Hormone Balancing for Women Dr. Melanie MacIver, ND

Topics  About hormones  Benefits of balanced hormones  Causes of hormone imbalance  Bio-identical hormones  Lifestyle and nutrition tips for balance  Hormone health quiz  Q and A

About Hormones  Chemical messengers in the blood responsible for metabolism, energy, reproduction, growth, mood, hunger, immunity and more  Intricate web of communication between every hormones and the nervous system, and all actions of the body  Production begins to decrease in middle age and continues in a linear fashion until old age

Benefits of Balanced Hormones

Balanced Hormones  Wake up feeling rested  Energy all day  Clear skin and full hair  Ideal weight  Healthy sex drive  Regular cycles for women  Good cognitive function  Balanced cholesterol  Good immune system and healing capacity

Signs of Hormone Imbalance  Inflammation  Sleep disturbances  Allergies  Water retention  Infertility  Hair loss  Miscarriages  Irregular menses  Abdominal fat  Anxiety  Depression  High cholesterol  Osteoporosis  Low sex drive  Hot flashes  PMS  Blood sugar issues  Concentration difficulties

Causes of Hormone Imbalance

How Did My Hormones Become Imbalanced?  Imbalance is on the rise  The hormonal (endocrine) system is especially sensitive to the problems of today’s lifestyle  Toxic environment  High stress lifestyle

Toxic Environment  Dead and chemical foods hard to process  Numerous additives, preservatives, colourings, and flavourings in food  Heavy metals from environment block hormone making enzymes  Estrogen mimicking plastics and pesticides bind strongly to estrogen receptors

High Stress Lifestyle  Stress is necessary to push us to perform. The problem is when stress is too high, prolonged or accumulates  The stress hormone cortisol has significant effects on other hormone systems  When excess cortisol is produced less female hormones are made (especially after menopause), less thyroid converted and more food is stored as fat

Menopause and Stress  Adrenal gland makes cortisol and estrogen after menopause  Excess stress= excess cortisol produced so not enough estrogen  Body ‘steals’ progesterone precursor to make cortisol, so not enough progesterone  DHEA production inverse to cortisol, so not enough DHEA

More Causes of Imbalance  Artificial lighting  Lack of mineral cofactors from food  Less restorative sleep/ shift work  Medications including hormones, prednisone, long term antibiotic use  Lack of exercise

Bio-identical Hormones

 Synthesized hormones identical to those our body produces  Another tool in the naturopathic tool belt  Help many women reduce hormonal symptoms  Work nicely with herbal medicine  Thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, cortisol and testosterone can be prescribed  Customized for each individual patient  Important to receive comprehensive testing and risk assessment before beginning

Hormone Balancing Tips

Lifestyle and Nutrition Tips  Sleep  Support circadian rhythm and follow a routine  Liver and digestive support  Stress reduction  Exercise

Good Sleep is Healing  Good sleep necessary to heal and detox  Sleep until 9 am if possible (cortisol)  Sleepy herbs and calming amino acids if necessary

Support Circadian Rhythm  Adrenals especially involved, and cortisol/ melatonin hormones  Go outside in the daytime  Sleep in a totally dark room  Support melatonin production and consider a supplement if shift work history  Follow a regular routine for meals and sleep

Liver and Digestive Support  Take herbs to support your liver (milk thistle, rosemary, schizandra)  Eat freshly ground flax seeds 5 x week  Eat organic dairy and meat  Include enough good fats, protein, and mineral cofactors in diet, or supplement  Consider a probiotic  Cleanse it out!

Stress Management  Reduce if possible!  Nervous system tonic or Reba emotional homeopathics  Exercise, yoga, meditation  Eat breakfast

Are Your Hormones Balanced?  Hormone questionnaire  24 hr urine test  Blood work or saliva testing

Our Hormone Balancing Programs  Unique integrated one year programs  ND partnered with MD  Regular and Unlimited visits programs  Includes initial assessment, 24 hr urine hormone test, any indicated conventional blood testing, test results follow up, and four additional follow ups that year

Hormone Health Quiz

Progesterone Deficiency  PMS  Painful and/or lumpy breasts  Insomnia  Early miscarriage  Unexplained weight gain  Cyclical headaches  Anxiety  Infertility  Water retention

Estrogen Deficiency  Vaginal dryness  Night sweats  Painful intercourse  Memory problems  Bladder infections  Lethargic depression  Hot flashes

Excess Estrogen  Puffiness and bloating  Abnormal pap smear  Rapid weight gain  Breast tenderness  Mood swings  Heavy bleeding  Anxious depression  Migraine headaches  Insomnia  Foggy thinking  Red flush on face  Gallbladder problems  Weepines

Excess Androgens  Acne  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)  Excessive hair on the face and arms  Hypoglycemia and/or unstable blood sugar  Thinning hair on the head  Infertility  Ovarian cysts  Mid-cycle pain

Cortisol Deficiency  Debilitating fatigue  Unstable blood sugar  Foggy thinking  Low blood pressure  Thin and/or dry skin  Intolerance to exercise  Brown spots on face  Frequent infections

Questions?