The Importance of
Balanced Hormones by Dr. Hal S. Blatman
T
here is a lot While there is significant products such as of discusmakeup, moisturmedical research showing izers, hair care sion in the medical community the benefit of treatment products, and about the safety shaving creams with bio-identical hormone often use paraand importance of hormone replacebens. Some of therapy, the most ment therapy for these ingredients convincing evidence may are hormone women. Today, due to increased life disrupters that be how women feel. expectancy, women can affect hortend to live longer than their biology monal balance, and others have weak provides adequate levels of hormones. hormone-like effects in the body. It is While some barely notice the declinalways best to try to minimize expoing hormone levels of menopause or sure to these estrogen mimics prior to develop symptoms, others are intenseany hormone replacement. ly symptomatic. There are several reasons for The hormones involved in menowomen to consider supplementing pausal symptoms include estrogen, their body’s ability to make hormones. progesterone, and testosterone. The deThe one most often considered is to creased production of these hormones avoid symptoms of menopause such with aging may be exacerbated by toxic as hot flashes, night sweats, irritabilenvironmental exposures and further ity and others. But this is only the complicated by illness or decreased beginning. Other reasons to take sensitivity of hormone receptors. hormones may be even more impor In today’s environment, the hutant. They include—but are not limited man body is constantly exposed to to—maintaining libido, increasing chemicals in the environment that act energy, improving and maintaining like human estrogen. These are called skin tone, preserving bone health and xenoestrogens (or pseudoestrogens) sustaining brain health. A recent study and include PCBs, bisphenol, and in the New England Journal of Mediphthalates. They are used in plastic cine showed estradiol replacement in food wrap, water bottles, and many women at early menopause slowed other common products. Crops are progression of atherosclerosis. sprayed with glyphosate. Cosmetic Bio-identical hormone therapy
34
Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Edition NaturalCinci.com
guarantees that at least some of the body’s hormone receptors are receiving real human hormones—identical to those the body normally produces— rather than synthetics. While it can be argued that older women should not have the hormone levels of a 25-year-old, it also makes sense that older women should not be deficient in these hormones. With hormones, it is not the absolute levels that are critically important, but the delicate balance between them. Estrogen is an excitatory hormone and may increase the spark in life, while progesterone is a calming hormone and may provide mental balance and improved sleep. Testosterone is important for muscle and bone health, and DHEA is needed for your body to make its own balance of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. DHEA may be especially important when the adrenal glands are fatigued. Fortunately, there are easy ways to test hormone levels before and during treatment to monitor levels and balance during replacement therapy. Bio-identical hormones can be administered in many ways. They can be supplied as a cream or patch and absorbed through the skin. They can be taken by mouth or put into a pellet that is surgically placed under the skin. Most patients seem to get the best results with all the hormones placed in a “troche” that releases them directly into the blood stream through the gums of the upper molars. While there is significant medical research showing the benefit of treatment with bio-identical hormone therapy, the most convincing evidence may be how women feel. Having a good libido, bone health, brain health, restful sleep and a vibrant interest in life all relate to a woman’s properly balanced hormone system. Hal S. Blatman, M.D., is the founder and medical director of Blatman Health and Wellness Center in Cincinnati. He has more than 15 years of experience treating men and women with bioidentical hormone therapy. For more information, call 513-956-3200 or visit BlatmanHealthAndWellness.com. See ad, page 23.