Hormone Therapy

Self-medication is not the best way of dealing with a severe form of depression. Various psychoactive natural compounds are typically used in this potentially harmful practice. These compounds range from alcohol to over-the-counter products including the hormone melatonin. Hormonal therapies are best suited for the replacement of pathologically low or missing levels of endogenous hormones; using insulin to treat diabetes is a good example. It's difficult to make a simple and convincing case for the use of melatonin replacement therapy - too many miracle cures have already been associated with melatonin. Possibly the best use of this hormone would be to regulate sleep patterns or to prevent jet lag. But could melatonin be therapeutic for conditions such as severe depression? No clinical data are available to conclusively support the use of melatonin in antidepressant therapy. However, clinical results suggest that melatonin receptors may be involved.

A search for clinical trials with melatonin in the U.S. Government-sponsored database called ClinicalTrials.gov on June 7, 2011 revealed 128 studies. Most of these trials have been designed to explore the effects of melatonin supplementation on sleep. None of them investigated melatonin supplementation in the treatment of depression. One study measured melatonin levels in the blood of patients with major depressive disorder, and a couple of studies investigated the effects of light therapy in depression and measured melatonin levels in treated subjects. This is in a stark contrast to the number of clinical trials with a drug that stimulates melatonin receptors, a target considered to be specific for the cellular actions of melatonin. The compound in case, agomelatine, has been approved in Europe for treatment of depression and is now being investigated in the U.S.

How would melatonin receptors work to alleviate symptoms of severe depression? Imagine for a moment you've just won a huge Mega Millions jackpot and you've bought yourself a mansion. It's a huge castle with lots of doors, each with at least one lock and some with several. These locks are the melatonin receptors. There are two main types of these receptors, MT1 and MT2. You've also got the master key, melatonin, which opens both types of locks. To the in-laws who poured in to visit as soon as they'd heard of your fortune you only give keys to certain locks, the MT1 or the MT2, so you can keep some privacy. For the special room in which you keep your most valued possessions, you have an additional layer of security, a door equipped not only with both MT1 and MT2 locks, but also with an unusual lock, the serotonin receptor called 5-HT2C. To open this door, the 5-HT2C lock must be locked at the same time you are using the master key to unlock the MT1 and MT2 locks. Quite a task!

Apparently, you can do the same to your brain 5-HT2C, MT1, and MT2 receptors by taking agomelatine, a drug that acts simultaneously on the MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors (as their agonist) and on the 5-HT2C serotonin receptors (as their antagonist). Scientists believed that this simultaneous manipulation of brain melatonin and 5-HT2C serotonin receptors reduces the symptoms of major depression. According to this concept, using melatonin only would not produce the same effect.

In their article The Pattern of Melatonin Receptor Expression in the Brain may Influence Antidepressant Treatment, Dr. Eric Hirsch-Rodriguez and colleagues from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago described how the presence of melatonin receptors such as MT1 and MT2 in different brain areas changes over time and can be affected by illness and drug treatment. For example, prolonged treatment with classical antidepressants changes the content of the MT1 and MT receptors. These investigators suggested that melatonin or drugs based on melatonin would produce antidepressant effects only if an optimal amount and brain distribution of melatonin receptors are available for drug action and that clinical trials with such drugs would need to take into consideration the characterization of patients' melatonin receptors.

Agomelatine, the first melatonin receptor-based antidepressant, is currently being clinically evaluated for approval for use in U.S. On June 7, 2011, ClinicalTrials.gov listed 9 clinical trials (one has been withdrawn) with agomelatine. Seven of these trials are investigating the use of agomelatine in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Their outcome along with the experience from the ongoing use of agomelatine in Europe may decide the future of melatonin receptor-based therapy on health improvement for U.S. patients with major depression.

With increasing life expectancies and more technology at our fingertips it is only expectedly natural that people everywhere are searching for a healthy but effective way to feel and live better. Sermorelin acetate is a safe avenue in an emerging world of natural age remedies. The purpose of Sermorelin Acetate Therapy is to cause the pituitary gland to increase growth hormone production in humans. The purpose of adult Sermorelin growth hormone therapy is to reverse the effects of aging. This revolutionary hormone therapy is a biological active analog of growth hormone releasing factor (GRF 1-44) which is a growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) that is naturally produced by the human brain to stimulate production and secretion of human growth hormone (HGH) by the pituitary gland. Sermorelin stimulates the pituitary gland by binding to specific receptors to increase the production and secretion of HGH. With GHRH therapy, the pituitary gland increases its growth hormone production which is converted by the liver into IGF-1 and released into the blood stream. This means increased metabolism and the growth of new cells within the body's organs and bones. New cells equal healthy young tissue and chance to greatly improve your quality of life.

As a youth, ample amounts of GHRH are produced so that the pituitary gland is able to provide the body with sufficient growth hormone to sustain health, vitality and otherwise normal aspects of human form and function. In some people, GHRH stops working and does not release the signal like it should. When this happens, premature aging sets in. During aging, a decline in GHRH causes reduced production of pituitary HGH and thereby increasing growth hormone insufficiencies that erode health, stamina and vitality during later life.

Sermorelin acetate is approved for use in children and is considered safe for use in adults with deficient growth hormone. The FDA has recently approved Sermorelin treatment in adults who experience premature aging. Typically injected at bedtime, Sermorelin dosing is based on gender and the severity of the hormone deficiency. As always, it is imperative that adults seeking this (keyword) first have their blood test results reviewed by the supervising physician working with the organization offering the treatment.

What are the benefits?

Sermorelin has been proven to increase energy and endurance, break down body fat, improve heart function, increase lean muscle mass, enhance the immune system, accelerate healing from surgery or wounds, promote non-REM restful slow wave sleep, and increase calcium retention which strengthens and increases bone density. It has also been shown to reduce liver uptake of glucose, play a role in fuel homeostasis, increase protein synthesis and stimulate the growth of internal organs (except the brain) and contribute to the maintenance and function of pancreatic islets.

