Ep12: From Postpartum to Perimenopause w/ Dr. Chantal Davis, DACM

In this heartfelt episode of Yinspired, Dr. Chantal Davis, DACM—an acupuncturist with 15 years of experience in San Diego, California—shares her journey from frustration with conventional medicine to becoming a fierce advocate for women’s health through integrative care. Her story is rooted in mentorship, resilience, and a deep commitment to helping women navigate every stage of life with intention and holistic support.From the often-overlooked realities of postpartum anxiety to the silent struggles of perimenopause, Dr. Davis unpacks the gaps in education and care that leave many women feeling unseen and unheard. She emphasizes how we move, eat, rest, and care for ourselves at every stage of life, lays a foundation for our health—and for the future.This episode dives into the power of acupuncture to regulate the nervous system, her favorite foods for reproductive and hormonal health, the importance of holistic stress management (yes, even the spiritual kind), and why hormone therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all fix. Dr. Davis calls for more open conversations with our children about bodies, healing, and self-awareness—because education starts early, and healing is lifelong.Links to all episode show notes, guests' bios and work, and transcripts can be found at Yinspired.substack.com/podcastEnjoying Yinspired?Please remember to share a favorite episode with someone you love and subscribe to Yinspired wherever you listen. If you could leave a five-star review and rating on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen, that would help others find Yinspired. If that’s not your thing, don’t worry.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Yin Spired Podcast01:16 Meet Dr. Chantal Davis03:59 Journey into Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine09:57 Starting Practice in San Diego13:01 Focus on Women's Health and Fertility17:48 The Importance of Postpartum Care20:25 Understanding Chi and Blood in Postpartum Recovery25:26 Postpartum Anxiety vs. Postpartum Depression27:03 Navigating Anxiety and Self-Care30:28 Understanding Perimenopause34:50 The Cosmic Joke of Motherhood and Transition38:48 Individual Experiences of Perimenopause43:30 Tracking Menstrual Cycles for Health45:50 Nourishing Practices for Well-Being49:51 The Acupuncture Journey in Perimenopause51:15 Transitioning Care: From Weekly to Monthly Visits51:40 The Power of Food as Medicine52:38 Listening to Your Body: Intuitive Eating53:44 Digestive Health and Sleep Patterns55:29 Nourishing Foods for Women's Health57:12 Acupuncture and Perimenopause: A Holistic Approach59:32 Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Personalized Perspective01:02:51 Access to Healthcare: Bridging the Gap01:04:30 Integrating Acupuncture with HRT01:06:08 Exploring Herbal Alternatives01:07:37 Rapid Fire: Personal Insights and AdviceTranscriptYou can find the transcript and closed caption of today’s episode at the top of this post. Look to the right of the thumbs-up and comment icons.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND SUPPORT. This whole podcasting thing is very new to me. As a one-person team, I’m using automated transcript notes for the time being. My sincere apologies and I hope it doesn’t take away from the content. If it does, please send me a kind email or message and I’ll do my best within reason. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yinspired.substack.com