HORMONES
Menopause • Adrenal Dysfunction • Thyroid • Natural Hormones • Fatigue • Immune Boosting
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YOU DESERVE TO FEEL YOUR BEST
I like to say hormones rule women. Hormones make all the difference between us gals feeling…
Happy, Flirty, and Confident OR Moody, Irritable and Unattractive
When we feel our best, life shifts upward in a big way. The cup of life overflows with giggles and laughter.
Imagine this… having more fun at work…loving your relationships…feeling confident in your body.
Life becomes easier because you’ve got the energy and the positive mindset to respond to whatever life throws at you.
When you don’t feel great it’s impossible to do life well, it becomes a drudgery and a struggle.
If you’re dealing with digestive issues, low energy, lack of motivation, brain fog, excessive stress, then life loses its sparkle and shine and it’s hard to live like that.
If you’re not feeling your best and if you are reading this then it probably has been going on for some time…yet in your mind you know there is more for you…a lot more…Well then, it’s time to start thinking about your health differently.
No worries, we know that different sounds like change and that can be scary. Take a deep breath, you need a change, or else you just get more of the same blah-ness.
If you are feeling dull and are craving the sparkle of life…then change is EXACTLY what the doctor ordered. You already know what suffering feels like, so why not try NOT suffering?
If you are done with feeling over-tired and uninspired then it’s time to make a change.
We’ve got you and you’ve come to the right place.
We do healthcare very differently. We care about finding your underlying issues…we care about the quality of your life…we care about your impact on the people who are counting on you…and most importantly we care about YOU because we see you suffering… and…we don’t believe in needless suffering…especially when you have a life to live.
As women, we tend to put everyone in front of ourselves.
Rarely do we make our own self-care a priority. Because of this we often put off addressing our health for far too long. There is no time to waste. Do not allow one more day of your great precious life to get away from you. You deserve to look and feel great.
You deserve to get answers for the reasons behind your health challenges.
So, if you’ve been sitting on the fence feeling unsure about how to go about it, now is the time to take a stand.
This is your HEALTH…Your LIFE…Your WELL-BEING that we are talking about here.
…WE can help!
Our practice members have healed their bodies and minds, lost weight, gained confidence and motivation, balanced hormones, released anxiety, have better sleep, learned how to care for themselves, and most importantly have restored confidence within themselves.
No matter where your health journey has taken you prior to this meeting point, I want you to know that there is hope for you.
You can HEAL.
Many women are lead to believe that it’s their fault they are sick and hopelessness sets in. This is not true. What is true is that in 90% of cases, the underlying causes have not been revealed. Concerns are very difficult to treat if we don’t know where they stem from.
Women’s health is delicate and it requires a doctor who listens and understands and can put all of the pieces together.
We take health very seriously, and we listen. We listen to your concerns, your struggles, and the goals you want for yourself. Then we build a step by step guide to walk you all the way through to your destination.
Natural Hormone Balance
There are many roads that natural medicine can take to restore hormonal balance. A customized hormonal program will be put together for you. This treatment program is based on laboratory testing, your symptoms, your nutritional status, and your individual needs.
PRE-MENOPAUSE
Pre-menopause is best described as the fertile years. These are the years that a woman regularly menstruates. If a hormone imbalance occurs in pre-menopause common symptoms are: Migraines, PMS symptoms, fatigue, mood swings, depression, anxiety, acne, unwanted hair growth, bloating, breast tenderness, painful cycles, menstrual cramps, miscarriages, difficulty conceiving, and chronic yeast infections. Often the main problem is a hormone imbalance, or improper ratios of the hormones as they fluctuate during the month.
Natural treatments for Pre-menopause include:
Salivary hormone testing to determine the actual hormone levels
Fasting blood work to assess nutrient levels and thyroid function
Hormone balancing with customized herbal formulas specific to your condition
Medical nutrition assessment
Homeopathic medicine
Vitamin injections delivered intravenously
Natural hormone replacement if necessary
In this category the place of BHRT often arrives if PMS symptoms are severe, and there is a dominance of estrogen in relation to progesterone. In addition progesterone can be extremely helpful in assisting at the beginning stages of pregnancy and preventing miscarriage.
PERI-MENOPAUSE
Peri-Menopause is the time when some of the symptoms of menopause begin and your cycles start to become irregular. It is not uncommon for a woman to say that she had regular cycles for 4 months, skip a month, have her cycle return for 2 months, and then disappear for 3 months. Because hormone levels are decreasing during peri-menopause, the ovaries are fluctuating with hormonal output. Hormonal output will sometimes be enough to induce a period and sometimes it won’t.