Memory and kidney function is often improved during Sermorelin therapy. Anyone who has had high blood pressure in the past can expect to find blood pressure at a more accepted level. The immune system is often enhanced and balding patients can expect to grow some hair back. Other benefits include fewer wrinkles and more elasticity to the skin. Improvements to the sexual drive and the renewed ability to have intercourse are touted as some of the more fantastic benefits.

Along with the benefits are several side effects that may or may not occur they vary in nature and are rare. The most common side effects are pain or swelling where the injection was given, it is a small shot so you can expect an experience similar to a vaccine. More severe effects are itching or slight discomfort when swallowing; should this occur your physician should be called immediately. Other side effects that should be reported to a doctor, but that tend to be rare, are dizziness, headache, hyperactivity, and vomiting and again can be quickly addressed by contacting your supervising physician.

Those on Sermorelin therapy are expected to be under a doctor's direction and care. There are several choices with clinics that provide the therapy and many doctors who are certified to use Sermorelin in treating patients with Adult Onset Hormone Deficiency. These clinics and doctors' monitor the effects of the therapy by way of testing blood and reviewing your lab results. Prescriptions must be written in order to get Sermorelin and costs can run into the thousands if patients do not give their diligence to seek out the most trusted sources for these revolutionary youthful solutions.

Sermorelin is the synthetic version of the Human Growth Hormone. GHRH, or growth hormone releasing hormone, is produced in the brain and gives a signal to the pituitary gland to release the growth hormone. In some people, GHRH stops working or malfunctions and does not release the signal as it should. A malfunctioning GHRH can cause an adult to start to age prematurely. Injections of Sermorelin will help them to keep a more youthful look longer thus giving this treatment a reputation for being the fountain of youth. This therapy has been long touted as a viable solution to stunted growth in children and young adults. Recently the FDA allowed Sermorelin to be given to people who are experiencing the aging process prematurely. It also is given to those that have HIV as it alleviates some of the symptoms of that disease.

With all the added benefits and few negative side effects there is little left to decide but there may still be questions. Find the physician or clinic nearest you that you can trust and do your homework to make sure that you are choosing the one that's right for you. The Sermorelin Hormone treatment protocol is only as effective as the one administering it. Once you find the clinic that's right for you, you will soon learn for yourself how much better and alive you can look and feel.

Hormone therapy is definitely a good hair replacement treatment for all kinds of women, especially women who have reached and surpassed the age of menopause. At this point, their bodies may start to secrete a lot more testosterone than is needed, which often leads to hair loss. With the hormone therapy, you can keep the testosterone levels within limits and prevent the formation of DHT - dihydrtestosterone - that causes skin cell death and loss of hair.

Most kinds of hair replacement surgeries are wonderful treatments for women who are suffering from hair loss. Often, most females prefer to go for the more common type of hair-replacement surgery, which is hair transplantation.

It is a simple but protracted process of conscientiously removing skin with live follicles from the back of the head and grafting it over the infected area. It could take months before the results are seen, but they are most often remarkable. Other forms of hair replacement surgery that a woman may opt for, or may be advised to undergo, are balloon inflation, scalp reduction, and tissue expansion.

If the hair loss is not too severe, most women can actually achieve replacement by the right use of several hair care products. Before embarking on this, though, permission should be sought and obtained from a licensed dermatologist. As a matter of fact, the woman is better off if this treatment is prescribed by the specialist. Then she can go into some cosmetic store and pick out a cream or lotion that has specific ingredients for her hair type, and nutrients that can nurture her scalp back to soundness to stimulate hair re growth.

Question:
I've been taking HRT- Prempak-C -for ten years. In view of the recent research, I've decided to come off it. I tried just stopping taking it but have felt dreadful, with hot flushes after only a few weeks. Have you any advice to help me come off HRT?

Answer:
Firstly, it's vital that - unless you have a severe complication, which it doesn't sound as if you do - you come off HRT slowly, over several months. I do advise you to talk to your doctor about this.

Now a little about hormone replacement therapy in general... As women come to the end of their reproductive life, the activity in their ovaries declines because the eggs they are born with run our As this happens, the levels of the female hormone oestrogen drop. (There is always some oestrogen in the body because the ovaries go on producing a little; even if the ovaries are removed, the adrenal gland produces a hormone called androstenedione, which is converted to a form of oestrogen.)

HRT was developed in the 1940s as a method of replacing the lost oestrogen. In the mid-1970s, research confirmed that using oestrogen alone significantly increased the risk of cancer of the uterus (womb), so progestogen, a synthetic version of the other main reproductive hormone progesterone, was added to protect the womb. HRT was then relaunched as a 'wonder drug'. However, there was still very little hard scientific evidence to show either that HRT was safe or that it had the multiple benefits that were claimed. Since then many studies have confirmed that the risks outweigh the benefits in most cases.

A consensus statement put out by the Royal College of Physicians now says that the use of HRT in menopausal or postmenopausal women is controversial. They recommend that it should only be used for menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, in the lowest possible effective dose for the shortest possible time. This is because of the significantly increased risks of breast cancer, heart disease, strokes and blood clots in the leg or lung. In November last year, the European Expert Working Group, which consists of experts from 28 countries, agreed that doctors should not recommend it as the first line of treatment for osteoporosis.

The lack of oestrogen has a range of effects, including irregular periods, aches and pains, low blood pressure, poor circulation, dry skin and mouth insomnia, fatigue and low mood. If the ovaries release even a small amount of oestrogen, urgent messages are sent to the entire body that the missing hormone is on its way and all hell breaks loose: the woman's heart rate goes up, she starts to sweat, her face gets flushed, her body warms up and she feels agitated. Then, as soon as the body realises that it's only a tiny amount the symptoms subside.

Remember, menopause is a natural transition. It will come no matter what if you did not go through it naturally because you were taking HRT, you will go through it now. A good number of women don't, in fact, experience uncomfortable symptoms, but you want to be sure to avoid them if you can. The key is to keep your stress levels down.The less anxious you are and the more harmonious your life, physically, mentally and emotionally, the better your threshold of tolerance to symptoms. In many countries, women go through menopause without bother. If they do get symptoms, they accept them as part of this change.

