Friday, August 9, 2013

Melatonin Receptor-Based Antidepressant Therapy in USA?


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.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Why Choose Sermorelin Acetate Therapy?


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.

Hair Replacement For Women - Positive Effects of Hormone Therapy and Surgical Treatment


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.

The Best Way to Come Off HRT (Hormonal Replacement Therapy)


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.

A Natural PCOS Remedy - Can You Cure Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Naturally?


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.

Human Growth Hormone Helps Slow Down and Reverse the Process of Cachexia


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 and Menopause - What You Need to Know About Hormonal Migraines


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 and Infertility Treatment Options


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.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Menopause, Hair Loss, and Too Much Estrogen


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.

The Yoga of Menopause - Alternatives to Hormone Therapy


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.

Hormone Replacement Therapy - The Proven Successful Resource Managing Pre-Menopause!


Hormone Replacement Theory (HRT)

The use of artificial instigation of replacement hormones in the woman's body during pre-menopause is said to reduce the symptoms to a very good extent. The treatment is usually taken for one or two years is almost like a painkiller which gets rid of the menopausal symptoms like mood swings, sudden sweating at nights, unexpected weight gain, etc. which is caused by the hormonal changes. Apart from the reprieve from menopausal, HRT may also treat reduced energy and protect against osteoporosis after menopause. The appropriate mixtures of conjugated equine estrogens that are derived from the urine of pregnant horses are the most common prescribed form of HRT. All that said there is a lot of controversy over this treatment in itself.

The possible Risks

Though HRT might look very useful during pre-menopausal period, it comes along with a variety of risks. It can increase the risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. Certain other types of HRT have a higher risk and the risk could also vary from each woman's health history and lifestyle. Always getting help from the health care specialist is essential in this case as it would be helpful to discuss the benefits and risks involved specifically for you. Beyond all that, if hormonal therapy is still preferred it should be the lowest dose and should be consumed only for the shortest period. Taking it should be re-evaluated every six months. Also certain women face side-effects after getting treated with the therapy. Some of the most common side effects that women face are headache, stomach cramps, diarrhea, appetite and weight changes, nervousness, acne, swelling of the limbs due to fluid retention, etc. Natural ways like eating a good healthy diet and exercising well during that menopausal time should be followed by women compulsorily. Most often women tend to put on weight around that time to an unbelievable extent because of which the healthy diet and exercise is compromised. Making an effort to lead a good lifestyle is very important during pre-menopausal and also throughout one's life.

With proper medical guidance, making use of Hormone Replacement Therapy should assist women to lead a peaceful lovely life during that pre-menopausal period.

Reduce the Chances of Depression Strokes With Human Growth Hormone HGH Therapy


If you are worried about being alone in the misery of stress and depression, don't be! Statistics say there are around 20 million Americans feeling the same way you are. Having such great numbers makes depression the most serious among other brain diseases. Annually, billions of dollars are spent by mentally distressed people to get out of this state. Large majority of the US population suffers from depression in one way or the other. It is interesting to note here that people of all ages including teens, adults, and oldies are affected by this mental disease.

There are many reasons of depression; loss in life, illness, loneliness, heredity, work load, blood deficiency, and brain weakness are among a few. Depression, if left untreated can become a permanent condition, interrupting the joys of your life. This matter should be looked into with a serious thought, but the tragedy is that only a one third of people facing depression consider having proper treatment to get rid of it. The rest are feared from the social responses they'll get from friends, coworkers and family.

Among the many symptoms of depression, the gravest one is the thought of attempting suicide by the depressed. Therefore, if you are facing depression yourself, or any of your loved one is going through it, be sure to get it treated on-time! Sadness and despair affects all body parts. The heart, the immune system, the lungs, the digestive system, the sensory organs, and the brain; all are endangered.

The proven and affordable method for curing this disease is through the use of HGH. Human Growth Hormone is the leading hormone controlling and managing the activities of various secondary hormones and metabolism levels in body. Growth hormone is excreted from the pituitary gland placed below the human brain. The excretion heightens during the early morning before waking up. There is an obvious decline in HGH discharge from mid-age onwards. This is also the same age at which biological depression also starts to show in a person.

