• Helps protect against the formation of fibrocystic breasts


• Helps use fat for energy


Safe Hormone Replacement Therapy


By Henry C. Sobo, MD


ynthetic pharmaceuticals prescribed as “hormone replacement” therapy are among the most widely prescribed medications in this country. They are most often used for women in menopause for symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. Unfortunately, even when effective for symptom relief, there is concern regard- ing the long-term safety of taking these “hormones”. Many women, fearing the consequences of being treated with hor- mones, refuse therapy they might otherwise benefit from.


S


With Bioidentical hormone replace- ment the benefits of hormone replacement therapy may be enjoyed while minimizing safety concerns. When hormone imbal- ances are present there is a long list of associated symptoms that may occur. These are important not just for women but for men as well.


Consider how many symptoms overlap between the sexes...


Women’s Symptoms • Low Libido • Depression • Forgetfulness • Sleep Disturbances • Aches & Pains • Weakness • Fatigue • Thinning skin • Headaches • Bone Loss • Decreased Stamina • Heart Palpitations • Thyroid insufficiency • Vaginal Dryness


Men’s Symptoms • Low Libido • Depression • Forgetfulness • Sleep Disturbances • Aches & Pains • Weakness • Fatigue • Thinning Skin • Headaches • Bone Loss • Decreased Stamina • Heart Palpitations • Prostate Problems • Decreased Erections


Why Bioidentical Hormones?


Bioidentical hormones are made by compounding pharmacies based on a per- sonalized prescription from a doctor. They have a chemical structure identical to the hormone as it is produced by the human body. Therefore, when a woman or man is prescribed these hormones, what they are receiving is a replenishment of something that is naturally made in the body, but which has become deficient, thus caus- ing symptoms. Synthetic hormones treat symptoms rather than rebalancing natural hormone levels.


In his book, Natural Progesterone,


John Lee, MD enumerates the following effects of natural progesterone (remember synthetic “progestins” like provera are not progesterone).


• Natural diuretic • Natural antidepressant • Improved libido • Facilitates thyroid hormone action


• Stimulates osteoblasts for bone building


28 Natural Nutmeg - May/June 2018


These are just some of the positive effects of hormone balancing. It is worth noting that the prescription called into a compounding pharmacy by a physician is tailor made to the exact dose the doctor is prescribing for the individual patient. This is in contrast to a pharmaceutical drug made in the millions and shipped to pharmacies which place everyone on an average dose. Bioidentical hormones are prescribed in the dose appropriate to the patient. Thus, to minimize safety concerns, the lowest effec- tive dose can be prescribed.


Testing and Treating Hormone Imbalance What are the hormone imbalances that


can be checked for? This author routinely utilizes saliva testing as a preferred method for checking the bioactive levels of Estro- gen, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA, and Cortisol. When these hormones are tested by blood they are testing hormones that are bound by proteins circulating in the system, and the numbers may not always accurately reflect the physiological activ- ity of the hormone for that person. When a person’s saliva is checked, the hormones that are detected are not bound by proteins and thus may reveal more accurate reflec- tion of the bioactive hormone, that which creates the many effects of the hormones on the body. A proper check also takes into account not just the hormone levels but the balance between them. In particular, the balance between estrogen and progesterone is important.


A concept of great importance describ-


ing what millions of women suffer from is the condition called Estrogen Dominance. This is when the estrogen hormones are relatively too high in comparison to the progesterone levels. Estrogen dominance can occur even when a woman develops estrogen deficiency at the start of meno- pause causing symptoms like hot flashes. This is because even though the production of estrogen is dropping, the production of progesterone drops even more, resulting in comparatively more estrogen than pro- gesterone circulating in the system. These women are candidates for receiving both estrogen and progesterone. It is the balance between them which needs to be addressed as well as their basic levels standing alone.


When estrogen becomes the dominant hormone and progesterone is deficient, estrogen can have the following harmful effects on the body:


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44