Here are some simple tips

* Take regular exercise in the fresh air.
* Practise Yoga, particularly the cobra and semi-bridge poses.
* If you have hot flushes, do retention breathing the second you feel the tide rising. Breathe in through your nose to a slow count of three, hold the breath for three, then exhale slowly through your mouth to a count of six. Practise this twice a day for five minutes, so you can do it easily when the need arises.
* Eat fresh, wholesome food, preferably organic; avoid coffee, excess salt, spicy food and alcohol.
* Drink two litres of fresh, still water daily between meals.
* Take vitamin B complex,: one daily for two months.
* Take Shatavari: one twice daily for three months. This Ayurvedic supplement helps to balance hormones.
* Take Dong Quai: one daily for three months. This Chinese supplement helps alleviate hot flushes.
* Massage the neck and shoulders twice a week to improve blood flow to the brain; this will help sleep and improve hormonal balance. (There are full instructions on my website). Also have professional massages twice a month, if you can.

If you are living with the awful symptoms of PCOS then discovering techniques to cure this condition is essential which is where PCOS Natural Cures come in.

Natural remedies are the most effective ways to reverse PCOS because they treat the root cause of PCOS. natural cures also have a number of benefits compared to traditional ways of managing the condition.

Hormone Therapy - Some doctors get the wrong impression and believe that PCOS can be managed with hormone therapy. This is not only wrong but it also can destroy a woman's health! Hormone therapy basically tries to normalize hormone levels espeially estrogen because the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome are caused by unbalanced hormones. This is not as good as it sounds however as the hormonal imbalance is just a symptom of a deeper problem. Also, HRT has been known to increase risks of stroke, blood clots and breast cancer.

Drugs - Like hormone therapy other drug based solutions miss the point because they try to stop PCOS symptoms not the root cause of PCOS. Some drugs do recognize that the base problems need to be addressed but do not end the problem but instead only temporarily relieve the problem... this means it is STILL THERE! As soon as you stop taking the drugs the menstrual pain, infertility, hair, weight gain and all the other PCOS problems will return. Not to mentaion many women suffer terrible side effects when on certain drugs.

So what is the root cause of PCOS you are probably wondering and how do you fix it.

The answer is Insulin Resistance. This is a condition where insulin, which the body produces is used to take glucose in your blood stream to feed to the body for various functions - In this case only some insulin does its job. As such, the body makes massive amounts of insulin in the hopes that more insulin will equal more energy as a small percentage of a lot might be enough.

What this means is that your body is flooded with the hormone insulin

This is the start of serious hormone imbalance which results in fluctuations of estrogen, progesterone and other hormones which throws your body and menstrual systems in chaos and thus... PCOS happens.

So to fix PCOS you must cure insulin resistance which requires a combination of dietary changes, lifestyle changes and even changing the way you think which can bring your hormones back in line and cater for your insulin resistance so it does not happen again.

Cachexia is a wasting condition that may have terrible repercussions if not detected and treated early in its development. Cachexia is a deadly cocktail of involuntary rapid weight loss, muscle atrophy, fatigue, weakness and significant loss of appetite. Not quite a "permanent" medical condition, Cachexia is rather a very prominent sign of various underlying disorders that the person may be undergoing. Some known causes of this wasting condition includes: AIDS, cancer, tuberculosis, and a host of autoimmune disorders - one of which is severe rheumatoid arthritis. If not treated in its earliest stage, Cachexia will inevitably lead to a state of immobility, anemia and multiple organ failure due to malnutrition. This is often exhibited with patients who undergo full body wasting, wherein skeletal muscles are made useless resulting in muscle atrophy. Patients with severe conditions finally succumb to death.

Often, doctors detect this wasting condition in the end-stage of cancer; in which case, it is classified as cancer Cachexia. It is also prevalent in AIDS patients, especially those who do not have access to the AIDS triple therapy treatment. It can also be seen in other types of medical conditions like COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.

Fasting, to the point of being skeletal looking should not be mistaken as Cachexia. Fasting or excessive dieting is voluntary, with the person involved knowingly controls his calorie intake. This condition can easily be reversed or stopped by eating again. Cachexia, though, is involuntary. It is a classic sign of terminal illness, of which reversal or the outright stoppage of the condition cannot be solved by merely regaining the consumption of a balanced diet.

Many medical practitioners are now setting their sights unto non-conventional means to help slow down (and ultimately, reverse) the process of Cachexia. Although the primary concern would have to be the treatment of the actual underlying disease or medical condition, any aid to ease the suffering of the disease-stricken patient and aid in the said patient's recovery is more than welcomed. Human growth hormone treatment offers a way of building up or re-building muscles and bones. It is particularly helpful in the development of skeletal muscles: the one type of muscle group that Cachexia actually destroys.

Although human growth hormone treatment is not considered as the end-all medication for Cachexia, it offers patients the time and needed energy to regain a foothold on their strength by slowing down the wasting process. By re-introducing a healthy supply of growth hormones in the system, skeletal muscles are healed, rebuilt and strengthened, making mobility possible.

Also, this hormonal treatment helps burn more calories in the food intake by making the body speed up glucose utilization. In healthy bodies, the process of burning glucose in the body results to fat loss and added energy. Although severely afflicted patients usually have little body fat to start with, they can still benefit from the added energy that the hormonal treatment may give.

Midlife, Perimenopause, and Menopause

The transition from midlife to menopause is especially difficult for the migraine sufferer. No one knows for sure why migraines start to increase in frequency and severity as one approaches midlife. Perhaps it is simply due to increased stress and responsibility. Be sure to take time for yourself and take your own medical concerns seriously (meaning treat your condition according to whatever method you feel is right for you be that a western medicine approach, alternative therapies, or wellness - or any blend of the three.)

