Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men and
Women
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WHAT ARE
HORMONES?
Hormones are messengers that coordinate the various biochemical activities
that occur in all the cells of our bodies. They help each cell function properly.
Without adequate hormones the cells are not healthy, thus the organs are not
healthy. The bottom line is that you will not feel very well. Hormones are
vital to staying active for life! Top
NATURAL HORMONE
REPLACEMENT THERAPY (NHRT)
NHRT can improve many bodily functions. NHRT can promote bone formation, reduce
joint pain and increase flexibility, improve skin condition, and reduce sexual
dysfunction symptoms such as painful intercourse, vaginal dryness, and decreased
libido. Top
DO
HORMONE LEVELS DROP WITH AGE OR ILLNESS?
The answer is a resounding "yes." The above figure depicts falling
DHEA levels as we age. Not a pretty site, is it? DHEA, Growth
Hormone, Testosterone, Progesterone,
Estrogen, and sometimes Cortisol and Thyroid levels also decline with age.
Top
WHAT
ARE THE EFFECTS OF LOW HORMONE LEVELS?
Declining hormone levels during aging is one of the reasons why people become
overweight, lose muscle mass, and become fatigued as they age. Below is a list
of menopausal symptoms that have been to shown to occur as a result of estrogen,
progesterone, and/or testosterone deficiencies: Top
WHAT
IS NATURAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY?
Women are often given synthetic hormones after menopause or hormones that are
derived from horse urine. Because the exact hormones naturally produced by
the body are now available today, these types of synthetic hormones do not
have to be used. The chemically exact hormones to the human body are used.
The natural hormones used in Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy (NHRT) include
the following: Estriole, Progesterone, Thyroid, DHEA, Growth Hormone, and Testosterone.
These may be given in capsule or cream form. Top
THE GOALS
OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
NHRT aims to help both men and women "age gracefully." Hormones
are supplemented to the levels of normal values for ages 30 to
35 (sorry, not 18!). Improving
hormone levels increases vibrancy, energy, and zest for life, and also helps
in the prevention of diseases of aging such as osteoporosis, cancer, and heart
disease. Top
HOW
DO I GET STARTED ON NHRT?
The first step is to determine which hormones require supplementation
replacement. Checking the hormone levels in the body provides
this information. People already
taking synthetic hormones must stop taking them at least 24 hours prior to
the testing. Other tests are often run at the same time, which require an overnight
fast. We also perform Diet Typing to better assess individual dietary
and nutritional needs, which is also done in a fasting state. Therefore, you
may wish to "fast" from food (water is okay to drink) on the day of your appointment. Top
WHAT
CAN I EXPECT FROM NHRT?
The goal is to feel great! Studies have shown that NHRT is part of an overall
program to help reduce some of the detrimental effects of aging such as cancer,
heart disease, and osteoporosis. As with any medical therapy, every person
is different and has different needs. Within the first several months of NHRT,
people often notice that they have more energy, a happier outlook on life,
feel sexier, and start slimming down. It often takes several months to determine
the optimum dosages for NHRT. During this time it is possible to experience
some unwanted side effects such as bloating, menstrual bleeding, and others,
but the long term effects are well worth it. Any person not feeling quite right
on their prescribed NHRT should contact their physician as soon as possible
so that the dosages can be adjusted. A yearly pap smear is recommended for
women on NHRT and a prostate exam for men on NHRT. Top
| Bladder/urethra |
Infections, urethral opening changes, frequency
and/or urgency of urination, inability to hold urine |
| Breasts |
Shrinking, sagging |
| Cardiovascular |
Heart disease, atherosclerosis, angina, decreased
endurance, fatigue |
| Neuroendocrine |
Hot flashes, insomnia or frequent waking from
sleep, decreased sex drive |
| Musculoskeletal |
Osteoporosis, weakness, backache/fractures,
joint pain, decreased muscle integrity |
| Skin/mucous |
Atrophy, dryness, itching, easy bruising, loss
of skin tone, dry or lost hair, hair on face, dry mouth |
| Uterus/pelvis |
Dropping of the uterus and vagina |
| Vulva/vagina |
Shrinkage, itching, painful intercourse, vaginal
infections, blood stained discharge. |
A listing of
Natural Medicine Services that Caring Medical provides can be found
in our Therapies Offered section.
Disclaimer: Certain
persons considered experts may disagree with one or more statements
made. Nevertheless, what is stated is based on sound authority,
medical experience, and actual treatments of patients.Top
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