energy Prescription, Dr. Jennifer Ashby's new Wiley book, turns her whole-body, East-meets-West approach into a daily toolbox for thriving through perimenopause and menopause. Out October 20th. 👉 Pre-order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663 Women's Lib — a non-hormonal daily libido tincture for women navigating midlife stress and low desire. 👉 https://womens-lib.com/

1. Your yoni sits where four channels meet. The Ren Mai governs moisture and tone; the Chong Mai (Sea of Blood) links the yoni, uterus, breasts, and heart — which is why those symptoms often arrive together at hormonal transitions.
2. The Kidney and Liver channels run straight through the jade gate. The kidney governs tissue vitality and where fear/trauma register; the liver governs the flow of qi and blood, and stagnation shows up as dryness, tension, and irritation.
3. Tiangui and the heart-kidney axis set the tone for every transition — puberty, postpartum, perimenopause, menopause — not just menopause.
4. The jade gate keeps the score. Fear (kidney), anger (liver), and grief (lung) live in the tissue over decades. This does NOT mean symptoms are "just psychological" — body and emotion are one system.
5. Ancient theory meets modern science: a healthy yoni is lactobacillus-dominant (low pH); as kidney yin and estrogen decline, that shifts — "yin deficiency at the jade gate," aka GSM. Nourish kidney jing early and often: black sesame, walnuts, eggs, oysters, dark berries, bone broth, miso.

00:00 Welcome

00:40 Why "yoni," not the word from health class

02:30 Channel 1: Ren Mai (Conception Vessel)

03:40 Channel 2: Chong Mai (Sea of Blood)

05:30 Channel 3: Kidney channel — vitality, fear & trauma

08:30 Channel 4: Liver channel — flow, tension & damp-heat

12:30 Tiangui & the heart-kidney axis

14:40 Menarche & the teenage years

16:15 The reproductive years

17:50 Pregnancy & postpartum

21:30 Perimenopause

23:10 Menopause & beyond; GSM as yin deficiency

24:25 The emotional layer: fear, anger & grief

25:50 Where EAM meets modern science: the microbiome & gut-yoni axis

28:20 What you can do: nourishing kidney jing

Newsletter: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby

Dr. Jennifer Ashby talks with nurse midwife Erinn Lance, CNM — a close friend and the midwife who was in the room when Jen birthed her last baby — about vaginal health across a woman's whole life: why the vagina is a self-cleaning organ, the microbiome and common infections, how discharge changes from first period through menopause, GSM (genitourinary syndrome of menopause) and vaginal estrogen, pelvic floor PT, lubricants, sex after menopause, hydration, and learning to trust your own body.

The Energy Prescription, Dr. Jennifer Ashby's new Wiley book, turns her whole-body, East-meets-West approach into a daily toolbox for thriving through perimenopause and menopause. Out October 20th. 👉 Pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663

1. The vagina is self-cleaning — leave it alone. Douches and scented washes disrupt the microbiome that keeps pH acidic and hostile to infection. See a provider only when something changes (itching, burning, foul odor).
2. Know your "normal," including discharge — often it's just the body cleaning itself or a sign of ovulation.
3. Sex shifts the environment, and spit is a culprit. If infections recur, skip saliva as lube and use a clean, water-soluble, glycerin-free lubricant.
4. GSM is real, common, and under-treated. As estrogen drops, tissue thins — including the bladder — causing dryness, recurrent UTIs, and incontinence. Vaginal estrogen (cream or ring) is largely local, not systemic.
5. Trust your body and advocate for yourself. If you're dismissed, find another provider — a pelvic exam should never simply be endured.

00:00 Welcome + today's topic: vaginas & vaginal health

00:30 Meet Erinn Lance, CNM — nurse midwife & homeopath

05:30 All the names + the origin of "vagina" (a sheath for a sword)

07:30 Birthing a baby together in this room; matrilineal wisdom

18:00 Reproductive years: BV, yeast & the self-cleaning vagina

23:00 pH, lactobacilli, ovulation mucus & "ferning"

32:00 Sex & vaginal health: spit, new partners & clean lubricants

38:00 Talking to kids: "Switzerland" & the "Ace of Sparkles"

44:00 Pregnancy & postpartum; the first 40 days

54:00 Hormonal contraception & the microbiome

56:30 Perimenopause, menopause & GSM

1:01:00 Vaginal tissue changes & vaginal estrogen (cream vs. ring)

1:05:00 GSM & the bladder: UTIs & incontinence

1:08:00 Sex after menopause; "you never have to endure a pelvic exam" 1:12:30 How to pee + hydration deep-dive (weight ÷ 2 in ounces)

1:19:40 One piece of advice: trust your body

1:26:30 Wrap-up + the send-off song

Erinn Lance, CNM — certified nurse midwife caring for women since 1998 in clinics, homes, birth centers, and hospitals. Master's in Nurse-Midwifery, UCSF (1998); founded Centering Pregnancy at Marin Maternity Services; retired from birth work in 2025 and now focused on menopause.