Perimenopause

Many women start to experience the transition towards menopause in their 40's. During this time periods become very unpredictable due to the fact that your hormone levels are dropping but are still prone to unpredictable surges. This can result in periods that last longer than usual (sometimes weeks or months) or periods that are simply skipped. Likewise, the erratic hormone fluctuation can also increase migraine frequency and severity.

Treating Hormone-Related Migraines

The safest approach is to use prescription medication to prevent migraines.(See Chapter 5 for a complete explanation of migraine medications.) Some studies have shown that calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, and anticonvulsants are not as effective at treating migraines brought on by fluctuating hormones. However the advantage of these particular drugs could be their relatively low side effects.

Hormone Replacement Therapy and Migraines

If you decide to pursue hormone replacement therapy to treat the symptoms of perimenopause (including migraines) know that this method can carry certain health risks (such as a potential increased risk of breast and uterine cancer) that should be discussed by your doctor. It is also useful to know that this therapy could aggravate migraines - progesterone is sometimes a migraine aggravator (but is needed in HRT to keep a healthy hormone balance and prevent the development of caner due to treatment.) In many cases there can be a delayed reaction of a few months before there is a noticeable increase in migraine frequency or severity. For this reason, it is not always immediately obvious that the medication is a problem.

If your course of hormone replacement therapy makes your migraines worse, be sure to notify your doctor as he or she may be able to give you a different estrogen preparation (different blends, or a transdermal estrogen patch) that you could react more favorably to. Also, some women report more success using hormone replacement therapies that they take daily (meaning, you may do better taking the pill daily and skipping the seven day break) - much like oral contraceptives, avoiding hormonal fluctuations appears to be key.

If you are using hormone replacement therapy to deal with other menopause-related issues such as osteoporosis know that there are nonhormonal treatments available such as Fosamax.

Female infertility is fairly common nowadays. There are many causes of female infertility which are quite easily diagnosed. With the correct diagnosis of female infertility, it can be tackled successfully. If you suspect that you have female infertility, the first step is to understand the various causes of female infertility, so that you can determine whether to seek the appropriate treatment. Most doctors will recommend that if you are under the age of 39 and you have been trying to get conceive unsuccessfully for a year, it is time to consult a medical doctor.

The Causes of Female Infertility

There are many factors that contribute to female infertility. One is hormonal disorder that can affect the ovulation process. If hormonal problems are the cause of female infertility, the treatment options include taking hormones orally. There are numerous test kits available that can detect hormonal problems, including the basal body temperature chart, an ovulation predictor test and blood tests that can measure the hormone levels at different times during the monthly cycle.

Another cause of infertility is due damaged or blocked fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes are the means through which an egg will descend from the ovaries to the uterus. If an egg cannot travel through the fallopian tubes, it will not be accessible by the sperms and hence, conception cannot take place. Infections, endometriosis and surgeries can cause damage to the fallopian tubes. This condition can usually be diagnosed with a variety of tools. Sometimes, surgery can remedy this situation. In other cases, the treatment may involve bypassing the fallopian tubes by extracting the egg directly from the ovary, fertilizing it in a lab and then transplanting it back into the uterus.

In rare cases, the cause of the female infertility cannot be determined. In such case, you and your doctor will need to decide on whether to proceed with any of the female infertility treatment options available. Failing everything, adoption will be the only means of having a child. However, with so many female infertility treatments available today, your chances of successfully conceiving a healthy baby are greater than ever before.

Common Female Infertility Treatments

New drugs are now available to enhance the success rate of many female infertility treatments. The potent combination of drugs, hormone therapy and various methods like artificial insemination are making conception much easier for many couples. The drugs are designed to induce the production of more eggs in the woman. Often, female infertility treatment drugs are used together with Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In vitro fertilization.

In Intrauterine insemination (IUI), the sperm is separated from the semen fluid. The sperm is then placed into the uterus by using a small plastic catheter. This female infertility treatment method is usually painless. It is almost always combined with the use of fertility drugs. These drugs will help the body to produce more healthy and strong eggs. This increases the chance of a successful conception. The correct timing is essential and careful monitoring is carried out so that ovulation occurs at the time of the IUI procedure. This treatment has a good success rate.

In Vitro Fertilization is another common female infertility treatment. In this female infertility treatment, fertilization occurs in a lab. This female infertility treatment entails the removal of mature eggs from the female and is fertilized with sperm collected from the male. The fertilized embryo is then placed back into the uterus of the mother. It is a popular form of female infertility treatment.

Endometrial Biopsy

When a woman is diagnosed with infertility, the doctor will usually perform a procedure called an endometrial biopsy.

An endometrial biopsy is basically gathering of a sample of the uterine lining. It is performed by inserting a catheter through the woman's cervix and into the uterus. The doctor will then test to see the response of the uterine lining to progesterone. Infertility can be caused by a hormonal imbalance, which is why endometrial biopsy and infertility go hand in hand. An endometrial biopsy is also performed to check for abnormal uterine bleeding, which is also a result hormone imbalance.

If you are advised to go for an endometrial biopsy, make sure to take ibuprofen before the procedure. It will help to alleviate some of the discomfort. Just remember that an endometrial biopsy is necessary to determine the cause of certain infertility situation and in some cases the infertility can be reversed.

If the endometrial biopsy detects that the infertility is caused by a hormonal imbalance, the doctor will usually prescribe progesterone to relieve the situation.

It's no secret that menopause means you will be experiencing lots of bodily changes. But what you may not have been expecting is for menopause to cost you your hair! It is true though, that most women will experience thinning hair during menopause. How much loss you experience and how long the loss lasts depends on a number of factors including genetic propensity, lifestyle, diet, and health.

Even though it is by no means rare for a menopausal woman to suffer from alopecia, many doctors don't seem to have a solution and can be unsympathetic. The condition is often overlooked as a normal part of the aging process. Sometimes, Rogaine is suggested; but while Rogaine has the potential to enhance existing hair it does not offer a real solution to the original and underlying cause of your hair loss. And it cannot prevent future thinning.

