Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Irizarry.
Adrienne, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My backstory begins the same as the narrative of thousands of women around the world — I had period problems and I wanted to have a baby. I have a master’s in Communication and had worked in nonprofits as well as corporate America in marketing and public relations for over a decade.
These jobs are busy, exciting, and intense and the demand of the schedule was taking a toll on my body. My periods had always been painful, irregular, and heavy from the time I started menstruating, but working in this environment these issues escalated and were the worst they had ever been. It was impacting my ability to contribute to my job in the way I knew I was capable of. After seeing several OB/GYNs the answer was always the same:
“Let’s try birth control to regulate your cycle” — the result? Weight gain, cramping, and eventually a “cardiac episode” which mirrored a heart attack at the age of 25.
“Let’s try pain management” — the result? Less pain but still heavy flow and utter exhaustion because the “faucet” wouldn’t turn off in less than 10 days.
“You have had a child. Maybe you should consider a hysterectomy” — the result? NO WAY. Why cut part of my body out because they couldn’t solve the problem? After years of trying to get answers, I had a friend who told me about vaginal steaming. My first impression was — “vaginal what?” but heard her out.
She explained it was like a sauna experience sitting over steam. It was very relaxing but the best part was the improvement in her period so she thought it might help me too. I honestly had nothing to lose so I thought “what the heck — I’ll give it a try.” I couldn’t have ever imagined the results I experienced. My first session was so relaxing. It was warm and like sitting in a hot bath.
I walked away thinking I would do it again even if it was just for 15 relaxing minutes. After steaming the first month, I couldn’t believe my next period. I barely had any cramping. I wasn’t bloated and groaning about getting into my pants. My period was even and HALF what it had ever been for flow.
I wasn’t physically exhausted at the end of my period and it only lasted 6 days instead of 10! Woah. Excited about my results, I steamed the second month and had another revelation. For the first time in my adult life, my period was pain-free, lasted only 4 days, and was even and moderate inflow.
Going from 8–10 day periods that were heavy for the first 5 days, painful and bloated to 4 days, pain-free and mild/moderate flow — it was like stepping into a new body. I had more energy for life and the dread I once experienced for my impending period each month turned to excitement to see how much better I would feel as each month passed with my new steaming regimen.
It was this success that drew me to getting certified as a peristeam hydrotherapist. Every woman should have a hassle-free period like this! If we all have to have a period, why do they have to be miserable? The answer is they don’t. I am on a mission to help others feel as good as I do now. The Western medical model is very invasive for women. Tools go in and out. Surgery is the “go-to” when medications fail.
Healthcare for women’s reproductive health is very painful. When I tell people what I do, many get a mental picture of some sort of tool with steam that gets inserted into the vagina because it is so ingrained in our culture that reproductive healthcare requires tools that go into the body.
The Western approach attempts to deal with symptoms, but they do not get to the root of what is causing the symptoms in the first place. Peristeam hydrotherapy is about addressing the “why.” I don’t know about you, but I was always the “why” child. I needed to understand why things happened in the world around me or what was happening in my body.
As I work with women, I find I am not the only one. They want to know how their menstrual cycles or menopause symptoms became what they are now. The standard healthy period lasts 4 days, medium flow, and arrives every 28–30 days. No cramping, no brown blood, no clotting, no arrival before/later than that, and no heavy bleeding. Anything outside of this tells a story.
For the vast majority of women, the period I just described is a unicorn and many who read it probably laughed out loud. It is possible to achieve even after years of dysfunction by using steaming as a therapeutic tool. The beauty of this practice is just sitting over a steaming pot of herbal solution customized for their body’s needs.
We can address why they are having the symptoms they are experiencing and get to the heart of the matter, breaking the cycle and restoring harmony in the body. It’s gentle. It’s relaxing. In 10–30 mins. they can turn back the hands of time and restore (or maybe even establish for the first time) a healthy cycle for their body.
This practice is so much more than just periods. It can help with hot flashes/night sweats in menopause. It can break infection cycles without antibiotics. It can support fertility for women who are struggling to get pregnant. It helps the body recover after having babies.
This practice is supportive to every woman from the time of menarche all the way through post-menopause. Using steam, herbs, and food therapy I am showing women how to take control of their health and it’s a game-changer.
I have broadened the scope of my practice to include herbalism, sound healing with Acutonics, and auricular therapy. We are an intricate tapestry of emotional, physical, and spiritual bodies, and using tools to respond to these needs of our body becomes a powerful therapeutic approach to care.
