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Signs of Hormonal Imbalance

Some women (and men for that matter) know that something is ‘off’ with their bodies but they can’t quite put a finger on the trouble. Some women also go to the doctor for a series of tests and a physical and find that nothing is wrong or at least not wrong enough to treat.

I might be that woman. So might you if you’ve landed on this page. My trouble, at the age of 45, was that I was peri-menopausal. My hormone levels were a little off when compared to my baseline of 4 years previous but not enough to really fret over. I was experiencing hot flashes and night sweats, bloating without cause, and insomnia. Other symtoms of hormonal imbalance are water retention, tenderness of breasts and irregular bleeding. If you are suffering from any or all of these symptoms and your doctor is without suggestions you might consider some low-level, all natural, hormone balance.

The supplements and the cream at right are two that I use after I did a home test kit for hormone levels. They put me back on my even keel without any prescriptive or synthetic drugs. I’m not keen on taking pills based on horse urine.

About the All Natural Hormone Cream

The cream at right has a natural progesterone that is bioidentical to the human body’s progesterone. Your body uses this compound in the same manner as it would progesterone that was present or being made in your system when you were a few years younger. A nice side effect is that it also will assist in keeping your bones strong – therefore less likely to develop osteoporosis.

If you’re worried that bioidentical progesterone is some new-fangled, non-tested, product, don’t be. This is an all-natural treatment that has been used since the 1930s. In fact there have been no reported or known side-effects of natural progesterone in over 60 years. Don’t take my word for it though – do a litte research online to see for yourself. Just be sure you are reading about natural vs. synthetic progesterone.

Can A Cream Really Work?

You bet it can! Your skin is your body’s largest organ. You absorb and excrete all types of substances through your pores all day, every day, for as long as you’re living. Creams, patches, gels are in wide use for the last 50+ years. Just think about how many treatments (in naturopathy or in the medical field) are prescribed as trans-dermal or topical. In fact, if I had to give up one of my own treatments I’d give up the oral supplements first. Most of the vitamins and supplements taken orally are eliminated through normal liver function. Not so with a topical or transdermal application where over 90% of the progesterone is absorbed.

Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy

I’ve been talking quite a bit about a natural approach to hormone replacement for menopausal or peri-menopausal women, so I’ll share what I’ve learned here about these.

Essentially these bioidenticals are derived from plant sources. Plants that carry the same hormonal compounds as found in our own bodies. This could also be considered in the realm of phytotherapy.

Plants that have been used by herbalists, medicine doctors of old, and in current naturopathic medicine are listed below (and this list may not be complete until I have uncovered and/or found a few studies for each item on the list through secondary sources and supporting research).

I’m including their scientific names here as well so you know what to look for on the bottle or jar of any natural hormone remedies:

  • Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
  • Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa)
  • Chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus)
  • Kudzu (Pueraria lobata)
  • Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
  • Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
  • Soy (Glycine max)
  • Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)
     

Wild yam and soy are the only two that are identical in composition to human hormones and are extracted for use in a scientific lab. The others are supporting plants for hormonal balance.

There is more of this to know – such as the binding agents and which hormones you’re attempting to support at the outset, but every bit of information will get you closer to a personalized solution. I started with the Nutrapathic Hormone Balance and got tested by my doctor until my system felt more aligned – pay attention to your feelings, your symptoms and your system!