Dr Ronald Klatz explains the role of human growth hormone in depression and stress in his book "Grow Young with GH":"If HGH has a natural antidepressant effect on the brain, it could be a major reason that we are so optimistic and resilient when we are young. With the decline of GH that comes with age, we not only lose muscle, bone, thymus tissue, body water, and cell division, we lose our joy for life. But with a program of Human Growth Hormone stimulation, we can have it all back again."

Many other experts and physicians are of the view that HGH effectively reduces stress and improves builds self esteem in a person. The psychological and emotional benefits of treating depression with HGH dose include higher energy and capacity to work, greater emotional control, control of mood swings, and restrain anxiety and depression.

Old age comes more quickly when your hormones level drop down. Once the hormone level is low, your body and mind starts to weaken. This makes you feel grumpy, uptight, and anxious all the time with frequent depression attacks. Thus, replacing and raising your natural hormone (HGH) level is positive measure to control depression.

If you are serious about treating your depression condition with HGH therapy, consult our expert physician's advice at LA Health & Rejuvenation Center. Live life like you have never lived it before, and instantly start with your depression control treatment. We make you stay happy and appreciate the beautiful things in life. With our therapist's help, you can control depression and bring back the confidence in yourself and your life.

Comparison of Libido: Men Versus Women


Both men and women experience sexual urges. Libido or this urge which is sexual in nature is one of the major functions of the human body in general. Its functionality holds together the physical, mental, and emotional part of a human being. Despite this overall similarity, there are still notable differences in libido of men as compared to women. These differences will be further discussed.

Libido sex is also two contrasting yet similar concepts. These happen with the same shared contributing factors. They are both enhanced or lessened by psychological, physical, and medical causes to name a few.

Contributing Factors to Libido of Men and Women

The major contributing factor which places libido of men and women in the same platform is psychological contributors. Some of which include stress, anxiety, self image, fear, and history of abuse. In the same manner, the contributory factors which enhance libido of men and women are also the same. The aforementioned psychological causes of a lower libido of men as well as women can be counteracted by exercise, proper diet and nutrition, enough drink of water (or hydration), sufficient sleep or rest, and an overall healthy lifestyle.

What makes libido of men different from women are the physical and medical contributing factors.

Although aging as a physical cause of decreasing libido of men and women seems common to both sexes, how it affects sexual urges in each sex varies. Aging causes a decline in the production of testosterone or the male sexual hormone. Sexual appetite decreases as the number of testosterone present in the body becomes less.

Libido is improved when the production of the male sex hormone is encouraged. This can be done through various ways. The most common of which is the use of supplements. These are available in different forms such as injections, creams, and pills. Supplements libido replaces hormones which are lost during aging. These also encourage the production of the male sexual hormone in the body.

In women, aging brings about menopausal episodes. The most prominent effect of such episodes is hormonal imbalance. The disproportionate distribution of the number of different types of female hormones in the body affects overall libido. Sexual urge decreases. The ability to have orgasms and the so called staying power during intercourse is lessened. Vaginal dryness which makes sex uncomfortable and painful also occurs due to hormonal imbalance.

Hormonal Imbalance

Aside from menopause, hormonal imbalance in women also occurs during pregnancy and childbirth. An unhealthy lifestyle may also cause hormonal issues in women.

Hormonal replacement therapy is often prescribed to achieve a balanced level of female sexual hormones. Like men libido supplements, these are also available in pills, creams, and injections. Although there are side effects attached to hormone therapy, newer products made from updated studies can accomplish hormonal replacement without major side effects.

On the medical side, sexual disorders are experienced by both men and women. Some may suffer from an overly active sexual appetite while some have libido which is lesser than normal or may even have none altogether.

Libido between men and women enhancers can be used to improve a hypoactive sexual life. Supplements and natural methods can be utilized. Most supplements contain chemically prepared ingredients which help in promoting sex drive. Herbs may also be included in substances used for sex enhancer products.

For those who suffer hyperactivity in sex, medications are prescribed to lessen the self-destructing effects of an overactive libido. Naturally, exposing oneself to factors which cause a decrease in sexual drive may help. To conclude, the factors which cause libido of men and in women are the same. What enhances a low libido is the same for both sexes as well.

Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) For Men


Reversing the process of aging is almost impossible. However, with the advent of biotechnological advancement, hormone replacement therapy for a younger & healthier body helps improve life for men who're into their middle age and beyond.

Sexual hormones see a steady downfall with increase in age in incidence and quantity for both genders. So far, however, the reduction in sex hormones has been considered crucial only in women, making them resort to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) during their menopause, to help them alleviate drastic menopausal symptoms such as osteoporosis, hot flashes, etc.

In distinction, hormone-replacement therapy (MHRT) for men has rarely been approved for fit, elder men. Current proof advocates that men might be able to stay trimmer, well-built, more contented, and virile for a higher duration of time if they consumed supplements to compensate for the testosterone that is lost as a result of aging.

Testosterone-replacement therapy has been put to test in various groups, and its impact is very evident especially in an overall improvement in functionality and well being. There have been inadequate scientific research of its lasting effects and experts remain worried that hormone supplements might increase the threat of the onset of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The consumption of testosterone by aging men, better perceived as male hormone replacement therapy and more specifically, androgen replacement therapy, has captured the interest of the medical community as well as lay people for the past ten years or more. Although information of the probable advantages and threats of male Androgen Replacement Therapy is greater than before, there is still a good deal that needs to be found out. Though there are a considerable amount of possible benefits of male Androgen Replacement  and statistics regarding the irrefutable impacts of such substitution have built up, but so far there have not been any large scale trials of this therapy.

Being the chief masculinizing hormone (androgen), testosterone stimulates bone and muscle growth and promotes development of male genitalia.

During the onset of puberty in young males, responding to an indicator from the hypothalamus in the brain, the pituitary gland induces specific cells in the testicles to augment the amount of testosterone production in the body. This hormonal rush brings about sex drive and sperm production, induces acne, facial and pubic hair, and cracks the voice. Testosterone is produced women as well but not to the extent to which it is produced in men.

In grown up men, the testicles create about seven milligrams of testosterone on a day to day basis, with production normally being elevated in the early morning than at other time of the day.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Success with Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer


Hormone therapy is known as one of the treatments for prostate cancer. We have heard success stories with hormone therapy for prostate cancer patients from Internet and medical publications. Here we discuss why hormone therapy can be applied to treat prostate cancer. The prostrate gland is found near the base of the urethra.

This is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out through the penis. The front end of the prostrate gland surrounds the urethra and the rear part of the gland presses against the rectum. The prostrate gland is found in the males and is susceptible to tumor growths. These tumors can be benign or malignant. Malignant means that the tumor is cancerous and life threatening.

Faulty Genes Put Right With Hormones

Having a cancerous prostrate tumor is no cause for alarm because if the tumor is diagnosed well in advance, for which there are many symptoms the layman can understand, the prostrate gland can be surgically removed along with the tumor. Thus, one can prevent the spread of the tumor to other parts of the body through the blood and lymphatic system.

It is very rare to find a patient under fifty to have prostrate cancer. The patient can become weary of a tumor on the prostrate gland if he finds the following symptoms: dribbling before or after urinating, feeling that the urinary bladder is never empty completely, discomfort or pain while urinating and passing of blood sometimes while urinating, false calls or frequently wanting to urinate without actually urinating.

Getting Rid Of the Gland

Apart from having the prostrate removed surgically, there are some hormone treatments for prostrate cancer as well. Some of these hormone treatments have known to have produced dramatic results. But, then it is the stage of the disease as well as the age of the person who is treated that also counts.

Doctors all over the world have known for a long time now that cancer can be treated with hormones as prostrate cancer has been known to be hormone or gene related. For instance, men who have had prostrate cancer in the family are more likely to contract the disease that men who have no family history of prostrate cancer.

Even men with the history of breast cancer in the family run the risk of developing prostrate cancer. This led to research on treating cancer with hormones. Research has shown that men live longer with prostrate cancer if it is treated with hormone therapy along with radiation treatment.

