Naturopathic
Endocrinology
© Copyright 2002
by Theresa Dale, Ph.D., C.C.N., N.P.
Certified Clinical Nutritionist
Traditional Naturopathic Practitioner
BioEnergetic Medical Consultant
Dean & Founder, California College of Natural Medicine
President, The Wellness Center
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is based on the
incorrect assumption that your body becomes incapable
of producing appropriate amounts of hormones simply
because we reach a certain age. Your body does alter
its hormone production as you pass through the stages
of life, but hormone problems are a function of how
healthy you are, not how old you are.
Any hormone replacement, whether it is natural or not,
actually causes the body to slow down the production
of its own natural hormones, including melatonin, DHEA,
progesterone and human growth hormone. HRT does not
treat the cause of any problem, it only addresses-and
perpetuates-the symptoms.
Women are no longer willing to accept the risks associated
with synthetic hormones, and are searching for safer
alternatives. The negative side effects of traditional
hormone replacement therapy is well documented and includes
cancer, gallstones, blood clots, high blood pressure,
liver disease and cataracts.
New research is continually emerging. An estimated
two million women are now using synthetic, natural "plant-derive"
and synthesized "bio-identical" hormones.
The problem for the consumer is education. They simply
do not know what their base line hormone levels are
before and during product usage and what effects long-term
usage will produce.
A Naturopathic approach to balancing hormones begins
with saliva testing and homeopathy. It incorporates
diet, nutrition, dental health, exercise, emotional
release work, colonics and herbology.
Stop Replacing Hormones, Rejuvenate
Them
The Reality
Thousands of saliva test results (before and after)
indicate homeopathic formulas stimulate needed amounts
of hormones even with women who have undergone surgery
for a complete hysterectomy.
Homeopathic remedies, in general, are not effective
in a formula with natural or synthetic hormones, coloring,
preservatives, flavoring, essential oils or fragrance,
vitamins, and herbs. In this case, the homeopathic remedies
will be neutralized and will not work.
Women with hysterectomies can produce enough of their
own hormones by using homeopathic formulas. HRT will
only exasperate the condition, causing dependency, adrenal
cortisol stress and toxic levels of hormones.
Diet and exercise has a great influence on hormonal
balance. Caffeine dehydrates the adrenal glands affecting
cortisol levels and sugar exhausts them. An endocrine
rebuilding diet is a must for all hormonally challenged
patients.
Root canals and other dental problems (focal disturbances)
can be the main cause of accelerated aging and hormonal
imbalances.
The synthetic U.S.P. hormonal creams sold over-the-counter,
synthesized from soy or wild yam, are no longer natural.
In addition, they have not been thoroughly researched
for safety. They are mass marketed, mostly as a cosmeceutical,
throughout health food stores and health professionals.
Hormones are dispensed without hormone saliva testing
to determine hormonal status.
Biological age is more important than chorological
age when determining proper hormone ratios and patients
programs.
The consumer does not always follow directions making
it hard to administer the precise amount the body needs.
The amount and quantity used of these preparations can
easily overload the body, causing abnormal hormone ratios
and liver toxicity.
ALL hormone replacement whether applied topically or
taken orally, causes organs and glands to slow down
or stop production of naturally produced hormones.
Adrenal cortisol levels are related to hormone production.
Long Term Use of HRT has been linked to breast cancer.
Natural and Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy
has side effects. No randomized trial has found a reduced
risk of heart attack, premature death or chest pain
among women taking hormones.
In fact, HRT may actually harm women with existing
heart disease.
The Myths
- Hormone replacement protects against osteoporosis
and heart disease.
- Hormone replacement treats the cause of the problem.
- Once the body slows down the production of naturally
occurring hormones you need to start HRT.
- Diet does not matter.
- Traditional synthetic HRT does not have side effects.
- Natural and Bio-identical HRT does not have side
effects.
- Women with hysterectomies can no longer produce
certain hormones.
- Women with hysterectomies need HRT.
- HGH is safe for consumption.
- Melatonin is safe for consumption.
- DHEA is safe for consumption.
- HRT is necessary for women after 40 years of age.
- Very high levels of progesterone from natural HRT,
as seen in blood and saliva testing, is not toxic.
- Natural hormone replacement is safe, if monitored.
(The fact is that all hormone replacement will stop
or slow down the ability of the body to produce its
own hormones).
First, Saliva Testing
Saliva collection is simple, non-invasive, and can be
performed in the privacy of one's home.
Saliva testing is not nearly as accurate if the collection
time of the saliva does not correlate to the TCM Five
Element Theory. Having a patient give a saliva specimen
at any convenient time will not yield specific and accurate
measurement of hormones related to meridians, organs
and glands that are producing hormones.
Saliva testing measures the levels of circulating hormones
available to body tissues.
Saliva is considered a better indicator of biologically
active hormone levels than serum - more accurately reflecting
the body's functional hormonal status.
Over 20 years of research has proven the effectiveness
of using saliva (instead of serum or urine) as a diagnostic
medium to measure the "free" (unbound) bioavailable,
biologically active fraction of circulating hormone.
These concentrations are independent of saliva flow
rate.
It is also an accurate method of evaluating how HRT,
topical hormone creams, sublingual drops, diet; herbal
therapy and exercise influence hormone levels.
Cortisol and Adrenal "STRESS"
First, let us briefly look at one of the chief causes
of most hormonal problems- ADRENAL STRESS.
Causes of Adrenal Stress are:
o Environment: internal and external
o Dental Foci / Heavy Metals
o Genetic Blueprint
o Emotional / Identity Imprints
o Diet and Nutrition
o Scar Tissue
The prominent field of Psychoneu-roimmunology has researched
the effects of emotional stress on the human body to
find that stress is an important factor in immune related
problems. The marker used to measure stress is the adrenal
steroid hormone cortisol. Hormones are a powerful influence
over all physical, intellectual and emotional behavior.
Prolonged exposure to stress may be devastating to the
body and mind. My research indicates through a thousand
salivary tests before and after that low cortisol stress
is more common than high cortisol stress. Although if
the cortisol is elevated it will then plunge to a low
level. However, test results indicate that when two
or more cortisol levels are elevated, there is a strong
probability that the patient has diabetes or a genetic
predisposition for it. If one cortisol level is elevated,
it may indicate hypoglycemia. This can be treated most
effectively with my homeopathic formulas. To the contrary,
if HRT is used in this situation, it will act just like
any hormone and create further stress. Think of the
fact that when you administer insulin to a diabetic,
the body then becomes dependent and lazy, eventually
ceasing all production of its own insulin.
The Ancient Wisdom of Chinese Medicine
Saliva testing and hormone ratio interpretation according
to biological age, not chronological age is crucial
for creating the patients program.
The target collection times need to be performed according
to the "Chinese Medicine Body Clock" (see
figure below).
A comprehensive NuFem 24-hour circadian endocrine profile
will reveal hormone levels and the health of corresponding
organs and glands. In addition, this interpretation
includes a suggested dietary regime to cleanse and rejuvenate
endocrine function. |