Balance Your Hormones Naturally - Part 1

Achieving hormone balance using natural remedies and life style factors is often successful. It also has many other possible advantages over drug therapies including:

• No potentially dangerous side affects
• Increased energy levels
• Better sleep
• Improved immune strength
• Greater concentration
• Enhanced well-being, vigour, vitality, and sex drive
• Reduced risk of osteoporosis
• Reduced risk of heart disease breast disease and cancer

Factors include:

• Optimal nutrition
• Stress management, rest and exercise
• Detoxification including your environment
• Phyto-oestrogenic foods
• Phyto-oestrogenic supplements
• Herbs - homoeopathy - flower essences

Healthy hormone balance

Hormones influence many bodily functions including reproduction. These functions, which include sugar balance, blood pressure, energy level, kidney function, sleep pattern, aging, and appetite, are just a few of the physical functions driven by hormones.

Oestrogen and progesterone - major reproductive hormones

The two major hormones connected with reproduction are oestrogen and progesterone. The levels of these, and many other hormones, are controlled by the pituitary and hypothalamus glands inside your head. The function of these two glands is not exactly understood. But what is known is that hormonal messengers instruct your reproductive organs to orchestrate many events including puberty, ovulation, menstruation, and menopause.

Oestrogen and progesterone have specific roles in the menstrual cycle. Oestrogen influences the proliferation of the endometrium (this tissue is eventually shed to become a menstrual period) and the development and release of an egg from the ovaries. Oestrogen dominates the first half of your menstrual cycle.

Progesterone

Progesterone influences many things including the growth and implantation of a fertilised egg, or the start of menstruation. Progesterone dominates the second half of your menstrual cycle.

Oestrogen

The use of oestrogen as a drug has been known since 1937. Yet it was not until the 1960's that it entered popular use. Since then, it has been promoted as a contraceptive and a panacea for many health problems. These include a wide range of issues such as tiredness, depression, poor concentration, irritability, mood swings, skin problems, low libido, osteoporosis, heart disease prevention, and others. These health problems are now often related to female hormones. I find it interesting that with the exception of osteoporosis, men commonly experience these health problems too. World statistics suggest that oestrogen is the fifth most used drug.

Any attempt at supplementing hormone levels through synthetic drugs ignores the complex web of interconnections between hormone balance and general health. These interconnections are integral during the vulnerables stages of puberty and menopause when hormonal systesm are in a state of flux. Oten the possible long-term side effects of hormonal supplementation are overlooked in the interest of obtaining short-term gains.

Nutrition for Hormone Balance

The food we eat is the fuel our body runs on. It generally determines how well or how badly our, body runs. So if we want health and hormonal balance, it is important to start eating accordingly.

All natural remedies, including those for hormonal health will be more effective if supported by a healthy diet. Conversely a poor diet or one high in toxins will imbalance your health and hormonal balance, and will also reduce the effectiveness of all natural remedies.

Where possible eat an organic diet high in fruits and vegetables, and use filtered water. Actively choosing foods as close to their natural state where possible. It is also worth considering taking antioxidant nutrients including vitamins and herbs, to promote health and protect yourself against the ravages of toxicity.

The Diet Pyramid, shows the relative amounts of food recommended to be eaten on a daily basis.

Source: F. Naish and J. Roberts Better Babies (Page 18) Courtesy of Random House Australia.

Other factors that enhance hormone balance include stress management, exercise, rest, and having some regular fun in your life.

Xenoestrogens - what are they?

The latest scientific research is pointing to many man made chemicals, as having a much more potent oestrogen like activity than our body's own hormone. These chemicals are called Xenoestrogens.

The list of Xenoestrogens includes hormones, petrochemicals, plastics, detergents, pesticides, and fertilisers. Many of the additives and preservatives in foods and in cigarettes are also Xenoestrogens.

Xenoestrogens - what do they do?

Xenoestrogens reduce hormonal stability. Their great strength in comparison to your natural hormones is where the danger lies. As many people don't need exposure much xenoestrogen to experience negative health symptoms.