The standard hormone treatment is for three years but in many cases dramatic results have come about within six months of the treatment. Researchers from Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital discovered that men treated with six months of androgen suppression therapy in addition to radiation improved faster and better than men treated with only radiation.

Type 2 Diabetes - Measuring Insulin Resistance After Menopause


After menopause women have an increased risk for insulin resistance, the hallmark of Type 2 diabetes. As estrogen levels decrease, there is a tendency to develop fat deposits at the waist, the so-called "middle-age spread". Belly fat is dangerous because it releases hormones that can cause insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is also associated with breast cancer and heart and blood vessel disease; so diagnosing it early can help to prevent serious consequences.

Researchers at the Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Coimbatore, India, looked at skin temperature as a possible way to find insulin resistance in women after menopause. Their study, reported on in December 2012 in the Journal of Clinical Diagnostic Research, included 25 women who had been through menopause.

Fifteen of the women were diagnosed with insulin resistance according to their blood sugar and blood insulin levels. Their degree of insulin resistance and skin temperatures were compared with those of premenopausal women. Postmenopausal women had significantly cooler skin than premenopausal women, and the amount of insulin resistance seen correlated with coolness of their skin.

Measuring skin temperatures could some day be a painless, inexpensive way to discover insulin resistance in postmenopausal women. For the time being, blood sugar levels are part of the routine laboratory values used to diagnose Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, and should be discussed with your doctor.

If lack of estrogen is causing central obesity, hormone replacement therapy can be considered. The therapy is no longer recommended for permanent treatment because of the danger of heart disease, blood clots, strokes, and breast cancer, but it has been shown to be effective in the early years after menopause. Some studies have shown it to be helpful against:


  • belly fat,

  • heart attacks,

  • thinning of bones (osteoporosis),

  • depression, and

  • strokes

in the first ten years after the last menstrual period.

Estrogen, often balanced with progesterone, another female hormone, can be taken as a pill, skin patch, gel, cream, or spray. (Local preparations applied to the vagina are used only for vaginal discomfort). When it is taken in pill form, hormone replacement therapy goes from the stomach to the liver, causing the liver to make more fat and clotting factors. When the medication is delivered through the skin the liver is less strongly affected.

Another, and excellent, way of getting rid of belly fat is by aerobic exercise. Try going for a walk each day. Walk briskly enough to make your heart and breathing speed up. Walking can make your bones, muscles, brain, and heart stronger too, so go for it.

Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy - Does it Really Work?


I know, the title sounds a little scary right? It's like imagining a team of medical doctors surrounding you as you lie on a table and they are performing natural hormone replacement therapy. They start to stick tubes in your body and then give you estrogen that comes from the lab. It kinda sounds like a movie from "Frankenstein", but in actuality, this is the best way I could describe hormone replacement therapy.

If that made you feel a little eery, then you should be happy that I have good news for you. There are other replacement therapies that are much safer and no hassle is needed. Also, herbal supplements are becoming the more favorable option for people who are uncomfortable with lab grown hormones being inserted in their bodies.

The soy seed is among the more essential natural supplements. This ingredient contains naturally occurring plant estrogen that can be described loosely as "weaker forms of female estrogen". It addresses estrogen imbalance by attaching these plant estrogens to the body's estrogen receptor sites. Surprisingly, these phytoestrogens can both increase and reduce the levels of estrogen in women. If a woman is in the perimenopausal stage, where there is a surplus of hormones, the soy seed decreases estrogen. In postmenopausal women, it increases them.

It is important to realize that what is being treated is not really the estrogen levels in the woman's body, but the accompanying symptoms that comes from it. I suggest using herbal supplements and not natural hormone replacement therapy because it is safer.

Everything You Want to Know About Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy


Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can be used to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of menopause. If you are suffering from moderate to severe menopausal issues, then bioidentical hormones may be for you. Information on the procedure and its benefits can be found below in order to help you make the decision that is right for you.

What is it?

Menopause symptoms are generally caused by the sudden disturbance in hormone levels that occurs in the body during this time. By restoring balance to these levels, and replacing diminishing levels of one hormone or the other, you can stop the symptoms or at least drastically reduce them. That is where bioidentical hormones come in.