Finding The Cause

Alopecia can be caused by many conditions but most alopecia in women (and men) can be attributed to hormonal factors. It has become obvious that hair is very sensitive to large hormonal shifts. Think about getting on and off birth control, pregnancy, and yes, menopause. Changes in your body's levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone can and will likely affect hair growth. So much so that if a woman is experiencing a significant amount of loss, the first thing to consider is whether there has been any significant hormonal changes.

This is why doctors will say that it is "normal" for women to start thinning as they head into menopause. A better way to put it is that it is understandable that a menopausal woman experience hair shed. One great misconception about menopause is that the symptoms of menopause are always caused by an estrogen deficiency. The symptoms of perimenopause and menopause are caused by changes and fluctuations of hormones. When it comes to hormones, balance is key. Estrogen levels do fall as women head into menopause, but the hormone progesterone falls much more.

Hormonal imbalance is the primary cause of what is known as male pattern baldness when it occurs in women. This pattern of hair loss can be seen in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, sometimes after pregnancy, and when heading into menopause. The problem is exacerbated when some women have a genetic predisposition to male pattern loss. If all this information has gotten you down a bit, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. The good news is that most cases of male pattern loss do not result in complete baldness. There's more good news; hormonal alopecia in women can be treated. Women who are able to balance their hormones can stop the hair shed and restore a full head of hair.

Hormonal Imbalance & Estrogen Dominance

Have you ever wondered why some women who are going through menopause still have a full head of hair while others are so thin on top? A lot of it has to do with lifestyle and how that lifestyle affects our hormones. We've already established that large fluctuations and imbalances in hormones can cause balding. With that, I'd like to introduce the term 'estrogen dominance'. Estrogen dominance is the state where the level of estrogen in the body outweighs the level of progesterone in the body.

In the west, it is estimated that half the women over 35 are estrogen dominant. Progesterone is estrogen's antagonist. Estrogen, for example will stimulate cysts in the breast and progesterone protects against cysts in the breasts. Estrogen will cause you to retain salt and water and progesterone acts as a diuretic. Breast and endometrial cancers are thought to be estrogen dependent while progesterone protects against those types of cancers. Estrogen is not all bad, but progesterone needs to be available to work synchronously with estrogen. Both are necessary for the proper and normal functioning of the female body.

It is not simply the estrogen deficiency that causes many of the health problems prevalent in women; it is the dominance of estrogen compared with the amount of available progesterone. Estrogen declines gradually as we age, but there is a dramatic difference in the rate of decline of estrogen as compared with progesterone. From the ages of 35 to 50, there is a 75 percent reduction in the amount of progesterone produced by the body, while estrogen declines only 35 percent during this same time period. When women finally reach menopause, the amount of progesterone in the body is severely low, compared to the amount of estrogen (which, is still present at about one half of premenopausal levels).

The world's authority on natural hormone replacement therapy, Dr. John Lee, stated that in order for women to have optimum health, the ratio of progesterone to estrogen should be about 250 to 1.

Besides menopause there are a lot of ways women can become estrogen dominant. Anytime a woman is prescribed estrogen without progesterone, she can become estrogen dominant. Many hormone replacement programs put women on estrogens such as Premarin. Despite many years of research that shows that women receiving unopposed estrogen from a hormone replacement therapy program can increase a woman's risk of breast and endometrial cancers. Other sources of extra estrogen include:

• Xenoestrogens- these are estrogen-mimicking chemicals that are found in plastics, lotions, cosmetics, shampoos, hair products, room deodorizers, soaps, car exhaust, pesticides, nail polish, glues, dry cleaning chemicals, industrial waste, and fragrances. Xenoestrogens disrupt hormonal interactions in the body and act like estrogen.


• Dairy and animal products that have been supplemented with hormones


• A healthy liver helps to get rid of excess estrogen, but an overwhelmed liver will not be able to do this.


• An unhealthy gut will allow excess estrogens to be reabsorbed in the digestive tract.


• Birth control pills


• Obesity is another contributor. Fat cells can convert other hormones into estrogen.


• Stress can cause adrenal gland exhaustion, which will lead to reduced progesterone production.


• An unhealthy diet can cause estrogen dominance. Studies show that both estrogen and progesterone levels decreased in women who changed their diets to a low fat, high fiber diet- even if they did not lower their caloric intake. Plant foods contain compounds that act as progesterone to counter balance estrogen. Women who eat healthier will have less severe menopause symptoms because the level of hormones in their bodies does not change as significantly.


• Caffeine intake is linked to increased levels of estrogen.

You may be shocked at all of the external factors that can contribute to estrogen dominance. Almost all of us who live in the developed world are continuously exposed to estrogenic compounds.

How Estrogen Dominance Leads to Hair Loss

At this point you may be asking yourself, "How does estrogen dominance lead to hair loss?" Well, the estrogen dominant condition mimics the effects of hypothyroidism by interfering with thyroid hormones. Hair thinning is a well-known side effect of hypothyroidism. Hair loss is not the only hypothyroid mimicking symptom of estrogen dominance; other symptoms include water retention, dry skin, loss of memory, and some autoimmune disorders.

Estrogen increases Thyroid Binding Globulin in the blood, which stops thyroid activity. Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG) is a protein that carries thyroid hormones. Increasing levels of TBG reduces the amount of thyroid proteins available to bind to their receptors because they are being "bound" by TBG. This means less available thyroid proteins to regulate and maintain metabolism. What is particularly interesting is that if you are tested, blood thyroid levels will test normal or high because the problem is not the amount of thyroid hormones available in the body, it is that they are being bound by TBG.

Women who are estrogen dominant will require more thyroid hormone for normal function because of the high levels of estrogen compared to progesterone. Effectively, estrogen dominance causes a decrease in thyroid secretion and decreases sensitivity to thyroid hormones. This is what estrogen is meant to do. High levels of estrogen are meant to cause fat build up to prepare the body for pregnancy. The way that estrogen does this is by lowering your body's sensitivity to thyroid hormone.