Women who enter peri-menopause depleted, from a lifetime of stress will typically feel these hormonal shifts more and they will experience more symptoms. Women who have a long history of birth control pills will enter peri-menopause faster and earlier then other women. These women can enter peri-menopause as early as 35 years old. The average age that women enter peri-menopause is 45 years old.
Symptoms of Peri-menopause include:
Heat waves/Hot flashes
Insomnia
3am waking
Anxiety
Depression
Short term memory loss
Heart palpitations
Fatigue
Heavy menstruation
Shorter/longer cycles
Strong perspiration odor
Decreased sex drive
Weight gain
Hair loss
and many others
The main problem in peri-menopause is that hormones are decreasing. As the ovaries decrease production of our sex hormones, our adrenal glands begin to produce lower levels of those very same sex hormones. If our adrenal glands are depleted they are not in a position to assist the ovaries and the symptoms manifest.
Treatments for peri-menopause include:
Hormone testing, including adrenal and thyroid
fatigue assessment
medical nutrition recommendations
herbal
homeopathic
and hormonal recommendations as needed
The role of BHRT in this stage can be extremely helpful in offsetting the side effects of hormonal fluctuations and enhancing quality of life during this transition.
MENOPAUSE
A woman is officially in menopause when she has not had a period for 1 year. Usually in menopause the decreasing hormone levels have subsided and hormones are consistently low. A woman may or may not have severe menopausal symptoms.
Common symptoms of menopause include:
hot flashes
vaginal dryness
low/no sex drive
lowered energy
fatigue
insomnia
warmer body temperature
osteoperosis/osteopenia
and heart disease
A hormonal assessment is conducted to evaluate symptoms and restore a healthier quality of life. Additional testing will be performed to access bone and cardiovascular health. Women can be very depleted in this stage and may need BHRT to assist them in restoring their vitality as other natural therapies are employed to re-build their stamina.
WHAT IS BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (BHRT)?
At our clinic this is the only form of hormone replacement therapy that we use. It is the safest way to replenish hormone levels and get a man or woman feeling better quickly. Bioidentical hormones are identical to the hormones that are made in our body and can be very useful for a woman who is having many peri-menopausal symptoms. Bioidentical hormone therapy is specifically customized by a compounding pharmacy for your individual needs. Bioidentical hormones are used together with other herbal, homeopathic, and nutritional therapies to increase health and vitality.
AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
Bioidentical hormones are used together with other herbal, homeopathic, and nutritional therapies to increase health and vitality. Your doctor will also discuss the importance of good nutrition, fitness and lifestyle in your journey to better health. These are equally important aspects of Hormone Replacement Therapy. If your hormones are out of balance, your body will not respond optimally to improved nutrition and exercise. As your hormones, nutrition, fitness and lifestyle improve – you will find the results you have been working for.
WHO NEEDS HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY?
Women looking to put an end to hot flashes, night sweats, memory loss, mood swings, weight gain and low libido. Our specialized doctors design individualized programs for each woman suffering from menopause, perimenopause and severe PMS.
Men who want to get a grip on weight gain, lost libido, fatigue, stress, energy, muscle mass and body fat are also finding solutions through Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. For men, andropause (the male menopause) happens gradually and when diagnosed, its symptoms can be successfully treated.
To properly administer bioidentical hormones, your doctor will take select saliva and/or blood lab tests. They will meet with you personally to discuss your symptoms, review your results and discuss the appropriate treatment to meet your individualized needs.
WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT YOUR HORMONES? TAKE A LOOK AT MY MY BLOG POSTS:
Menopause Part 1
Menopause Part 2, Fluctuating Hormones
Menopause Part 3, The Beauty Issue
Menopause Part 4, The Prevention Issue
Stress, Hormones, and Weight Gain
Women, Hormones, and Menopause
5 Ways to Prevent and Stop the Growth of Fibroids
Keep Your Bones Strong
5 Ways to Naturally Boost Fertility
Sex in Menopause
Managing Menopausal Symptoms in the Cancer Survivor
Alopecia in Menopause
Give Your Breasts a Boost
Chocolate Cravings and Menopause
Breast Health Diet
When Feeling Tired, Anxious, Weepy and Irritable Isn’t Just In Your Head
Cell Phones, Cancer, and the Breast Pocket
Promoting Breast Health
Adrenal Dysfunction
Your Adrenal Glands Produce:
Estrogen
Progesterone
Testosterone
DHEA
Cortisol
Epinephrine
and Nor Epinephrine
Cortisol is our stress hormone and is secreted in response to perceived stressors that occur in our world all day long. More feelings of stress, more cortisol secreted, less feelings of stress, less cortisol secreted. Cortisol gives us energy throughout our day so that we can survive whatever thing it is that is happening to us. Cortisol is also released in response to low blood sugar, if we don’t eat we require more cortisol output.