During bioidentical hormone therapy, a saliva test is done on the patient to assess various hormone levels and see where balance can be restored. Over the years, every woman's hormone levels diminish in a unique way. This is one of the only treatments for menopause that allows for customized dosages that are tailored to meet the needs of each woman.

Bioidentical hormones are formed from parts of different plants and animals, which are then altered to have the identical chemical makeup of the hormones that are found naturally within your body. For women, the most common are estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and estriol.

The Advantages

There are a wide variety of benefits to using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in order to restore balance to the body. Besides the obvious fact that it can reduce and even eliminate your menopause symptoms, it also is able to reduce some forms of cancer through the addition of estriol.

Bioidentical hormone therapy is generally administered by a topical method such as injections and creams, and this can cut down by liver damaged that is caused by the hormone replacement pills used in other methods. The mixture of hormones that is administered is customized exclusively for each person, which makes it much more effective than other methods as well.

If you are a woman who has been suffering with painful or embarrassing menopause symptoms, then stop being a victim today. Bioidentical hormones can help to restore balance to your body's hormone levels, and alleviate the symptoms that are associated with this condition.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy - What is It?


One alternative to the sometimes harmful synthetic hormones is the use of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). These are much more effective due to the exact match of the hormones naturally produced by the body. Bioidentical hormone therapy has afforded a near identical match to the natural hormone with the use of a soy and wild yam base. Unlike (BHRT), synthetic hormones are foreign to the body and in turn cause a palette of potential adverse reactions.

The human body produces hormones through body cells. These hormones target a destination and travel through the bloodstream carrying important messages to and from cells throughout the body.

Testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen deficiencies are common in women both before and during menopause, or if they have had their ovaries removed. Mood-swings, vaginal dryness, headaches, achy joints, and sleep disturbances are typical symptoms involved with a lack of hormone production. BHRT is referred to as a successful form of treatment used to rid women of these symptoms.

Andropause, the male version of menopause, usually affects men during their aging process. Hormones production is slowed during this time and a testosterone deficiency is a common occurrence. Low levels of testosterone (in men) are usually the cause of a reduction in bone density, muscle mass, and sex drive, along with irritability, insulin resistance, and depressed feelings.

Bioidentical hormones can be applied as topical creams, or orally/sublingually taken in a pill form. It usually depends on what form of treatment the patient prefers. The cream is a slower-absorbing form of therapy, while the other forms are quickly absorbed.

Disease prevention is the target goal of using bioidentical hormones. If left untreated or improperly managed, severe symptoms and conditions may develop. It is important to gain control of hormone regulating to successfully combat and prevent disease and illness. Prompt management helps prevent the development long-term conditions and life altering symptoms. The result of treatment is a substantial improvement in health and an improved quality of life.

Researchers have provided an extensive amount of information on the different affects of BHRT on the human body. There have been many positive results, but they have also found connections of this treatment with an elevated risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer. This has causes debate between health professionals for many years, which is why only some of them offer this form of treatment.

Hormone deficiencies affect many people and can go unrecognized for a long time. Hormone imbalances that are left undiagnosed and untreated can cause many serious complications for the person with the condition. It is important to seek professional advice from an endocrinologist or an internal medicine doctor if symptoms of hormone loss develop. These doctors have more in-depth experience in dealing with hormonal issues than family doctors, and are capable of providing a quick diagnosis with simple blood tests. Many doctors offer BHRT, but there are a large percentage of them that are against it due to the different risks that are involved with their usage.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Current Treatments For Depression - Hormone Therapy, Happy Pacemaker, Magnetic Healing


Depression is a major mental disorder but is treatable. There are various depression treatments and some are in experimental stage. Some of the effective current treatments for depression include hormone therapy, "happy" pacemaker and magnetic healing.

Scientists have spent years to find the best treatment for depression. Ultimately they now know about serotonin and its effect on the brain. It is finally proven that the major imbalance in this hormone may be the prime cause of depression in men and women.

They are of opinion that hormones have great effects on our brain and mood because they act as stimulants for us. For example the female hormone estrogen is more powerful than any drug stimulant.