Make Lifestyle Changes That Will Promote Hair Growth

If you think that estrogen dominance could be the cause of your hair loss you can start by talking to your health care provider about getting the following tests:

• Full hormone panel - look at levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone


• Thyroid


• Fasting Insulin


• Metabolic Panel - Liver function


• Ferritin - Iron deficiency


• Allergy

Once you have established that estrogen could be contributing to your thinning there are many things you can do to recover. No one knows the absolute cure for hair loss, at the same time menopause does not have to be a hair death sentence. If and when you begin to notice thinning hair please do not yet resign yourself to wigs, hair thickeners, and a lifetime of Rogaine- not just yet. You have many choices that really do work. Here is a piece of information that I would like for you remind yourself of when you begin to doubt- hair is amazingly adaptive and resilient. Most women notice huge improvement with just paying a bit of extra attention to nutrition, stress levels, and lifestyle. Here is what we recommend:

1. Diet is where you should start. Make sure that you are eating plenty of plant foods that will support your body, and give your hair the nutrients that it needs. Also, hair loss and stress can be caused and exacerbated by insufficient vitamins and minerals. Taking a multivitamin containing B vitamins (biotin, B6, and B12), zinc, selenium, and copper can help.

Studies show that diets high in fats and refined carbohydrates tend to increase estrogen levels. Women who eat wholesome meals and exercise frequently have a much lower incidence of menopausal symptoms. Foods that have high caffeine content are also linked with higher estrogen levels.

2. Balance your hormones. This can be really difficult and you may not know how to begin. An easy way is to get rid of items that may be introducing xenoestrogens into your body. You may also want to supplement with natural progesterone. The specific dosage will depend on how severe your condition is. Try to find a health care provider that has experience with natural hormone therapy. A look online can help you to find saliva tests, which can help you to determine your estrogen progesterone balance. A normal female body produces about 20 mg of progesterone daily. This is the amount of progesterone in natural cream form that is most often suggested. Again, it is recommended that you speak with a physician who has experience treating hormonal conditions with naturally derived hormone substitutes.

3. Maintain Ideal Body Weight. Remember that fat cells can increase estrogen production. Exercise has been shown to help balance hormones.

Despite what many conventional doctors may tell you, there is help for alopecia. You do not have to settle to "live with it." Start by taking a look at your hormonal health. This may leave clues as to what may be contributing to your hair loss (and other menopausal symptoms). Begin with making small changes; these can have a much larger impact on your hair and health than you expect.

It's big news when a favored medical treatment - HRT for menopausal women - is found to be harmful. But it's no news to those who have been blowing the whistle on both scientific and alternative treatments of menopause for nearly two decades. As recently quoted in Newsweek Magazine: "Menopause is not a 'pathology', but a passage to power. Like puberty, menopause is a natural - and healthy - change. Wise women the world over herald menopause as a health-promoting event. They see hot flashes as 'power surges' and menopause as an intense spiritual journey. Most treatments - including ERT, HRT, isoflavone, and progesterone creams - disrupt this process and can do severe damage to a woman's health."

MENOPAUSE IS ENLIGHTENMENT

The energy aspects of menopause are of special interest to me.

As a long-time student of yoga, I was struck by the many similarities between menopausal symptoms and the well-known esoteric goal of "awakening of the kundalini." Though the ideas presented in this section may seem strange or difficult to comprehend, they contain powerful messages about menopause, which lie at the heart of the Wise Woman approach.

Kundalini [is] the root [of] all spiritual experiences... Kundalini is a special kind of energy known in many cultures, including Tibetan, Indian, Sumerian, Chinese, Irish, Aztec, and Greek. Kundalini is said to be hot, fast, powerful, and large. It exists within the earth, within all life, and within each person. Psychoanalyst Carl G. Jung called kundalini anima. Kundalini is usually represented as a serpent coiled at the base of the spine, but women's mystery stories locate it in the uterus - or the area where the uterus was, if a hysterectomy has occurred. During both puberty and menopause, a woman's kundalini is difficult to control and may cause a great number of symptoms.

East Indian yogis spend lifetimes learning to activate, or wake up, their kundalini. This is also called "achieving enlightenment". When they succeed, a surge of super-heated energy goes up the spine, throughout the nerves, dilating blood vessels, and fueling itself with hormones. As kundalini continues to travel up the spine, it changes the functioning of the endocrine, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. Not just in yogis, but in any woman who allows herself to become aware of it. Menopause is a kind of enlightenment. Hot flashes are kundalini training sessions.

TAKING HORMONES? THESE HERBS ARE FOR YOU

More and more American women are using herbal remedies to help them with menopausal problems. Those who do take ERT (estrogen replacement) or HRT (hormone replacement) may be surprised to discover that herbal medicine has a lot to offer them as well.

Herbs for women on ERT/HRT include those that alleviate side-effects as well as those that counter problems caused by the hormones.

Herbal Helpers Counter Side-Effects

Water retention is the symptom most often cited for dissatisfaction with hormone replacement. Herbal tinctures and tea, such as dandelion or cleavers, and ordinary foods can not only relieve the distress, they will go to the root of the problem and help prevent recurrences.

Dandelion root tincture (Taraxacum officinale) strengthens the liver and helps it process out the excess hormones you are taking. When the liver works well, the kidneys work better, and tissues no longer bloat. A dose is 10-20 drops in several ounces of water or juice 2-3 three times a day. If you have any digestion problems, take your dandelion before meals; otherwise, anytime is fine. You can safely take dandelion daily for months or years if you need or want to.

Cleavers herb tincture (Galium molluga) tells the lymphatic tissues to get moving. Relief from edema is usually rapid when 20-30 drops are taken in several ounces of water or juice. Repeat up to six times at hourly intervals if needed. Cleavers is especially helpful for easing swollen, sore breasts.

