PMS, fertility, PCOS, heavy bleeding, fibroids, hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, no libido — OH MY!!

When trying to correct hormonal imbalances it’s important to understand how many factors interact together to create disruptions. These include gut health, detoxification pathways, and environmental hormonal disruptors. All of these factors can affect our production of hormones, how well they work and how they are discarded once used.

It’s also important to understand that it’s a dance of many hormones all interacting with one another: Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, Insulin, Thyroid,  Cortisol, Adrenaline, DHEA,  Prolactin, Pregnenelone, Melatonin… and that doesn’t even count the Neurotransmitters! Just looking at one or two doesn’t address the dynamic interplay of ALL of them.

Assessing and supporting adrenal health is paramount as Cortisol has a major influence over all other hormones especially Insulin and Thyroid- all three play a role in signaling fat storage as well as impacting Sex Hormones.

From a mind-body standpoint we ask you to pay attention to your intuition and the wisdom of your body. Your hormonal changes/cycles are information your body is trying to convey about your life!

When we evaluate and support hormones at Carpathia we are looking at a Big Picture. These are our top strategies to help you help yourself:

-Eat a low sugar, low simple carbohydrate diet, lots of veggies, avoid processed foods, limit caffeine (at most 1 cup/day), alcohol (2/glasses wine per week), better yet, if you are having issues with adrenal fatigue and major hormone disturbances, eliminate altogether.

-Eat organic – especially meat, dairy, eggs, fruits and vegetables. Use vegetable wash on non-organic produce. Pesticides are major hormone disruptors!

-Take high quality vitamin and mineral supplements which support the production, metabolism, and detoxification of hormones [Multivitamin with minerals, Vitamins C, E, B Complex, B12, Calcium/Magnesium, Omega 3, GLA, extra Folic acid – 5MTHF best form. (see our 10 Day Hormone Flush Detox to get started!)

-Use herbal approaches: Saw Palmetto, Siberian Rhubarb, Black Cohosh, Dong Quai, Licorice Root, Ginseng, Chaste Berry, Wild Yam, non GMO Soy

-Drink clean filtered water and lots of it! Even better to add electrolytes and minerals to help flush toxins

-Rid your house of toxic cleaners/chemicals and “air fresheners”. Use biodegradable products

-Test urine/saliva/blood for hormone pathways- to assess overall levels and detox pathways

-Test blood for complete thyroid function [TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, TPO/Anti TG antibody’s]

-Support adrenal function- (saliva test to measure) detoxify, stress reduction, adequate sleep, good nutrients, play, meditation, etc.

-Support GI health – if you’ve got IBS/IBD or other gut issues, consider a detoxification /allergy elimination diet for 4-6 weeks, add probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus daily, good fats such as fish oils and GLA(gamma linoleic) acid

-Support thyroid function with nutrients including: Vitamin A, D Iodine, Selenium, Zinc, and decrease toxins/allergens to balance hormones and support adrenals.

-Use only biologically identical hormones if needed, often compounded for you at special pharmacies. Use in small physiologic doses, preferably topically rather than orally (less hormone required for same effect, less for liver to process)

-Strongly consider doing our 10 day Hormone Flush Detox program twice a year!

 

By Dr. Margaret Christensen

She’s passionate about helping her clients create health through treating the root cause of illness and hormone imbalance. A challenging personal health journey led her to the science based, whole systems approach of Functional Medicine where she is passionate about educating clients on how to heal the whole person.