Hormones provide a strong cooling and sleepy effect on the mind of the patients of depression. It makes one feel better. An irritated and aggressive patient might get cool with the administration of a mild dose of hormone. There are reports that women suffering from depression have shown significant improvements with the application of mild hormone. Earlier they were declared untreatable.

Before hormone treatment for depression one should consult a neuroendocrinologist to get a hormone profile. knowing the level of estrogen and progesterone in the beginning and at the end of the month. Accordingly hormone is administered to reduce he severity of depression. The use of get happy pacemakers is also getting popular for the treatment of depression. The principle of get of happy pacemaker is based on vagal nerve. This nerve connects the brain with heart, lungs and stomach.

This nerve is mainly responsible for carrying information from the central nervous system to the other parts of the body. Nowadays a small pace maker is being implanted in the vagal nerves to help stop the seizures in the sufferers. But it shows some other critical functions. It makes the patient's mood "happy". It is unclear how it works.

Doctors are of opinion that it affects two chemical substances serotin and norepineephrine. These chemicals are associated with mood. With the implantation of the pacemaker a patient shows improvements to some extent. Forty percent of patient with pacemakers show diminished depression. The depression level is tested by verbal test. Patients themselves accept improvements.

Magnetic stimulation is also a remarkable treatment for depression. it targets brain structures that responsible for the depression in human beings. Studies have also indicated that the magnetic stimulation given to the brain for at least two weeks at a stretch provide relief to the patients suffering from depression. It reduces the severity of depression up to 30 percent.

Nowadays various clinics and hospitals are providing this treatment to the patients with considerable success. Very soon it would be a very common treatment for depression. In addition to it more researches are being done on the current treatments for depression.

The Dangers of Hormone Therapy


For many years, Hormone therapy has been used to ease the symptoms of menopause. However, it has also been widely prescribed for preventative purposes in the belief that it would help protect women against future heart disease, weak bones and dementia. In July 2002, the women's health initiative (WHI) ended its research on combinations of estrogen and progestin therapy after it showed that women who underwent this treatment would have a substantially increased risk of breast cancer, heart attacks and stroke. In 2004, the WHI also halted a portion of the study for estrogen only therapy. This was done after finding that the hormone did not offer any protection against heart disease, but instead increased the risk of stroke and blood clots.

A recent survey has shown that most women are not aware of the research that was carried out that the WHI, or the disturbing information that it contained. Although the number of prescriptions had initially declined by 38% in 2003 and 2004, it had increased again and has almost reached previous levels. Drug companies claim that these hormone therapies are safer than the previous versions and doctors continue to prescribe it.

How well do our doctors actually understand the dangers of prescribing hormone therapies? Can we as patients truly trust that they know what they are doing? For years, doctors told menopausal woman that taking a pill made from extracts of horse urine would help prevent hot flashes, heart disease and osteoporosis. More than that, it would greatly extend a woman's youthful years. What was found however is that all that the pill did was to prevent hot flashes. There was no other benefit. This was known for many years. However, aggressive marketing had convinced women and their doctors that this was still the best way to go.

This leads to serious questions that have to be asked. How many of these treatments are actually effective in replacing hormones where the body's natural hormones are deficient. What is the difference between synthetic hormones, plant hormones and hormones that derived from horse urine? Surely there has to be a danger of taking hormones from an animal and transplanting them into a human being. If compatibility is not an issue, what other dangers do they pose? More importantly, how do injecting extra hormones impact on the functionality of our glands and the hormones that they produce?

The Negative Inhibitory Feedback Loop (NIFBL) is a system that controls hormone levels in the body. For example, when the brain detects that the sugar levels are too high, Insulin is produced to process the sugars. When sugar levels drop below a certain level, insulin production is stopped which allows sugar levels to rise again, and so the cycle continues. How does the NIFBL perform this function, and how does hormone replacement treatment affect the NIFBL? Understanding how the endocrinal system works and how hormones are regulated is imperative if we are going to avoid the high risk of serious danger posed by hormone replacement therapies. It is always best to find information that is easy to understand and logical as well as to discuss with your medical practitioner before embarking on any therapies.

Is There Successful Treatment of Endometriosis With Acupuncture?


