by Health Dr. 2 on Thu Aug 11, 2005 11:56 pm
Hi
Natural hormones means that these hormones are chemically the same as the ones the human body produces. They are also called "bio-identical". Synthetic hormones refer to those manufactured with a chemical structure that is foreign to the human body but mimics some hormonal activity. An example of natural hormones would be Estriol, Progesterone, Testosterone, and DHEA. An example of synthetic hormones would be Premarin, Prempro, Climara, Estratest, Estratab, and all birth control pills.
Natural progesterone is bioidentical to the progesterone that your body makes. Progesterone is the balancer of all the hormones. If you decide to try natural progesteron do not immediately stop taking your HRT. You will need to ween yourself slowly off of it.
HOW TO TAPER OFF YOUR SYNTHETIC ESTROGEN:
· It is recommended that you taper off your estrogen over a 3-6 month period.
· If you are on estrogen and you begin to use Oasis Serene, you should cut your dose in half the first month, cut it again the second month then again the third month. Example: If you take one pill (estrogen) every day, the first month you should take one pill every other day. The second month, take one pill every third day. The third month, take one pill every fourth day.
· You may choose to taper of your estrogen over six months. If so, take one pill every other day for two months, one pill every third day for two months and one pill every fourth day for two months. (If using a patch, substitute it above.)
· If taking a synthetic progestin (Provera, etc.), discontinue it when you start using Oasis Serene. Provera is the synthetic form of natural (bioidentical) progesterone and is taken up by the same receptor sites. (The synthetic will overpower the natural).
· If you are on a combination pill of estrogen and progestin (PremPro; PremPhase (etc.), you need to get a prescription for an estrogen only pill to use during your tapering process.
· Never go cold turkey off your estrogen. Always taper off according to the recommended regimen.
· When you have tapered off your estrogen over a three-month period, you may choose to test your hormone levels through a saliva test. Most women do not need supplemental estrogen, however, a small percentage of women do need estrogen supplementation. Women still produce estrogen after menopause according to Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior. There is a 40-60% reduction in the amount produced. After menopause, estrogen is produced in the fat and muscle cells.
· According to Dr. John Lee: As you reduce your dependence on the synthetic estrogen, you will be making your own by using natural (bioidentical) progesterone. This will take some time. If hot flashes are still occurring, you may want to try using a plant form of estrogen. These are called phytoestrogens. They can give you the benefits of the estrogen hormone without raising your levels. These types of products are available in most local health food stores. If you have a history of breast or reproductive cancers, check with your healthcare provider before taking any type of estrogen.
IF YOU HAVE SEVERE SYMPTOMS WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU START OUT WITH OASIS SERENE PLUS FOR THE FIRST 3 MONTHS.
Need for Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy
by Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND, CN, HHP
You must be wondering with all of the hype about hormones, “Why do we need HRT in the first place?” In this article I address this concern with some straightforward information about natural HRT...
Our Hormones
Hormonal imbalance is a term that has become popular to describe an incorrect relationship that exists between levels of progesterone and estrogen.
Progesterone is a needed hormone for both menopausal women and andropausal men for many reasons. It’s a steroid hormone made by the ovary at ovulation, and in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands. Progesterone is manufactured in the body from the steroid hormone pregnenolone, and is a precursor to most of the other steroid hormones, including cortisol, androstenedione, the estrogens and testosterone. When levels of progesterone are low, it needs to be replaced. Its most important role is to balance or oppose the effects of estrogen.
Unopposed estrogen creates a strong risk for breast cancer and reproductive cancers. Estrogen levels drop at menopause but only 40-60%, which is just enough to stop the menstrual cycle. Progesterone levels may drop to near zero in some women. Because progesterone is the precursor to so many other steroid hormones, its use can greatly enhance overall hormone balance after menopause. Progesterone also stimulates bone building and thus helps protect against osteoporosis.
PMS Factor
During the 10 to 15 years before menopause, many women regularly have cycles where they make enough estrogen to create menstruation, but they don't make any progesterone. This sets the stage for estrogen dominance. By using natural progesterone during these months, symptoms of PMS can be helped.
We also know that PMS can occur despite normal progesterone levels when stress is present. Stress overtaxes the adrenals. It increases cortisol production; cortisol blocks (or competes for) progesterone receptors. Additional progesterone is required in this case to overcome this blockade, and additional stress management is important, such as proper nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle. Similar scenarios apply to men as well.
Other Factors
Other major factors that stresses our bodies and subsequently our hormones, are environmental chemicals in our food, water and air--heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, plastics and many other poisons—that mimic estrogen once they enter our body. In just one example of this type of poisoning, it has been reported on several news programs (CBS, The Discovery Channel and others) that the common tin can is inadvertently supplying us with unwanted estrogen-like hormones. This is a result of a chemical reaction over a period of time between the tin and the plastic inner lining of the can. Unwanted cumulative chemical additions, such as this, are believed to have dire consequences within our bodies.
It’s clear that our bodies can get overloaded with estrogen without even trying. The other bad news is that our overloaded bodies may not have the ability to breakdown estrogen. The liver generally removes excess estrogen. Diseases of the liver like cirrhosis or decreased enzyme activity can lead to increased estrogen levels. Vitamin B6 and magnesium are necessary for the liver to neutralize estrogen. Increased sugar intake will also excrete magnesium and interfere with its ability to breakdown estrogen. Estrogen supplementation by prescription is clearly not needed, and will increase estrogen levels unless it is properly balanced with natural progesterone.
With all of these factors, it’s easy to conclude most women and men are on estrogen overload.
Symptoms of Estrogen Overload
When estrogen overload symptoms occur, doctors usually offer either synthetic HRT or birth control pills. What is needed instead is natural progesterone for both hormonal balance and relief of symptoms, in both women and men, such as:
Depression
Decreased libido
Fibrocystic breasts
Food and sugar cravings
Uterine fibroids
Irregular or excessive uterine bleeding
Endometriosis
PMS
Infertility
Weight gain
Increased blood clotting
Thyroid dysfunction
When dysfunctions are extremely painful or debilitating, women are told that their health is more important than their reproductive organs, and that a hysterectomy would be the best thing. In most cases, women can choose natural HRT to solve these problems. Natural HRT can take care of the risks of:
Ovarian cancer
Breast cancer
Osteoporosis
An imbalance occurs in nearly every instance where physicians prescribe synthetic hormones. This is because traditional HRT adds to the already existing high levels of estrogen in our bodies. By adding synthetic hormones, traditional HRT, which directly interfere with the normal function of our endocrine system, our body is fooled. It thinks the estrogens are real estrogens. Our bodies act as if there is estrogen excess in the system, resulting in an increased hormonal imbalance.
You can find out more about the solutions in our eBook, Balancing Your Hormones Without Drugs…You Can Feel Good Again.