Newsletter: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby

An East Asian Medicine lens on breast health — not a replacement for screening, but a powerful addition. In this solo episode, Dr. Jennifer Ashby explains how your breasts sit at the crossroads of the liver, stomach, and Chong Mai channels, quietly tracking your stress, emotions, hormones, and how well your body clears estrogen. She covers three clinical patterns, left vs. right symptoms, xenoestrogens and alcohol, the emotional layer, and a simple daily prescription — honoring that genetics are real and screening is non-negotiable.

The Energy Prescription, Dr. Ashby's new Wiley book, turns her whole-body, East-meets-West approach into a daily toolbox for thriving through perimenopause and menopause.

👉 Pre-order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS

Your breasts are a map. They sit along three channels — liver (qi & emotion), stomach (digestion; runs through the nipple), and the Chong Mai ("sea of blood," linking breasts, uterus & vitality).

Three patterns recur: liver qi stagnation (cyclical tenderness, ropey texture, irritability); phlegm & blood stasis (fixed cysts, fibrocystic changes); and kidney deficiency in midlife.

Genetics are real and not your fault. With a BRCA variant, dense tissue, or family history, lifestyle does NOT replace screening or your oncologist. But for most women, genes load the gun and environment influences the trigger.

The modern world loads the deck: xenoestrogens (heated plastics, conventional products, pesticides, dairy/meat) and alcohol overwhelm the liver; sluggish armpit lymph (tight bras, antiperspirants, hunched posture) traps waste in breast tissue.

Emotional layer: liver holds anger, lung holds grief, spleen holds worry. Daily fix: 5-min self-breast massage toward the armpit, swap one xenoestrogen source monthly (start with deodorant), support the liver (cruciferous veg, warm lemon water, less alcohol), move to open the chest, and know your family history and screen.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 START – Welcome + today's topic

00:50 – Your breasts as a map

01:40 – Genetics are real and not your fault

03:00 – The three channels: liver, stomach & Chong Mai

06:20 – Three patterns

09:00 – Left vs. right laterality

11:10 – Genetics & epigenetics

13:40 – Xenoestrogens

15:50 – Alcohol

16:40 – Lymphatic flow & the armpits

18:50 – The emotional layer

21:00 – Your daily prescription

23:00 – Closing: "preservation over reclamation"

🔗 CONNECT WITH DR. JEN ASHBY

Newsletter: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up

Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby

TOP RESOURCES

The Energy Prescription — https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663

Website — https://www.drjenniferashby.com/

Newsletter — https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up

Dr. Jennifer Ashby talks with UCSF physical therapist Dr. Hidelisa Manibusan, DPT, MBA, about breast health beyond breast cancer: the rehab no one mentions after breast surgery, why posture and the core are the foundation, how to keep the lymphatic system moving, breastfeeding ergonomics, the stress–breast connection, bras, and knowing your "normal" so you catch changes early.

Dr. Jennifer Ashby's new Wiley book, turns her whole-body, East-meets-West approach into a daily toolbox for thriving through perimenopause and menopause. 👉 Pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663

1. Physical therapy for breasts exists and is underused — rehab restores mobility and helps women reconnect with their bodies after surgery, radiation, or reconstruction.
2. "Squeeze low" is the posture pearl: gently draw the shoulder blades down (not up), opening the chest and activating the core.
3. Your lymphatic system runs on hydration, diaphragmatic breathing, and movement; ease back in after surgery (the 50/50 rule).
4. Breastfeeding is hard on body and mind — use passive support, switch sides, and protect your mental health.
5. Stress shows up in the breast (cortisol); build daily joy, manage stress, and do regular self-exams to know your normal.

00:00 START – Welcome + today's topic: breasts, all of it 01:00 – Meet Dr. Hidelisa Manibusan, DPT — UCSF breast & lymphedema rehab

03:30 – Rehab after breast surgery; reconnecting with your body

08:30 – Boobs, identity & culture

15:30 – Posture & breast health; lordosis & body type

19:45 – The weight of breasts, the spine as a chain, lymphatic flow

26:00 – The core: it's a bowl of muscles

31:00 – Lymphatic system 101 + the 50/50 rule

36:00 – Hydration (and the Tahoe hot-tub tale)

42:00 – Self lymphatic drainage + "squeeze low"

44:30 – Breastfeeding ergonomics & protecting mental health 51:30 – Clogged ducts & mastitis: massage & vibration

58:00 – Diet, alcohol, caffeine & feeding the breast

1:02:30 – Stress in the breast: cortisol & daily joy

1:11:30 – Knowing your normal, self-exams, bras & what's next

Dr. Hidelisa Manibusan, DPT, MBA — physical therapist at UCSF (14+ years) leading breast cancer & lymphedema rehab. DPT, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences; EMBA, Auburn University.