I am using my podcast, The Reproductive Rebel Podcast, to raise awareness of these concepts so people can take meaningful control of their approach to health and wellness.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Failure is an illusion. I don’t believe in failure. You have successes and learning experiences. It’s the mindset you bring to the task. If it doesn’t work out the way you hope, that’s OK. You will learn something from it and it may even put you on a better path than the one you originally imagined for yourself or the project.
I have had many instances in my life where one could have said my mission “failed” but really it taught me valuable information I needed for success today. A great example was leaving a job that I had a few years ago. At the time I was heartbroken thinking that I hadn’t lived up to the task at hand but in reality, I needed to leave that role to open an opportunity to take a job that gave me insight into running a private practice. I needed it to thrive today.
When everything shut down in March of 2020, I was afraid that my practice might not make it. I suddenly found myself caught in the eddy of closing a physical office space, trying to figure out storage for my equipment, and re-envisioning how to run my practice.
At the moment, I felt like I was failing but it pushed me to imagine a new way of helping people. My practice is now 95% telehealth and I am able to help far more people worldwide as a result. Looking back over the last two years, I am grateful for the opportunities these struggles gave me because it has allowed me to help far more people than I would have otherwise.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Moon Essence™ uses herbs, pelvic steaming, Acutonics, and Chinese nutritional therapy to restore harmony to women’s bodies in every phase of life. What sets me apart is I explain the “why” to women. A lot of times women go to their doctor and they want to know why they are seeing heavier periods and are told things like “you had a child, it’s normal to see periods get heavier after birth.”
This is too broad an answer for most women and I can’t tell you how many come to me and describe that they just “know” there is more to it than that. I get to the “why” and teach them about their bodies, and the signs they are being given and then help create a plan for restoring harmony.
Women don’t have to live with cramps. Women don’t have to live with heavy periods. These are ways disharmony shows up in the body. I am a teacher and a cheerleader for bleeding bodies.
This desire to teach others about their bodies and empower them with information to live in better alignment inspired The Reproductive Rebel Podcast which is available on Spotify, Anchor.FM, Apple, and Google Podcasts. You can also download the Moon Essence app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for free educational resources right at your fingertips.
Food is medicine. It is a big part of the work that I do in addition to steam. There is almost as much food talk as there is pelvic steaming talk in my appointments. I work hard to nourish the body from both ends so the client can thrive.
What makes me most proud is when I have a woman walk in the door, frustrated, and leave with hope. Hope for less pain. Hope for the baby they are dreaming of. Hope for a change in their current symptoms.
In just a few short months, most realize the fruits of their dedication to the steam and nutritional plan and it’s the best part of what I do. The positive pregnancy tests. The birth announcements. The first period with no pain. The first nights without waking up with hot flashes. These wins are life changers for so many and I love that the work I do helps this become a reality for so many.
Because I am one of a half dozen certified peristeam hydrotherapists in the world, I am really proud that my practice is mostly virtual. I have the honor of serving women all over the world and helping them to achieve their goals. I take appointments at all hours of the day to accommodate time zones.
I have recently added Acutonics sound healing into my practice with incredible results. Acutonics is a powerful, deeply transformational, non-invasive modality that incorporates sound and vibration to re-harmonize and attunes the human energy field to achieve optimal health, actualization, and wholeness.
It has been used effectively to support individuals with a wide variety of ailments including muscular-skeletal, neurological, psycho-spiritual, emotional, psychological, gastrointestinal, gynecological, respiratory, and many other chronics and debilitating conditions.
It helps me bring one more tool to the table for physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I am a combat sports fanatic! I have a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, competed as a kickboxer and my happy place on Saturday mornings is boxing with an awesome coach.
I believe you can play hard as long as you restore in the right ways. I weight lift and adjust my routine around the seasons so I am mindful of protecting my Qi. I love boxing – but don’t participate on my bleeding days and get back to the grind once menses have stopped for the month.
Health for women is being in tune with the cyclical nature of our bodies while still doing what brings us joy and makes our souls happy.
Contact Info:
- Email: adrienne@moonessence.life
- Website: moonessence.life
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonessenceme/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoonEssenceME/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/moonessenceme
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6rlwLrsSm0VLMT2wi6Rlg
- Other: https://anchor.fm/reproductive-rebel
Image Credits
Abbigail Eva Photography