When we don’t get adequate sleep, more cortisol is required to get up through our waking hours. Significant stress, or emotionally traumatic events require more cortisol. A divorce, a law suit, moving to a new country, a death, anxiety, eldercare, childcare, a new baby, stimulant abuse, can all significantly drain our adrenal glands. Cortisol response is dependant on how we react or respond to stressors in our world.
Women who are under chronic stress over time will deplete their adrenal reserves and be left feeling exhausted.
WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT YOUR ADRENALS? TAKE A LOOK AT MY MY BLOG POSTS:
5 Ways to Support Your Adrenals and Avoid Fatigue
Stress, Hormones & Weight Gain
A Simpler Life
Thyroid
Your thyroid gland is the bow tie shaped gland that sits at the base of our neck and directs enzymes, biochemical reactions, hormones, and metabolic rate. As the conductor, your thyroid aids in controlling body temperature, hair, skin & nail quality, bowel motility, joint health, energy, metabolism, the ability to burn fat and much more.
There are a number of ways the gland can misfire. It can go hyper, hypo, develop nodules or goiter, and become autoimmune such as in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves Disease.
Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) is by far the most common of thyroid dysfunctions and will be the focus of this discussion.
Hypothyroidism is truly epidemic in our population. Many women are walking around with an under-functioning thyroid. Many more have nodules, or thyroid swelling. This means that the thyroid gland is under stress. It can take years for a thyroid malfunction to be diagnosed by conventional lab work.
The reason for the current thyroid epidemic is due to multiple factors all revolving around different types of stress on the body. Certainly, there is no shortage of stress in this life, physical, emotional, mental.
The Greatest Stressors Known to Affect Thyroid Are:
- Pregnancy, surgery, menopause
- chronic viral infections (Epstein Barr virus, Shingles, Herpes)
- genetic heritage (Irish, Native American)
- emotional stress, grief, shock, loss,
- Radiation exposure (nuclear fallout entering the air and food supply)
- Allergies (Immediate and delayed)
- Chemical exposures to chlorine, bromine, fluorine, herbicides and pesticides.
Any one of these can shock our system enough that it is unable to regain balance to the way that it was functioning before the stressor occurred. This unbalance over time causes the imbalance to persist, inflammation to occur and symptoms to manifest.
Problems with Current Testing
The conventional system uses blood laboratory testing to evaluate thyroid function. Unfortunately, the reference ranges used to evaluate the labs are much too broad. This means that a person can fall into the reference ranges and still be experiencing symptoms of hypothyroidism, (low thyroid.) The conventional medical doctor who relies on the lab test results to make a diagnosis overlooks these symptoms. In this situation, the patient is told that they are fine, no diagnosis is made, and their symptoms are ignored. The patient returns home frustrated, feeling poorly, without the answers to steer themselves around towards health.
Only recently has there been discussion amongst the American Endocrinology Association to lower the approved reference ranges for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) by 2 points. The numbers for TSH are inversely proportional which means that the higher the number the lower functioning the gland actually is. It is extremely important when reading thyroid labs that they are evaluated with the optimal reference ranges in mind and not the standard reference ranges used conventionally. The optimal range for TSH is (.4-2.0) In addition, running a full thyroid panel of Free T3 &T4, Reverse T3, TSH, TPO & Thyroglobulin antibodies will provide more information on thyroid health than TSH alone.
Body Temperature Measurement
A great way to measure thyroid function is through body temperature. It was once thought that the best time to take a body temperature reading was when you woke up in the morning; this is called basal body temperature. This thinking is now incorrect. Just like blood sugar, blood pressure, and many others, our body temperature fluctuates throughout the day. Taking your oral temperatures at least 3 times during the day and recording it over a 7-day period is the best indicator of how well your thyroid is functioning.
Body temperatures will determine how quickly your metabolism is functioning and therefore how well your gland is firing. Optimal body temperature is 98.6.
Iodine Deficiency
Nutritionally, many of us are iodine deficient, iodine is used in the greatest concentration by our thyroid gland. Iodine deficiency is the primary cause of thyroid nodules and goiter. Iodine helps protect the thyroid from radiation damage. Testing for iodine levels is yet another way to assess thyroid function and restore gland health naturally.
The chemicals chlorine, fluorine, and bromine displace iodine from the thyroid gland and bind there instead causing confusion within the gland.
