Keep Your Hormones Healthy
Hormones affect us all - male and female, young and old. Although these substances are produced in tiny quantities they have a profound impact on our health and emotions throughout life. Growth hormone influences every child's physical development; natural corticosteroids are released automatically in response to stress; masculine and feminine attributes are controlled by androgens and reproductive hormones.Hormone imbalance is at the root of a number of recognised conditions such as under-(or over-) functioning thyroid, diabetes (insulin is a hormone) and the female menopause. These are usually treated by giving synthetic hormones, but this can encourage the body to give up trying to make its own, resulting in the need for lifelong medication. In the case of HRT for menopause there will come a time when you are advised to stop treatment, at which point the original symptoms are likely to return with a vengeance. My advice is to try herbs, nutrition, homeopathy or a combination of all three. Menopause isn't an illness, but a natural process that we should be able to sail through without artificial interference. Generally speaking, if your body is given the right tools it can do the work for itself.
But how many of us relax often, exercise regularly and eat plenty of lentils, chickpeas and tofu? These foods contain natural phytoestrogens for female hormone health. Meanwhile, pesticides and plastics can carry hormone disrupting chemicals known as xeneostrogens - a good reason to avoid packaged products. So choose fresh, local and organic if possible.
High quality supplements and herbs are often of great benefit. It's important to have a regular intake of vitamins and minerals, especially the water soluble B vitamins. Helpful herbs include Evening Primrose, Red Clover, Vitex Agnus Castus, Sage and Black Cohosh. If you choose homeopathic treatment then a single remedy could be all you require.
by Caz West, Registered Homeopath & Nutritionist at Natural Remedies.