There’s a growing group of wellness voices online who identify as “holistic” and share tips, tools, and product recommendations that exist outside the typical western medicine framework. Many of them post beautiful plant-filled content, speak in soft tones about hormone health and energy flow, and promise “natural” support for your symptoms. Their bios are decorated with leaves, moons, or the word “healing.”
And depending on who you ask, they’re either doing meaningful work—or they’re grifting.
The term “grifter” has become the go-to label for anyone seen as peddling misinformation or oversimplified health advice. In some cases, that’s completely fair. There are people out there pushing overpriced, unregulated supplements, hormone-balancing protocols with no evidence behind them, or vague “detox” routines that serve no one but their bank account.
But here’s the part that deserves a closer look: Not everyone talking about natural approaches is a scammer. And not everything outside the box is harmful pseudoscience.
The Problem with All-or-Nothing Thinking
As a coach who works with menopausal and Masters athletes—many of whom are just trying to feel like themselves again—I see firsthand the desperation that comes from being dismissed or overlooked by conventional care. Athletes are often told their symptoms are “just menopause” or that they simply need to train less, eat more protein, or sleep better (as if those things aren’t already top of mind).
So when someone comes along offering alternative ideas—herbs, breathwork, adaptogens, acupuncture, or even just validation—it can feel like a lifeline.
Do all of those tools have a deep pool of clinical studies behind them? Nope. But does that mean they’re useless? Also nope.
There’s a difference between a sketchy seller and someone earnestly sharing what helped them or their clients. There’s also a difference between fully abandoning science and choosing to blend evidence-based practices with more integrative approaches.
Where the Skepticism Comes From—and Where It Fails Us
Science-minded coaches and practitioners are rightly skeptical. They see the damage that misinformation can do. They don’t want people spending thousands on unregulated powders or wasting time on gimmicks when the basics still work: strength training, fueling, sleep, community, and purposeful rest.
But here’s where that skepticism can backfire: it can invalidate the very real struggles people face and the solutions they’ve found through trial and error. Dismissing someone’s relief just because it came from something you don’t personally believe in (or hasn’t been rigorously studied yet) can feel a lot like gaslighting.
It’s okay to be cautious. It’s not okay to be condescending.
Let’s Talk About the Placebo Effect
Here’s the part that most of the anti-grift crowd conveniently skips: the placebo effect is real. It’s not some embarrassing trick the brain plays. It’s a scientifically documented response—your body improving symptoms or reducing pain simply because you believe the intervention will help.
That belief alone can trigger chemical changes, lower cortisol, reduce inflammation, improve sleep, and reduce perception of pain.
So if someone tries a natural remedy, a ritual, a specific form of movement, or a supplement with minimal research—and they feel better—should we really rush to dismiss it? Or should we be asking: what’s the harm if it’s helping and not hurting?
This isn’t a call to abandon evidence. It’s a reminder that science and belief can work together. Especially in menopause, where we still have big knowledge gaps, and most of the research we do have is either limited, underfunded, or done on people who don’t reflect the wide range of athletes and bodies we coach today.
What “Holistic” Should Actually Mean
The word “holistic” has been watered down. It gets used to describe anything that’s not a pharmaceutical or a lab test. But true holistic care means addressing the whole person—physical, emotional, environmental, social, and yes, sometimes spiritual.
A holistic approach doesn’t reject science. It includes it. It asks: What does this body need right now, and how can we support it from multiple angles?
It values:
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Lifting heavy and grounding practices
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Stress management and smart fueling
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Community connection and quality data
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Listening to symptoms and looking at labs
How Coaches and Clinicians Can Do Better
We’re not helping anyone by mocking everything outside of PubMed.
Yes, critical thinking matters. Yes, we should push back on clear misinformation. But we can do that without throwing out the entire concept of integrative care. We can hold space for athletes who want more than one answer. Who want to feel supported, not shamed. Who are looking for relief and resilience, not just rules.
Instead of defaulting to “that’s a grift,” we can ask:
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Is this harmful?
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Is this person making big promises they can’t back up?
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Or are they simply offering another route to feeling better?
If it’s the latter, maybe we don’t need to attack it. Maybe we can educate and stay open.
It’s Not About Choosing Sides
Menopause is not a one-size-fits-all season. It impacts every system in the body. And for athletes—especially those in underrepresented or medically neglected groups—the path to strength, healing, and performance will look different.
There are people out there who need HRT and creatine. Others need acupuncture and breathwork. Many need both.
What matters most is that we stay honest, stay curious, and stay connected to what actually helps people feel stronger and more supported.
Let’s stop wasting time arguing over who’s “right” and start focusing on what’s effective, ethical, and actually working for the people we serve.
Want help navigating your own version of performance, relief, and resilience through menopause? I coach athletes through both evidence-based and personalized approaches that meet you where you are. Learn more here.