Natural Hormone Balance
taught by Charlotte Test, ND, MA, MH
By now most women will personally know or at least heard of someone that had taken drastic measures to remedy female reproductive organ health problems or hormone imbalances. Hysterectomies had long become a common solution for female ailments. Now, just as radical, mastectomies have become a solution not only to remedy problems but also as a prevention. Are these dramatic efforts necessary? Well that depends upon the person needing a solution. If effort is put into not only maintaining but enhancing health, amazing results can be expected. As Doctors of Naturopathy, we are not here to replace your medical practitioner but rather are here to help you have need of their services less. It’s about empowerment… We’re here to educate you in how to bring about balance in health and well-being, and to remedy problems before taking drastic irreversible measures.
Now Let’s Bring Balance
First things first… A toxic liver can interfere with hormone balance! A poor diet can as well.
- Detoxification with Chinese Tiao He Cleanse **
- Basic nutrition support.
- Get to bed early!
Hot Flashes
- Melatonin1 and Zinc (acts as a catalyst) **
Studies show melatonin is hypothermic (reduce body temperature). It modifies the function of the thyroid and adrenal cortex. It is for short-term use only. It can also help men with prostate enlargement/inflammation/infection.
- Black Cohosh
- Red Clover (our favorite)
- Kava Kava (great for night sweats)
- GLA (gamma linolenic acid) – Evening Primrose, Borage, Black Currant Oil
- Magnesium
- Alfalfa
- American Ginseng
- Aromatherapy – Rose, Peppermint
- Hot Flash Massage – 10 drops Clary Sage, 10 drops Geranium, 5 drops Lemon mixed with 50 ml Super GLA. Massage onto abdomen.
- Hot Flash Spritz – 6oz. distilled water, 4 drops Clary Sage, 3 drops Roman Chamomile, 3 drops Geranium, 1 drop Pine, 2 drops Peppermint, 2 drops Lemon
See our NSP website for these ingredients.
Excess Progesterone
Use estrogenic substances for balance:
- Black Cohosh
- Evening Primrose
- Red Clover (we like this best!)
- Soy (non-GMO in small amounts, do not use if allergic)
- Aromatherapy – Geranium
- Be sure your cholesterol levels are not too low!
See our website or come to our shop for these items.
Excess Estrogen – pesticides can contribute to this
- Wild Yam cream
- Wild Yam
- Chaste Tree (Vitex)
- Blessed Thistle
- Red Clover
See our website or come to our shop for these items.
Tonify Uterus
- Red Raspberry
- Blue Cohosh
See our website or come to our shop for these items.
Puberty – to help stop the crankiness and provide hormone balance for boys and girls
- Red Rapberry
- Blessed Thistle
See our website or come to our shop for these items.
Heavy Bleeding
Could be from excessive estrogen, deficient progesterone, low thyroid, physical problems with the uterus such as endometriosis.
- Yarrow
- Bayberry
- Capsicum
- Red Raspberry
- Yellow Dock and Alfalfa to restore blood iron levels.
- Menstrual Reg
See our website or come to our shop for these items.
Cramps – slight cramping is normal, due to release of oxytocin
- Magnesium
- Ginger
- Yarrow
- Dong Quai
- Detoxify the liver
See our website or come to our shop for these items.
PMS – there are five types of PMS (A, B, C, D, H) 2
General, for all types – Magnesium, B6, GLA, Zinc
Type A – high estrogen/low progesterone: nervous tension, irritability, mood swings, anxiousness, quick start of period, heavy, clotting. Liver congestion.
- Detoxify the liver – Chinese Tioa He Cleanse
- Progesterone cream – Pro G Yam cream
- B6, Magnesium, GLA, Monthly Maintenance
Type B – high progesterone:estrogen ratio: stressed, mood changes and irritability, aggressive rather than depressed, weight gain, swelling of hands and feet and breast tenderness.
- Vit C with bioflavonoids.
- Reduce sodium (salt)
- Include a natural diuretic such as celery or Juniper berries in your diet.