Xenoestrogens are fat soluble, and are stored in fat rich body tissues including breast, brain, nerve tissue, and liver. I find it very interesting that breast cancer is increasing predicably as we experience greater exposure to Xenoestrogens.

Xenoestrogen hormone drugs are also given to animals to increase their growth and fatten them for our consumption. our water supply also contains Xenoestrogens residues.

Xenoestrogens, imbalance male as well as female hormones. A recent Helsinki university study found the production of normal sperm for men halved in the 10 years from 1981-1991.

Many xenobiotic related reproductive changes, have been reported worldwide. With many species including humans having falling fertility rates and increased rates of deformed offspring.

What are phytoestrogens?

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring compounds that have very weak hormone like activity. They can improve hormone balance regardless of whether the levels are to high or to low.

The Japanese normally eat diets very rich in phyto-oestrogenic foods - and they don't have a word pattern in their language for hot flushes as so few women experience them.

Phyto-oestrogenic foods and hormone balance.

Eating phyto-oestrogenic foods can improve health and hormonal balance. This will be much more effective if your diet is already healthy and balanced. The main principle of including phyto-oestrogenic foods in you diet is that you are try to include the ones you enjoy on a regular basis.

Also become an nutritional experimenter by trying some phyto-oestrogenic foods that are new to you. By including them into you diet regularly, you may enjoy improved health and hormone balance. What do you have to loose?

Foods that supply phyto-oestrogens include: Soya milk, tofu, tempeh, soya beans and sprouts, all sprouted seeds, alfalfa, linseed, oils seeds sesame sunflower etc., uncooked olive oil, corn, barley, oats, parsley, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, parsnip, celery, green peas, green beans, cucumber, carrots, apples. Tiny quantities of phyto-oestrogens are also contained in most whole grains, including rice, rye, and wheat. Herbs that supply phyto-oestrogens include; angelica, aniseed, caraway, chervil coriander, dill, fennel, red clover, and liquorice (unfortunately not the liquorice we know as a sweet).

Herbs that can help promote the production of oestrogen through their "tonic" action on the ovaries include; False Unicorn root, True Unicorn root, Wild Yam, Peony, Ladies Mantle, Dong Quai, Saw Palmetto, Black Cohosh, St Johnfs Wort, and Ginseng.

Low oestrogen levels

Low oestrogen levels are traditionally indicated as the cause of menopausal symptoms. Dr Lee in his book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause strongly refutes this theory. His book gives solid evidence linking menopausal symptoms to low progesterone levels. Dr Lee also strongly links Xenoestrogens to all female hormonal disorders.

Low progesterone levels

You possibly have low progesterone levels if you get any of the many various PMS symptoms including lower abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, tender breasts emotional sensitivity headaches, pimples, physical and emotional tiredness. Also if you have had a miscarriage, low progesterone levels could be suspected.

Progesterone precursor herbs and vitamins

Work by helping support your body produce more of its own progesterone. Progesterone precursor herbs and vitamins and minerals include; Chaste tree, Wild Yam, Fenugreek, Sarsaparilla, Blue Cohosh, Mistletoe, True Unicorn Root, Yucca, Beth Root, Magnesium, Vitamin B6. For correct dosage it is best to see a Professional Naturopath.

Many of the herbs vitamins, and minerals mentioned in this article are available at your local health food shop. In the form of loose dried herbs or tea bags, encapsulated dried herbs or as tablets.

If you wish to self medicate, all of these forms can safely be self administered providing you don't exceed recommended dosage levels written on their containers. However you would probably get far more effective results by consulting a natural therapist.

Resources and Recommended Reading.

F. Naish & J. Roberts, Better Babies
Dr Lee What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause
Louise Hay You Can Heal Your Life.

Go to Part 2 - Menopause

©1998 Miriam Orwin. This article may not be reproduced in part or full without the author's written consent.