Endometriosis is a medical condition in which tissue that typically lines the uterus grows elsewhere such as around the ovaries, bowel, or around the pelvis. In rare cases, endometrial tissue may grow outside of the pelvic region. The condition can be very painful. The main symptom is pelvic pain during the menstrual period. Pain during intercourse may be present, as well as during bowel movements or even during urination. Other signs of this condition include excessive bleeding and infertility. Many turn to medical procedures and treatments such as hormone therapy or surgery to treat this condition, although some find pain relief through acupuncture.

Many women with endometriosis who desire to become pregnant but experience infertility as a result of the condition turn to acupuncture instead of certain medicine treatments and surgeries. Medications to treat the condition may affect the ovaries, and while surgery may remove endometrial tissue, it may recur in the future. Acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments may be helpful in relieving this condition. One study published in late 2002 in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine notes that of 67 women with painful periods due to endometriosis, half were given ear acupuncture as treatment, and 81% noted less painful periods following treatment.

So why does acupuncture work? Experts do not fully understand why acupuncture is successful, but some speculate that it could have something to do with the promotion of blood circulation as well as the regulation of the endocrine system, which involves hormones. Many couples have found success through acupuncture, and hearing success stories of others may inspire some couples or individuals to give acupuncture a try to overcome infertility or endometriosis, or both.

One woman, whose story is relayed at Endo-Resolved.com, notes her success through acupuncture after four laparoscopic surgeries over a four year period. "He's been treating me for the Endometriosis for a little over 3 months and I am completely pain free! This September will be one year since my last surgery and I am going to celebrate! It's such a relief to be out of the constant pain, but even more of a relief because I'm able to move on with my life."

One activity that some recommend is speaking with others who have been through, or are going through, the same thing as you to exchange stories, tips, and support. Relieving stress can be helpful when trying to become pregnant, and can even help to promote overall well-being. This is a good way to get rid of a little stress.

Breast Enlargement Hormones


Hormones are a great proven way for women to cause their breasts to enlarge. Hormones can be reacted in a similar way to how women grow their breasts in puberty and pregnancy to cause them to enlarge.

There are four main hormones that are great breast enlargement hormones. They are estrogen, progesterone, the growth hormone and prolactin. Increasing your levels of estrogen is the first step because it is the most effective hormone in breast development. Estrogen also causes your testosterone level to lower which is not only another positive for breast growth it also causes you to gain a more feminine figure.

Another great breast enlargement hormone is progesterone. Progesterone is a great hormone in particular for men who are going through a sex change to grow breasts. It also works in promoting breast growth for women too and has many great properties.

The growth hormone is also involved in breast development. The growth hormone is made in great amounts by females during puberty and assists with the growth of the entire body, including the breasts. Using this hormone to get bigger breasts is very effective and can cause you to have large perky breasts.

Prolactin is another breast enlargement hormone which is naturally produced by teenage women during puberty. This hormones job is to help the development of the mammary glands and to increase fat storage in the breasts.

The most common forms of available hormone treatment with these types of hormones that are designed to increase the breast size are used in breast enlargement pills and creams. The creams and pills cause the hormones to react making your breasts bigger and firmer. These pills and creams can be bought online on certain websites. Although it is a good idea when buying these breast enhancing products that you shop around and read reviews so you can see what will suit your needs best. Results using hormones can vary from woman to woman but results generally tend to show around the first month of using breast enlargement hormones.

There are many Hormone therapy's available and they are used simply to enact breast growth. Hormones will generally work to increase breast tissue, but it is advised to consult your doctor as there are health risks to using breast enlargement hormones. They can cause a variety of significant health issues including organ failure. If used safely they are a great alternative to having breast enlargement surgery.

Signs of Perimenopause - Menopause and Treatment Options


Perimenopause is a period of 2 to 10 years before Menopause actually sets in. Menopause is said to have begun if you miss your period for a full year or more straight.

Perimenopause and menopause are inevitable parts of a life if you are a woman. It doesn't have to be as dreadful as some have made it out to be. All women go through them but not all of them will have the same symptoms and neither will the intensity of the symptoms be the same. As one woman, your symptoms can vary from month to month and in intensity.