- Kidney support – Kidney Activator, JP-X
Type C – low prostaglandin production: food cravings (chocolate, sugar), hypoglycemia, headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations.
- Licorice root
- Super Algae
- HY-A
- Magnesium
- GLA
Type D – low estrogen:progesterone ratio: depression, cry easily, memory problems, confusion, insomnia.
- Magnesium
- Detoxify heavy metals, especially lead.
- Use Heavy Metal Detox
- Chinese Mood Elevator
- Super GLA
- SAMe
Type H – Elevated aldosterone: fluid retention, bloated abdomen, breast tenderness, weight gain. Too much sodium and/or alcohol in the diet.
- Diuretic herbs – Kidney Activator, JP-X.
- Vitamin E
- GLA
- Magnesium
- Black Cohosh
- Red Clover (the best!)
See our website or come to our shop for these items.
What else can you do?
Avoid synthetic hormone use such as in birth control. There is potential for harmful side effects. There are safer alternatives. If using them for balance you may be masking a problem that can be resolved by getting to the root cause such as toxic liver as mentioned earlier. Avoid excessive consumption of sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol, and unhealthy fats such as trans-fats found in hydrogenated and partially hydrogenate oils. Don’t totally avoid fats and cholesterol in your diet. Just chose healthy sources of them. You need these to manufacture hormones for your body to function in balance. Don’t forget to drink plenty of purified water (I recommend distilled) and get proper amount of exercise and sleep!
Breast Health?
Yes, there is such a thing as improving breast health. First, knowledge is power. The steroid hormone, estradiol (your body’s strongest estrogen) is released by your ovaries and it binds to receptors in your breasts to increase cell division. Harmful xeno-estrogen can also bind to these receptors because there is a similarity between xeno-estrogens and the natural ones that we make. All steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol. Estrogen, though, is unique among the steroid hormones because it has a phenol as a component. Testosterone and progesterone do not have this. What can be the problem with this? Xeno-estrogens such as petrochemical by-products (organo-chlorines and pesticides), which get into the food chain also have a phenol component. These chemicals can be found in much of the food we eat and eventually concentrate in our own fat. What does this mean for your breast health? When these xeno-estrogens bind to the receptors in your breasts, this blocks the receptors from your own natural estrogen. The effects from these xeno-estrogens binding to your receptors can include the development of breast and uterine cancer in women, testicular and prostate cancer in men, infertility in both women and men, and changes in the reproductive and hormone systems not only of adults, but of unborn children too!
Now to take action…
To avoid breast health problems a healthy diet of organically grown foods is a must. However, the harmful chemicals are in our environment, meats that we eat, and water we drink. Some healthful things you can do to protect yourself from their effects include adding fiber to your diet since it absorbs toxins. Add antioxidants to your diet which includes vitamin C, E and beta-carotene, and the minerals magnesium, zinc and selenium. Take the proper calcium for your pH*. Herbs providing phyto-estrogens can help. If you are allergic to even the non-GMO organically grown soy, use Red Clover. Breast Assured is a nutritional product we carry on our website that you can take to help protect your breasts. Breast cancer does not need to run in your family to take precautions. Every woman has at least some risk.
Extra TidBit
How does Wild Yam work?
Wild Yam does not contain progesterone nor does it convert to progesterone in the body. However is does contain a substance called diosgenin which is used to product synthetic progesterone. This may provide the body with a substance to manufacture progesterone. Wild Yam is also antispasmodic making it useful for cramping during ovulation or periods. It’s also anti-inflammatory.
Please realize the information in these pages is for your educational experience and to provide you opportunity to further explore healthful benefits for your own health and wellness. This information is not meant to diagnose, cure, or treat diseases nor replace prescriptions.
*For info on pH and herbal remedies please contact me.
If you live in the Gettysburg area, please consider setting up a personal consultation!
Charlotte Test, Naturopath
References
- Melatonin Extra # 2830-4
- Helps promote the body’s natural sleep rhythm; Possesses antioxidant properties and many benefit the immune system.
- http://www.menstruation.com.au/periodpages/pmstypes.html
** See our website for details www.mynsp.com/herbalhour