Foods that relieve water retention include (in order of effectiveness): asparagus, nettles, corn (and corn silk tea), grapes, cucumbers, watermelon (and watermelon seed tea), parsley, celery, black tea, and green tea.

Headaches are the second most common side-effect of hormone use. Unfortunately, they are common among menopausal women not taking hormones, too. Herbs that help relieve headache without a drug-like action - such as dandelion, yellow dock, milk thistle, burdock, garden sage, skullcap, and St. John's/Joan's wort - are generally considered safe to take with hormones.

Chinese herbalists say headaches are caused by liver stress. My favorite liver-strengthening herbs are dandelion, yellow dock, milk thistle seed, and burdock. I use one at a time, a 15-25 drops of the tincture several times a day, for two weeks. If symptoms continue, I switch to a different herb.

A strong tea of garden sage leaves (Salvia officinalis) offers immediate relief from headaches and helps prevent future ones. It also reduces night sweats. Tinctures of skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and St. Joan's/John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) ease pain and relieve muscle spasms. Use 5-20 drops of skullcap and a dropperful of St.J's at the very first sign - no, the very first thought - of a headache. Repeat the doses every five minutes until pain free. Skullcap can be quite sedative, especially in large doses.

Herbal Allies to Prevent Problems Caused by Taking Hormones

Breast cancer risk is increased 20% in women who use ERT for five or more years. Use of HRT for five or more years increases breast cancer risk by 40%. Each five years of continued use increases the risk. In addition, women who take ERT are far more likely to get uterine or endometrial cancers. All women on hormones increase their risks of lung and ovarian cancer, too. Nourishing herbs such as red clover, and foods such as beans and yogurt, offer easy ways to stay cancer-free.

Red clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense), when dried and brewed into a strong infusion (one ounce herb steeped an a quart of boiling water for at least four hours) prevent cancer by providing phytoestrogens that counter the cancer-promoting effects of oral hormones. Usual dose is 2-4 cups a day. The infusion tastes like black tea and can be flavored with mint if you like.

Since uncooked beans and unfermented soy contain anti-nutritional factors that may promote bone loss and dementia, soy "milk" and tofu are not recommended. Miso and tamari definitely help to prevent breast cancer but soy isoflavones may promote it.

Yogurt helps build powerful immunity. Women who eat a quart of yogurt a week have 700% less cancer than women who eat no yogurt.

Dry eyes afflict more than 9% of women using ERT and over 7% of those on HRT. Risk increases by 70% for every year of continued use. And the longer a woman uses hormones, the greater her risk. Herbs such as oatstraw, chamomile, and chickweed can help relieve and prevent this problem.

Oatstraw infusion (Avena sativa) cools and moistens your eyes from the inside out, builds strong bones too. Use one ounce of dried herb in a quart jar; fill to the top with boiling water and cap tightly. Let steep four or more hours. Dose is 2-4 cups a day. Refrigerate after straining.

Cucumber slices ease dry eyes; so do chamomile tea bags.

The ultimate ally for women with dry eyes is fresh chickweed (Stellaria media), applied as a poultice to the closed eyes. Leave on for five minutes, or until the plant material feels warm (it will heat up). Repeat as needed.

Stroke and heart attack are actually increased by use of ERT/HRT, though modern medicine has long proclaimed the opposite. Every major double-blind study done to date has created a larger and larger gap between ERT/HRT's supposed ability to help cardiovascular health and its actual results. Protect your heart with nourishing and tonifying herbs and foods such as motherwort, hawthorn, and cherries.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) tincture helps the heart. The Japanese claim it is their secret of longevity. A dose is 5-15 drops, twice a day. Motherwort also relieves hot flashes, calms tachycardiia, and eases anxiety. It's an all-in-one remedy for menopausal women.

Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) flowers, leaves, and fruits are all used to maintain heart health and control fluid build-up in heart tissues. A dose is 20- 30 drops of tincture 2-4 times a day, or a cup of tea with meals. This widespread shrub is considered one of the finest heart tonics in the world.

Cherries are even better than apples at keeping the doctor away. Dried cherries and cherry juice, even tincture of cherries.

More than three-quarters of the women in America over the age of fifty have refused ERT/HRT. If you want to join them, taper off your dosage slowly, while continuing to use nourishing and tonifying herbs such as dandelion, motherwort, red clover, oatstraw, and seaweed.

THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF ESTROGENS

• Women make estrogens.



• Plants make estrogens and estrogen-like compounds.



• Chemicals, especially organochlorines, act like estrogens (xenoestrogens).

Pharmaceutical companies make estrogens from substances such as horse urine, wild yam roots, and petrochemicals. Tamoxifen, used to treat and prevent breast cancer, is a type of pharmaceutical estrogen.

Women make at least thirty types of estrogen, including estradiol, estrone, and estrace. Estradiol is the strongest; it is turned on at puberty and turned off at menopause. Estradiol is positively linked with breast cancer; other human estrogens are not. Anything that reduces the amount of estradiol a woman produces (such as pregnancy, lactation, early menopause, and late puberty) also decreases her risk of a breast cancer diagnosis.

Phytoestrogens counter the detrimental effects of estradiol by competing for the same receptor sites.

Estradiol is a strong estrogen and is metabolized by the long path. The other estrogens our bodies make are weak estrogens and are metabolized by the short path. Alcohol turns off the short path. Phytoestrogens are weak hormones and hormonal precursors. Phytoestrogens in foods are metabolized by the short path. Phytoestrogens appear to protect tissues from the cancer-causing effects of estradiol, xenoestrogens and pharmaceutical hormones. Phytoestrogens in foods prevent cancer and promote health; phytoestrogen supplements and processed soy fake-foods may do the opposite. Breast cancer occurs four times more often in women whose urinary output of phytoestrogen by-products is low compared to women whose urinary output is high.

Phytoestrogens are common in food. They are concentrated in seeds (grains, beans, nuts, berries) and roots. The exceptions to the rule that plants don't contain human hormones: French beans, rice, apple seeds, licorice, and pomegranate seeds contain the "weak" estrogen estrone.

