Hormonal balance is vital to a healthy mind and body but can be disrupted in many ways.
Hormone fluctuations occur naturally in puberty, menopause, andropause and perimenopause and affect both men and women. Hormone imbalance may also be caused by toxins or an unbalanced lifestyle.
Understanding the causes of hormone imbalance empowers us to prevent them and at the same time, feel better, think better and helps prevent breast cancer.
As reproductive functions play out over time hormone levels take a plunge, triggering the onset of menopause and common hormone imbalances associated with the change of life.
Unhealthy habits can speed up the pace of hormonal decline and premature aging in men and women.
You will know that the menopause has taken place if you have not had any menstrual bleeding for 12 months. Most women reach menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. Menopause before the age of 40 is called ‘premature menopause’ and before the age of 45 it is called ‘early menopause’.
Management and treatment of menopausal symptoms depend on each individual woman, stage of life, relationships and general level of health and wellbeing. Healthy living, natural and complementary therapies with herbs and vitamins are being used in our centre.
The signs and symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue include:
- Difficulty getting up in the morning
- High levels of fatigue each day
- Inability to handle stress
- Cravings for salty foods
- Higher energy levels in the evenings
- Overuse of stimulants like caffeine
- A weak immune system
Do any of this sound like your experience?
Adrenal glands are the batteries of the body. When the adrenals become fatigued, a number of complications can occur. Individuals with depleted endocrine systems often report frequent urination. Which is often attributed to age but may actually be caused by depleted adrenals.
Adrenal nourishment is essential. Healthy fats and a diet rich in nutrients can help the glands to recover faster.
This treatment focuses on treating the patients with herbs that are known to nourish the adrenal glands as well as other endocrine glands.
Normalise your habits
This is where the patient is coaxed into adapting to a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy food regularly without skipping meals, make it a point to exercise every morning, remember to de-stress the body, etc.
Counselling or coaching
This is to help the patient cope with behavioural changes.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex hormonal condition. ‘Polycystic’ literally translates as ‘many cysts’. This really refers to there being many partially formed follicles on the ovaries, which each contain an egg.
These rarely grow to maturity or produce eggs that can be fertilised. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 12-18% of women of reproductive age and up to 21% in some high-risk groups, such as Indigenous women.
Women with Polycystic ovary syndrome commonly have high levels of insulin or male hormones known as ‘androgens’, or both. The cause of this is unclear, but insulin resistance is thought to be the key problem driving this syndrome.
In some women, PCOS runs in the family, whereas for others, the condition only occurs when they are overweight.
Women with Polycystic ovary syndrome may have irregular periods, acne, excess hair, hair loss, depression, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, have a significant impact on the symptoms of PCOS, by controlling insulin resistance and being overweight can affect PCOS and its symptoms.
The drug metformin or the herbal equivalent is very useful to help manage sugar cravings and weight. For excessive body hair, we can use anti-androgens (male hormone blockers) such as spironolactone or the herbal equivalent.
Declining testosterone levels in men around middle age can cause many symptoms like depression, reduced muscle mass, increased body fat and erectile dysfunction. You may also experience swollen or tender breasts, decreased testicle size, loss of body hair or hot flashes.
Low levels of testosterone associated with male menopause have also been linked to osteoporosis. As you age your testosterone levels will typically begin to drop. According to the Mayo Clinic, testosterone levels tend to decline an average of 1 percent per year after men turn 30.
Hormone replacement therapy is another treatment option. However, it’s very controversial. Like performance-enhancing steroids, synthetic testosterone can have damaging side effects.
For example; if you have prostate cancer it may cause your cancer cells to grow. If your doctor suggests hormone replacement therapy, weigh up all the positives and negatives before making your decision.
The most common cause of an underactive thyroid is nutritional deficiencies, heavy metal toxicity and viral infections.
Hashimoto’s (thyroiditis) disease is an autoimmune disease usually triggered by a virus such as glandular fever. An underactive thyroid means it is not able to make enough T4 and T3 thyroid hormone.
- Feeling excessively tired
- Difficulty losing weight
- Sudden weight gain
Oestrogen dominance, Progesterone deficiency and Breast Cancer
According to the experts, almost all risk factors associated with breast cancer are directly or indirectly linked to an excess of estrogen or estrogen that is not sufficiently balanced with progesterone.
This is a common condition during perimenopause when hormone levels fluctuate.
Xenoestrogens and hormone imbalance
These are man-made toxins that mimic estrogen. The xenoestrogens create havoc in the body, raising the estrogen burden and with it, potential risks for breast or other cancer.
Xenoestrogens are found in household cleaners and personal care products that contain toxic chemicals, in plastics, acetones (e.g., fingernail polish and removers) and in pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and industrial pollutants. The xenoestrogens are many times more potent than hormones occurring naturally in the body and they are not easily removed.