Newsletter: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up

Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby

Substack: https://jenniferashby.substack.com/

1. The Energy Prescription (pre-order) — https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663
2. UCSF Osher Center — https://osher.ucsf.edu/

In this solo episode of Ovary-Acting, Dr. Jennifer Ashby unpacks the Epic Eight — her BOOM (Basic Optimal Outcomes Method), rooted in East Asian medicine and modern science. Learn the eight daily lifestyle tools — diet, hydration, sleep, breath work, constitutionally appropriate movement, gut health, finding joy & awe, and tools to not embody stress — that boost immunity, stabilize mood, influence disease and gene expression, and steady your energy. This is empowerment, not biohacking.

FEATURED OFFER

The Epic Eight is the foundation — The Energy Prescription is where it gets personal. Dr. Ashby's new book from Wiley tunes the Epic Eight to the perimenopause and menopause experience: ancient wisdom, modern science, and a little feminist gusto.

👉 Pre-order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Epic Eight is a reproducible toolbox, not a prescription — eight everyday skills drawn from East Asian medicine.

Joy is an inside job; awe is an outside job. Both are daily medicine.

It's not about avoiding stress — it's about not embodying it. Chronic stress hormones meant for "a tiger" are making us sick.

Lifestyle changes how your genes express — up-regulating the good, down-regulating the rest.

The goal is empowerment: manage what you can, and know when to call your doctor.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 START – Welcome + why this is a solo episode

01:00 – Who Dr. Jen is, and why she created the Epic Eight

02:07 – A reproducible toolbox + the book

03:00 – The Epic Eight, listed

04:19 – Tiger vs. inconvenience: how chronic stress makes us sick

05:30 – Predictable outcomes: immunity, mood, disease, genes

06:39 – Prenatal & postnatal qi: preserving your vital essence

07:30 – Where it began: polycystic kidney disease

08:57 – The book, the course coming soon, and empowerment

11:15 – Where to find Dr. Jen + pre-order the book

13:35 – The unique female body + what's ahead

CONNECT WITH DR. JEN ASHBY

Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/

Newsletter: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up

Substack: https://jenniferashby.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjenniferashby

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby

RESOURCES

The Energy Prescription (pre-order): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663

DailyOM courses: https://www.dailyom.com/instructors/dr-jennifer-ashby

UCSF Osher Center: https://osher.ucsf.edu/

Welcome to the very first episode of Ovary-Acting. Dr. Jen Ashby is interviewed by her daughter Lily about the wild road that shaped her: growing up among exotic animals, falling for acupuncture and East Asian medicine, and 30 years of clinical work from county jails to UCSF.

The Energy Prescription: Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science for Thriving Through Menopause distills her EPIC8 method into a sassy, practical guide for perimenopause and menopause.

👉 Pre-order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS

Wild animals reveal the basics of health.

East Asian medicine helps the body rebalance itself — read via the tongue, pulses, and senses.

You are the microcosm; everything you encounter affects your health.

Acupuncture has a political U.S. history.

Patients need a "quarterback" for their whole-person care.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 START

03:21 – Lily takes over

06:16 – Growing up among exotic animals

13:30 – Finding acupuncture and East Asian medicine

15:27 – Training, the clinical doctorate & Shanghai

19:49 – Microcosm, macrocosm & the "Jade Valley"

22:00 – Acupuncture in SF county jails

31:00 – 30 years of the Lotus Center

40:00 – Healthcare's missing "quarterback"

45:00 – Her other life: rocker, bartender & motorcycles

54:29 – What's next

GUEST: Liliana "Lily" Ashby — Dr. Ashby's daughter

CONNECT WITH DR. JEN ASHBY

Newsletter: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up

Substack: https://jenniferashby.substack.com/

Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjenniferashby

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjenashby/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jennifer-ashby-daom-l-ac-m-s-3869924/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby

Email: [email protected]

RESOURCES

The Energy Prescription (Wiley): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663

Acupuncture Fever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLbuh7JUDZs

NADA: https://acudetox.com/

UCSF Osher Center: https://osher.ucsf.edu/

Midi Health: https://www.joinmidi.com/

This is the beginning of something.

Welcome to Ovary-Acting — the podcast where we take women's health seriously, but ourselves not so much. In this preview episode, Dr. Jennifer Ashby introduces herself, the show, and exactly why she built this space for you.

Expect real medicine. Real talk. And the kind of humor that makes the hard stuff easier to handle.

Dr. Jennifer Ashby is a doctor of East Asian medicine, licensed acupuncturist, researcher, and UCSF clinician with over 30 years in women's health. She's here to guide you through the female journey — informed, empowered, and laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.

Subscribe so you don't miss Episode 1.

📱 Follow Dr. Ashby:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjenashby/
• Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/doctor-jennifer-ashby
• 🌐 Website: drjenniferashby.com