Natural Hormone Balancing

Ok, this is a large and rather complex topic. To see some specifics of that complexity, click here.

* That pdf is the steroidogenic pathway, including the enzymes, nutritional cofactors, and lifestyle choices that influence how a hormone makes a hormone! That’s right, hormones are made from and balanced by other hormones, in a bit of a symphony, all starting with LDL cholesterol. You thought LDL or ‘bad” cholesterol was only bad – nope. Excess, oxidized or glycated LDL is bad. More on this in the cardio metabolic services area.

So, the human body in its infinite brilliance is always attempting to balance all these hormonal players through a complex communication and feedback systems (homeostasis anyone?). May I say it normally does a remarkable job, that is until we stop behaving, well, like humans. So many of our 21st century lifestyle habits stress this balance, forcing it to compensate and compensate again. When things are too far out of balance, symptoms appear. Now you are craving carbs, not sleeping, moody, exhausted, gaining fat, loosing muscle, low on libido, acne ridden, foggy headed… Blood sugars, triglycerides, and cholesterol may rise, etc. To make matters worse, these poor lifestyle choices (as well as environmental hormone disruptors) have a significant effect on other body systems including your gut, mind and memory, and the cardiovascular system, to name a few. All this because there is no manual on “how to live in harmony with your billion-year-old human biology!” Menopause and andropause (male menopause) complicate this picture even more because with aging there is less glandular hormone output and the symphony has a more difficult time balancing and regulating. So the things (behaviors) you could get away with from age 18-48… yep, a bit sad.

So here is the good news, if you learn how to control some of the major hormonal players like cortisol and insulin, a good deal of the other players including thyroid, steroid and sex hormones have a much better chance at being in balance! This is an excellent example of upstream medicine. Side effects of getting things in better balance means a positive shift in other related body systems.

When hormone rebalancing needs more of a specific nudge in one direction or another, PPH can test for cortisol levels and rhythms, thyroid, DHEA, and sex hormones (estrogens, testosterone, progesterone…). Those that qualify and are interested in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy will be referred to a local BHRT expert provider. PPH does not Rx sex hormones. One PPH go-to test for individuals who are or are concerned about breast cancer risk is the Estronix test, which looks at the ratios of good and bad estrogen metabolites. Many natural therapies can lower those that test in the moderate- to high-risk area for estrogen-sensitive breast cancers. Ask if any of these tests are right for you during your consultation.