Toledo Center for Natural Health

Women's Health –
Balancing Female Hormones

I’ve heard it’s possible to help a woman balance her hormones without using pills or hormone creams. How is that possible?

That’s true. We are able to help many women who suffer symptoms of PMS. The female body has the ability to produce hormones naturally and in the correct quantities. In a relatively healthy woman, using the herb Chaste Tree, we are able to enhance the corpus luteal development (thereby correcting a relative progesterone deficiency.) This normalizes the menstrual cycle and encourages proper ovulation without the use of hormones.

What are some of the other items you use in order to help a woman without using hormones?

For example, some women experience excessive, profuse or prolonged bleeding during a normal menstrual cycle. This is called menorrhagia. In this case Ovex, from Standard Process, works very well to stop the bleeding. Ovex was developed primarily to stop heavy menstrual bleeding. This is not a hormone product, but rather contains enzymes that help the body make hormones naturally.

You talk a lot about helping the body make hormones. Why not just give hormones and be done with it?

First of all we need to understand that estrogen and progesterone work properly only when they are in a proper balanced ratio. It is best to support the female tissues to be healthy so those tissues can do the job nature intended. If the body is able to make its own hormones in the proper quantities and at the proper times there’s no reason to subvert and possibly decrease the normal natural hormone production cycle.

Is it ever necessary to use hormones?

Of course, there are times that require the use of hormones. Sometimes the body is so overburdened or depleted it requires the support natural hormones provide. We do not just guess, we do testing and then supply the natural hormones that are best for the individual.

What do you mean by natural hormones?

Natural hormones are bio-identically like your own. These hormones are derived from plants and are very safe, unlike synthetic hormone substitutes.

How would I alleviate PMS symptoms of increased appetite, headache, fatigue, dizziness and a feeling of heart pounding?

Testing will reveal the best approach. In this case we are looking for an imbalance in a person’s Omega 6 to Omega 3 consumption. Secondly, possible signs of adrenal fatigue. Finally, an excess of one or more female hormones and/or an imbalance in one of the mineral ratios particularly: zinc/copper, sodium/potassium, sodium/magnesium or calcium/magnesium.

Why is the saliva test used to measure hormone levels?

The saliva test is a very accurate method for testing hormones. This test reveals the free hormone levels, whereas blood tests indicate the bound hormone levels. Bound hormones are only potential hormones that may or may not be used by the body. Free hormones are ready and able to be used by the body, therefore a better indicator of what the body is doing.

Is there a down side to using hormone creams?

It has been found that over time hormone creams flood the system with excessive levels of hormones. Excess hormone levels produce symptoms of hormone imbalance and these excesses show up on laboratory testing of the saliva. For example, excess progesterone alters estrogen receptors and this can lead to symptoms of estrogen insufficiency. Remember hormones must be in a properly balanced ratio in order to work properly and support a healthy body.

I’ve been having hot flashes and night sweats. What could you recommend for my symptoms?

Testing to determine hormone and mineral levels to establish a base line reading is the first step. These test results will give us the information needed to design a treatment protocol for your symptom pattern.

Why is the multiple sample saliva test used?

The multiple sample test is used for cycling ladies. In a cycling woman her hormone levels change from day to day and a single sample of either blood or saliva will tell us the levels of that specific day. We need to know when and how much her hormones fluctuate during the entire cycle in order to make specific recommendations to properly bring the hormones back into balance.

To receive a consultation, call Dr. Muck at Toledo Center for Natural Health, 419.861.3745.
Toledo Center for Natural Health is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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