Female Hormonal Imbalances
Women, are you experiencing anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, pain, fatigue, brain fog, hot flashes, vaginal dryness AND low libido?
Do you experience lack of energy, carbohydrate cravings, lack of motivation, headaches, muscle weakness, and difficulty losing weight?
These symptoms may be due to estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone deficiency. They may also be due to low thyroid, an adrenal imbalance, or a neurotransmitter imbalance.
Male Hormonal Imbalances
Men, are you experiencing loss of energy, irritability, loss of muscle mass, increased body fat, loss of libido, loss of a morning erection and depression?
Men may also experience a gradual decline in testosterone or other hormones and notice weight gain, irritability, muscle loss, decline in libido, osteoporosis, and depression.
These symptoms are not a sign of growing older or just in your head. These are the result of hormonal imbalance and can occur at any age.
Recent research shows that low testosterone can increase the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), insulin resistance and increased mortality from CVD and cancer.
Hormones for Your Health
You deserve to feel healthy and happy. Hormones are in our body for good reasons. All of your moods, emotions, mental function, and physical health are affected by your hormone balance.
Hormone balance must include the sex hormones of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone but also thyroid, adrenal and neurotransmitter hormones. All these systems and hormones interact and support each other.
Testing and Treating Hormone Imbalance
To get the best results and achieve optimum health, these systems must be tested and treated appropriately using specific targeted natural amino acids, nutrients, and Bio-identical Hormone therapy. Bio-identical Hormones are a natural and effective hormone replacement without the side effects of typically prescribed pharmaceutical drugs.
All of these hormones and neurotransmitters can and should be balanced. Frequently, pharmaceutical drugs are prescribed for mood disorders without satisfactory results and result in many side effects. The side effects are too many to list here but include sedation, lack of coordination, impaired memory and cognition, sexual dysfunction and, after chronic use, physiological dependence and the potential for addiction. These drugs are often prescribed without even testing the neurotransmitters or hormones. Nationally certified and highly respected labs are available to do this specialized testing.
All hormones and neurotransmitters can be balanced using natural amino acids and nutrients. Bio-identical Hormones are a natural and effective hormone replacement. In my practice, I have found that, in testing and using specific targeted nutrient therapy, the patient’s neurotransmitters and hormones become balanced without side effects. I believe it is a misguided practice to write prescriptions to balance neurotransmitters and hormones without testing first. Testing is the key to being able to treat the person as an individual and support their overall wellbeing for optimal health. Almost all hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalances can be balanced using natural amino acids and nutrients.
Here is a list of the hormones which should be in balance to eliminate all of the symptoms above:
Estrogen
is primarily a female hormone but it is also present in men. Estrogen protects against heart disease, memory disorders, urinary incontinence, and vaginal dryness. It relieves symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, and osteoporosis. The lack of estrogen results in decreased skin thickness (increased wrinkles), fatigue, depression, and low libido.
Progesterone
is also considered a female hormone. Progesterone is a natural hormone but progestin is a synthetic progesterone with side effects. Progesterone is used to protect the uterus, and protect against osteoporosis, fibrocystic breast disease, PMS and ovarian cysts. It is also known to support GABA, a calming neurotransmitter.
Testosterone
is both a male and female hormone. It is produced by the adrenal glands, testes, and ovaries. In females it decreases body fat, promotes a sense of well-being, increases endurance, energy and libido. In men it protects against heart disease, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Testosterone can also decrease cholesterol, increase bone and muscle mass, and increase libido. Libido doesn’t just refer to sex. Remember, libido is a sense of well-being. It is life energy and can create a feeling of motivation. During stressful times and hormonal fluctuations, coupled with fatigue and poor health, interest in sex can be the first thing to go.
Testosterone should be assessed in both men and women and replacement therapy considered, when deficient.
Thyroid Hormone
regulates our metabolism and temperature. It affects our brain function and moods. Thyroid helps to regulate our body weight, improve hair growth, and reduce cholesterol.
Adrenal gland
produces cortisol. Individuals with low adrenal function (adrenal fatigue) often have symptoms of fatigue, salt cravings, inflammation, allergies, difficulty getting up in the morning and may get a “second wind” in the evening. They are also sensitive to loud noises and may startle easily.
Serotonin
is the calming, happy hormone. Low serotonin can cause anxiety, depression, insomnia, pain, carbohydrate cravings, constipation, PMS and menopausal symptoms.
GABA
is a primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Excitation in the brain must be balanced with inhibition. Deficiency in GABA can create too much excitation—leading to restlessness, irritability, insomnia, and even seizures. Low GABA can result in anxiety. People with low GABA often worry. GABA is able to induce relaxation, analgesia, and sleep. It also helps with muscle tone.
Norepinephrine
is an excitatory neurotransmitter. Low levels may cause lack of focus and energy. Some people may feel depressed with apathy. If the norepinephrine is elevated, patients can feel stressed, anxious, or angry. They also may experience hyperactivity, high blood pressure, pain, migraines, or hot flashes.
Epinephrine
is another excitatory neurotransmitter. If too low, individuals may experience lack of focus and energy, poor blood sugar control and have a difficult time losing weight. Elevated levels of epinephrine cause insomnia, anxiety, lack of focus, stress, increase in blood sugar and insulin resistance.
Dopamine
gives meaning to life. Addictions and cravings are often seen with low dopamine. There is a lack of motivation and focus as well as low libido. Parkinson’s disease is also seen with low dopamine. High levels of dopamine, often drug-induced, can cause severe mood disorders including psychosis.
Glutamate
in low levels can cause low brain function and fatigue. If high levels occur in this excitatory neurotransmitter, anxiety, stress, neuro-toxicity, and seizures can occur.
So remember, you deserve to feel healthy and happy. Hormones are in your body for good reasons. Get tested and create balance where needed with natural means. Your wellbeing depends on it!
Clinical Contributor
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