Signs of Perimenopause - Menopause

Weight gain could indicate early menopause and can occur for two reasons. One reason is due to an increased appetite and a decrease in exercising. The second reason could be due to the body's retention of water.

Mood swings can be associated with the fluctuating hormone levels which can be very erratic in many women. Depression, anxiety, and irritability may accompany mood swings.

Fibroid cysts in the breast and/or uterus may form. These are benign growths that can be surgically removed. They are not life threatening but could cause some discomfort. In the uterus, they may reduce your chances of becoming pregnant. Vaginal dryness and a less intense libido may also be signs of Perimenopause, menopause.

Hot flashes and night sweats are very common signs of perimenopause, menopause. Night sweats are hot flashes that occur at night. Many complain that the night sweats wake them up and their night clothes and bedding will be damp or wet. After they cool down and get back into bed, the bed may feel very cold because of the dampness. This could be avoided if the damp bedding were changed. A nice, dry bed is so comforting.

Insomnia or sleeplessness is another reported problem. You might have trouble getting to sleep or you may have trouble staying asleep. You might not be able to sleep long enough to be rested. Sleep problems could lead to fatigue/exhaustion.

Treatment Options

Option 1 - Pharmaceuticals can include over the counter medications and supplements as well as prescribed medications. There are two prescribed medications that are in common use: HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy where the depleting levels of estrogen and progesterone are kept at a stable level. This is to hopefully relieve symptoms for many women. Anti-depressants are often prescribed to help relieve the depression many women feel during perimenopause and menopause. Unfortunately, there are some very serious side effects and these include ovarian, breast, and uterine cancers. This is why many women search for more natural and safer treatments.

Option 2 - Natural treatments particularly herbal supplements are much safer and have far fewer if any side effects. It is strongly recommended that you discuss adding herbal supplements to your regimen because some of the herbs can affect the performance of any medication you may be taking for other health conditions. Your doctor should be a good source of information.

Herbal supplements are not standardized as most known medications are by the FDA. This leaves room for the manufacturers to put as little or as much herbal contents that they want in their supplements. Some companies have gone so far as to list ingredients that are not in the supplement at all.

Many manufactures though are working to create the most effective, safe, and high quality herbal supplements they can make. There are a few things to note that will help you choose a high quality supplement. They use only standardized herbal extracts because this helps to ensure that the same amount of product is in each capsule and from bottle to bottle.

Standardized herbal extracts is also where the most active ingredients of the herbs are found. The ingredients are extensively tested. The metabolic pathway of the ingredients is studied at the molecular level and how the ingredients' interact is observed.
High quality herbal supplements are made to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. All of this guarantees you that what is on the product label is actually in the supplement and that you have a safe, potent, effective product.

Option 3 - Lifestyle changes, just basic ones could help your body work at relieving your menopausal symptoms. Reducing the amount of alcohol that you drink may help to relieve hot flashes or night sweats. Alcohol makes you feel warm and make your skin appear flushed, most likely worsening the symptoms of hot flashes/night sweats.

Quit smoking! Smokers have problems with lung function due to the inhaled smoke blocking oxygen production. If you are a smoker, you could have far less stamina (endurance) for physical activity. As your heart and lungs work harder to give you as much oxygen as possible, you become winded and that's why you may huff and puff after physical activity.

A healthy diet and getting regular exercise will not only help to build your stamina, help you to lose weight, and benefit your over all health; they can also help to boost your libido. Your body will work more efficiently as well.

Conclusion

The signs of perimenopause, menopause includes hot flashes/night sweats, mood swings, and Depression to name but a few. These symptoms will be experienced by every woman to a greater or lesser degree. Each woman will have the symptoms affect her differently from month to month.

The good news is that there is a variety of treatments available that help to relieve or get rid of the most bothersome symptoms. Hormone Therapy Replacement and other medications are very effective but have serious side effects. Herbal supplements are available that are specifically made to deal with menopausal symptoms. Your pharmacist, doctor, or a Naturalist Pharmacist can help direct you to the best quality supplements available. There is relief and it has much fewer, if any side effects. They may also benefit your over-all health.