Welcome to Issue 11, which focuses on women’s health and explores some unique considerations in treating women today. We’ve brought together a panel of experts who explore the connections between hormones, metabolism and musculoskeletal health, offering natural solutions for some of your patients struggling with the effects of menopause. Effectively treating your female patients means understanding the major changes they undergo at this life stage.
Let’s be real: A one-size-fits-all approach to women’s health just doesn’t cut it. And today, women don’t just hope for personalized care. They expect it from you and from your staff. “To truly excel in this personalized approach,” writes Holly Jensen, “the active involvement and well-trained contributions of your chiropractic staff are indispensable, fostering genuine connections, facilitating clear communication and ensuring the consistent and meaningful tracking of progress.”
Taking care of women means knowing everything you can about hormones. They are the body’s chemical messengers, regulating metabolism, reproductive health, bone density, immune function and even brain chemistry. When they’re out of balance, patients experience a ripple effect of symptoms and will look to you for help getting back to normal, so be ready with treatment choices. “Knowing the risks and benefits of all available options—pharmaceutical, bioidentical or herbal—makes us better advocates for our patients,” shares Cindy M. Howard, DC.
The female pelvic girdle undergoes cyclical changes due to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, affecting its stability and function. “Maintaining pelvic stability requires a holistic approach, including chiropractic care, regular exercise to strengthen core and pelvic floor muscles, according to Erin Stubblefield, DC, “and proper foot care to ensure optimal alignment and support throughout the body’s kinetic chain.”
In addition to our exploration of women’s health in this issue, Guy R. Schenker, DC, looks at obesity and its association with altered gut microbiota and impaired gut barrier function. “Gut microbes, for better or for worse, exert powerful control over all metabolic processes,” Schenker writes. “You and your patients must fully embrace the far-reaching effects of the microbiota on metabolism.”
Looking outside the clinical at the pure business of chiropractic, practice sales guru Crystal Misenheimer shares her hard-won expertise on selling your practice to a family member, serving as your trusted guide to help you avoid the costly pitfalls, broken trust and long-term relationship damage possible with this arrangement. “Don’t start this process with the expectation that selling to a family member is easier,” she writes. “Respecting the family sale’s unique challenges from the start gives you the best foundation for success.”
National focus on women
We expect holistic approaches to women’s health to get a bigger spotlight on the national stage as the Senate reaches a decision on our next Surgeon General. If confirmed, the nominee, author and healthcare entrepreneur Casey Means, MD, would become only the fourth female to hold the post of Surgeon General since the position was created in 1871.
Despite women comprising about half of the world’s population, their health is typically considered a niche issue, and women themselves are likely to prioritize the health of their loved ones over their own. In a 2025 Cleveland Clinic survey, 47% of females said the potential cost of healthcare interventions prevented them from taking care of their own health issues, while 14% cited the burdens of caregiving for another person as a barrier.
I hope this issue deepens your understanding of the unique and evolving landscape of women’s health. Through the insights of our expert authors, we examine the vital connections between hormones, metabolism and musculoskeletal health—and offer natural, practical, evidence-informed strategies to support women, particularly those navigating the challenges of menopause. Thank you for joining us on this journey toward a more direct, integrative, compassionate approach to women’s health and wellness.
To your health, prosperity and success!
Gloria N. Hall
Editor-in-chief