To get the greatest benefit from phytoestrogenic foods and herbs remember:

1. Isolated phytoestrogens are not as safe as those "in matrix."



2. To make use of plant hormones, you need active, healthy gut flora.



3. Herbs and foods rich in phytoestrogens need to be used in different ways.



4. Phytoestrogens may have different effects on women who do not have their ovaries.

1. Plants contain many types of phytoestrogens; additionally, they contain minerals and other constituents which help our bodies modify the phytoestrogens and so we can use them safely. Red clover is mineral-rich and contains all four of the major types of phytoestrogens: lignans, coumestans, isoflavones, and resorcylic acid lactones. It is the world's best-known anti-cancer herb. In general, foods and herbs rich in phytoestrogens, with the possible exception of licorice, show anti-cancer abilities. Isoflavone, however, when isolated (usually from soy) has the opposite effect: in the lab it encourages the growth of breast cancer cells.

2. Plant hormones, including most phytoestrogens, can't be used by humans. But we can convert them into ones we can use - with the help of our gut bacteria. When women take antibiotics, their excretion of phytoestrogens plummets. Get your gut flora going by eating more yogurt, miso, unpasteurized sauerkraut, homemade beers and wines, picked-by-your-own-hands-and-unwashed fruits and salads, sourdough bread, and whey-fermented vegetables. (See Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon for whey-fermented vegetable recipes.)

3. Plants which are exceptionally rich in phytoestrogens are regarded as powerful herbal medicines. Plants which are good sources of phytoestrogens are regarded as foods. While food can certainly be our medicine - a practice I advocate - it is also true that medicines are more dangerous than foods. Foods rich in phytoestrogens are different than medicinal herbs rich in phytoestrogens. They have different places in my life.

• I eat phytoestrogenic foods daily in quantity.



• I use phytoestrogenic food-like herbs regularly (not daily), in moderate quantity.



• I take phytoestrogenic herbs rarely, in small amounts, for a limited time.

Phytoestrogenic foods are the basis for a healthy diet and a long life. The first food listed is the highest in phytoestrogens. The best diet contains not just one but many choices from each list:

• Whole grains (rye, oats, barley, millet, rice, wheat, corn)



• Edible seeds (buckwheat, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, amaranth, quinoa)



• Beans (yellow split peas, black turtle beans, baby limas, Anasazi beans, red kidney beans, red lentils, soy beans)



• Leafy greens and seaweed (parsley, nettle, kelp, cabbage, broccoli, kale, collards, lamb's quarter)



• Fruits (olives, cherries, grapes, apples, pears, peaches, plums, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, salmon berries, apricots, crab apples, quinces, rosehips, blueberries)



• Olive oil and seed oils. Garlic, onions and their relatives leeks, chives, scallions, ramps, shallot

Phytoestrogenic food-like herbs are generally considered longevity tonics. For optimum effect, use only one from the list below and to stick with it for at least three months.

• Citrus peel, dandelion leaves and/or roots, fenugreek seeds, flax seeds, green tea, hops, red clover, red wine.

Phytoestrogenic herbs are usually too powerful for long- term use. From the list below (which is in alphabetical order), it is safest to use only one herb at a time, and use it only when needed, although that may mean daily use for several months. More information about these herbs, including specific dosages and cautions, is in NEW Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way.

• Agave root, black cohosh root, black currant, black haw, chasteberries, cramp bark, dong quai root, devil's club root, false unicorn root, ginseng root, groundsel herb, licorice, liferoot herb, motherwort herb, peony root, raspberry leaves, rose family plants (most parts), sage leaves, sarsaparilla root, saw palmetto berried, wild yam root, yarrow blossoms.

4. Most of the warnings about phytoestrogenic herbs center on their proven ability to thicken the uterine wall in animals who have had their ovaries removed. This could encourage cancer, just as taking ERT encourages cancer of the uterus by stimulating cell growth. Women without ovaries are probably safe eating phytoestrogenic foods, but may want to use phytoestrogenic herbs - especially ginseng, dong quai, licorice, red clover, and wild yam - in small amounts and only for short periods.

NEWS NOTES ON PHYTOESTROGENIC PLANTS (UPDATED JUNE 2002)

• Recent studies indicate black cohosh does not suppress luteinizing hormone, has no estrogenic effect, and contains no compounds related to estrogen. Red clover flower heads contain many hormone-like flavonoids, including isoflavone, daidzein, genistein, formononetin, biochanin, sitosterol, and coumestrol, a particularly strong phytoestrogen (six times more active than the one in soy). Red clover contains all four major estrogenic isoflavones; soy has only two of them. A cup of red clover infusion (not tea) contains ten times more phytoestrogens than a cup of soy beverage, is richer in calcium, has less calories, and contains no added sugars.



• Researchers in Australia report a million lambs a year are aborted after sheep eat clover on pasture. Yet red clover is renowned as a fertility enhancer. What's up? Stephen Buhner, author of The Secret Language of Plants, says clover plants make blood-thinning compounds (which cause abortion) when overgrazed, but don't otherwise. Plants, it turns out, can fight back.



• When unfermented soy takes the place of animal protein (meat and milk), its anti-nutritional factors can create brittle bones, thyroid problems, memory loss, vision impairment, irregular heartbeat, depression, and vulnerability to infections. Unfermented soy is high in hemoglutin, which causes clumping of red blood cells and may increase risk of stroke. It is also impressively rich in aluminum (up to 100 times more than is found in the same amount of real milk). Eating tofu more than once a week doubled the risk of Alzheimer's in a small group of Japanese men studied for thirty years.



• Human gut bacteria can cleave a sugar molecule from wild yam's steroidal saponin, producing diosgenin. Labs make progesterone from diosgenin, but our bodies can't. Diosgenin itself has a weak estrogenic effect. According to Australian herbalist Ruth Trickey: "A more probable explanation [for the observed effects of wild yam]... is that [diosgenin] interacts with hypothalamic and pituitary hormones and... initiates ovulation."

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.