Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, dentist, or medical provider, this isn’t medical advice, just my personal experience, shared in hopes it might support someone else on their journey.

I’ve gone back and forth about whether to publish this. I’m not someone who enjoys conflict or invites controversy, and I definitely don’t want to be judged. But lately, I’ve felt like maybe I’m not the only one who feels this way. Maybe there are others quietly questioning things too, and maybe honesty is the most loving thing we can offer each other. So here it is. My truth, as it stands today. I hope it resonates.

What I learned after unlearning everything I thought I knew about birth control, Botox, motherhood, and more.

If you’re someone who values wellness, holistic living, and questioning the mainstream narrative, this post is for you.

As a certified Ayurvedic wellness counselor, mom, and lifelong student, I’ve spent years unlearning the beliefs I once accepted without question. These are 10 wellness “truths” I no longer agree with, and what I believe instead.

From hormonal birth control and IVF to skincare routines and postpartum fitness, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing what changed my mind.

1. Hormonal Birth Control is “Harmless”

I was on hormonal birth control for 12 years. I didn’t know I wasn’t actually ovulating. I didn’t know it shut down my natural hormonal rhythm. I wasn’t told about the nutrient depletion, gut issues, and mood swings. And I definitely didn’t know that hormonal birth control is a Group 1 carcinogen, classified by the World Health Organization in the same category as tobacco and asbestos.

I later discovered that early versions of birth control were tested on Puerto Rican women without proper consent. Many suffered. Some died. And the drug was approved anyway.

Ovulation is a sign of health. We need to stop treating it like an inconvenience.

2. IVF and Egg Freezing Are Always Empowering

I almost froze my eggs. I thought it was smart, and what all the independent women were doing. But after researching, I was shaken by what I found. Eggs and embryos are often discarded or donated to research without full transparency. People can now select a baby’s sex, physical traits, and genetic makeup. It felt less like medicine, more like eugenics.

I’m not judging anyone who’s used IVF. I just wish we were told the whole truth, the physical toll, the very low success rates, and the alternatives.

3. Fluoride in Water Keeps Our Teeth Healthy

I haven’t used fluoride in years. I oil pull daily, floss every night, use non-fluoride toothpaste, and have no cavities. My dentist told me, “Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.”

Fluoride is banned in many countries and linked to neurotoxicity and pineal gland calcification. Strong teeth come from minerals, oral hygiene, and nutrition (not tap water).

4. Botox is Just Normal Self-Care

I never believed in Botox, but I understand why many do. It’s sold as harmless maintenance. But it’s a neurotoxin that paralyzes facial muscles, and now it’s being pushed on younger and younger women.

I want to age naturally. I want my daughter to see my face move. Botox doesn’t empower me. Aging gracefully empowers me.

5. The Medical System Treats Everyone Equally

During pregnancy, I had an AFI (Amniotic Fluid Index) test. My results came back elevated for a White woman, but normal for a Black woman. When I asked what that meant for me, a Puerto Rican woman, the doctor said, “This test wasn’t validated for Hispanic women.”

That moment shocked me. The system often fails to include us in research, which means we’re left in the gray area when it matters most. Thankfully everything was fine with my baby, but the test results (or lack of clarity in the results), caused much unneeded stress.

6. A Glass of Wine is Self-Care

Wine culture feels like a reward for many. But I like to ask, “is this actually making me feel better?”… The answer is always no.

Alcohol messes with hormones, digestion, sleep, and mood. I replace it with nervine herbs, magnesium baths, and warm herbal teas. I feel better without it, calmer, more myself.

7. HIIT is the Best Workout for Women

After giving birth, I tried to “bounce back” with intense workouts. It backfired. HIIT spiked my cortisol, hurt my milk supply, and left me inflamed.

Ayurveda taught me that exercise should honor your season of life. Now I walk, stretch, do gentle yoga, and lift weights intuitively.

8. You Need a 10-Step Skincare Routine

I used to think I needed a complicated skincare routine. But Ayurveda taught me less is more. My skincare now? A gentle face oil and a little rose water.

True beauty starts in the gut. You can’t out-serum a stressed nervous system or poor digestion.

9. Organic = Automatically Healthy

I used to think organic food was always enough. But Ayurveda reminded me: timing, digestion, and personalization matter too.

Smoothies at 8am made me bloated. Late-night snacks gave me brain fog. Now I eat in rhythm with the day, aligned with my dosha and season.

10. Having Kids is Hard

Everyone told me motherhood would be hard. That I’d lose myself. That I’d never sleep again.

But it’s not my daughter who’s hard, it’s the laundry LOL. It’s the pressure to “do it all.” It’s the lack of support.

Motherhood is sacred. It’s not necessarily meant to be “easy”, but it’s not the burden they make it out to be.

Final Thoughts: Ayurveda Helped Me Reconnect

I didn’t just “change my mind”, I reclaimed my intuition. Ayurveda helped me tune in, slow down, and start asking better questions.

If you’re ready to question mainstream wellness and connect with ancient wisdom, start here:

👉🏻Download my Ultimate Summer Ayurveda Wellness Guide

🛍 Try some of my daily tools:

– Osi Oils Face Oil – deeply hydrating, plant-based, and minimal

– Paavani Ayurveda Oil Pulling Kit

📲 Follow me on Instagram for more Ayurveda, motherhood, and mindset support: @ayurveda.bianca

FTC Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only share what I personally use and love.