Be aware that taking large levels of iodine is not recommended. Iodine is an extremely potent substance and proper dosing with other essential trace minerals is required.
Elevated Thyroid Antibodies
Women who suspect thyroid involvement should seek out an alternative practitioner. This is especially true for women struggling with Hashimotos or Graves disease. Natural medicine addresses the underlying cause and provides a path towards better health. These are inflammatory conditions of the thyroid that should be treated comprehensively. There is little support for these conditions using conventional medicine.
Addressing thyroid is a whole-body approach. A comprehensive thyroid plan may include natural thyroid hormone replacement, nutritional recommendations, trace mineral supplementation, and specific treatment directed at the underlying cause of the condition.
Once the health of your gland has been assessed, natural therapies are used to increase thyroid function, reduce and reverse your symptoms, and increase your overall health.
WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT YOUR THYROID? TAKE A LOOK AT MY MY BLOG POSTS:
Feeling Terrible? Get Your Thyroid tested
Teenage Hypothyroidism
Uterine Fibroids
Fibroids are a growth within the uterine wall. Many women have them, some are big, some are small, some grow very quickly and some very slowly. The cause of fibroids is a hormonal imbalance, specifically, too much estrogen in relation to progesterone. The excess estrogen needs a place to go so the body deposits it safely in the wall of the uterus.
Fibroids are almost always benign, the problems arise when the fibroids become large and induce heavy periods, hemorrhaging and cramping. When this occurs the conventional medical system recommends surgery. The surgery recommended most often for large fibroids is a hysterectomy where the uterus containing the fibroids is removed.
Natural medicine is extremely effective at controlling the symptoms of fibroids; hemorrhaging, reversing anemia, improving quality of life and preventing fibroids from growing. Reversing the size of fibroids is tricky and sometimes unachievable.
Natural medicine can correct the underlying hormonal imbalance, which caused the fibroids to grow, and control the symptoms until the woman enters menopause wherein the fibroids will shrink on their own accord. The key here is to correct the underlying hormonal imbalance which prevents further fibroid growth and increases health so no other disease will manifest related to a hormonal imbalance.
Incidentally this is why a hysterectomy is not curative. A hysterectomy will eliminate fibroids and the symptoms of them, however it will not correct the underlying imbalance, which caused them in the first place.
WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT FIBROIDS? TAKE A LOOK AT MY MY BLOG POSTS:
Boost Your Immune System
Immune boosting is a must during the cold and flu season. I wouldn’t dream of having an empty natural medicine cabinet in my home during this crucial time of year.
I have been able to support my system and stay well even when I am surrounded by sick patients’ day after day.
I don’t recommend the flu vaccine. I fall back on natural substances that support my body to overcome microbial invasions that enhance my immune system and are completely safe, without side effects. Despite the best immune defenses sometimes are weakened and illness results.
In a hectic world where we face many daily demands, maintaining healthy balance in our lives isn’t always an option. That’s why we need additional support….
Having natural immune support on hand is the key to helping yourself recover more quickly.
Here’s how it works…
Be proactive and build a strong immune system.
It is essential to start naturally boosting your system right away at the first sign of nasal congestion, a tiny cough or a scratchy throat BEFORE the virus or bacteria begin to replicate and move deeper into your system…
Supporting your immune system is a must, especially in the cold months around the holidays.
No one wants to be sick with a cold or the flu…with a primed and responsive immune system you will increase your chances to “opt out” of catching a cold or flu.
And it’s as simple as adding powerful immune boosting supplements to your natural medicine cabinet.
Fortunately, immune support isn’t so hard to find, it’s available at your local health food store. Research shows that the right blend of natural remedies can help to fight off a stuffy nose or a scratchy throat by harnessing your body’s own natural defenses.
Consider a natural approach if you have been feeling rundown, and stressed, it will boost your immune system and get you back on your feet faster.
You should consider Immune Boosting support if…
– You routinely get sick each fall and winter.
– You are surrounded by sick co-workers and children.
– You lose work-days and your kids lose school-days each year because of illness.
– You feel like your system is run-down and you are the first to get sick.
– You repeatedly take antibiotics each year for colds, flu, sinus or respiratory infections.
– You get sick when you travel.
WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT IMMUNITY? TAKE A LOOK AT MY MY BLOG POSTS:
Top 5 Tips for a Healthy Life
Immune Soup
Dr. Purcell’s Holiday Self Care Guide
Pregnancy and the Flu Shot
Fight the Cold and Flu Season, Naturally
Skip Your Way Through the Cold and Flu Season
All Aboard! The Vitamin D Bandwagon
My Absolute Favorite Nutrient and Why I Never Leave Home Without It