How to Feel Amazing in Menopause Audiobook Chapters 4 and 5

Chapter 4: 3 Health Issues that Masquerade as Hormonal Imbalance (and how to know)

Different Delivery Systems

As far as delivery systems, this is another difference between a compounding formula and a traditional conventional formula. There are creams using Bi-est, meaning 2 estrogens, estradiol, and estriol. This cream is probably the most common form of estrogen used. Using a cream is preferable because it well absorbs ed when it’s applied properly to the thinnest skinned areas of the body like wrists, behind the knees and tops of feet.

Lozenges, or troches, are another delivery system. These are basically placed in the mouth next to the mucosal membrane, which is the inner cheek for absorption into the bloodstream.

Other ways of delivering hormones include injections (particularly for testosterone) as well as pellets. These subdermal pellets are basically an incision in the hip where hormones are placed for a 3-4 month time span. This delivery system yields mixed results with patients. Of all of the delivery systems mentioned, creams are preferable, but lozenges may be a good option for patients who have not seen any benefits after using creams.

Progesterone can be a fantastic hormone to use and sometimes when women are going through menopause, they can handle all of their symptoms with herbs. However, some women struggle to achieve a good quality of life with herbs alone, which is when it may be necessary to resort to hormonal therapy. Some women do great just using progesterone, especially if the issue is insomnia. Progesterone is typically produced in the women’s body when experiencing normal cycles prior to menopause. Usually, it is promoted in the body for two weeks out of the month. However, when ovulation and regular cycles are no longer occurring, the production of progesterone really declines, and hence. The benefits provided by that progesterone are lost. Progesterone, when broken down by the body, turns into a metabolite that binds to receptors in the brain, called Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is a brain chemical that helps with anxiety when it’s 2promoted properly and it can help with good quality sleep. When levels of progesterone are low, which naturally happens with menopause, some menopausal issues could be removed with the use of progesterone via hormone replacement therapy. Progesterone, like estrogens, can be made up in a cream form. It can be also used conventionally, meaning you can get it at traditional pharmacies such as Walgreens or CVS. Progesterone is bio-identically and also comes in a pill form which can be even more sedating than other forms. This option may be especially helpful when dealing with insomnia. Progesterone will often be prescribed if an individual is already using estrogen as the progesterone decreases the risk of cancer in the uterus. If you have had a hysterectomy, and therefore no longer have a uterus, not all of these recommendations may apply to you.

Testosterone can also be used as an option in hormone treatment for someone who has low libido, fatigue, and low testosterone levels in the blood. Like other hormone replacement treatments, testosterone is available in various forms. In situations where multiple hormones may be needed, everything can be added into one cream.

Adrenal/Thyroid Imbalance

When adrenal or thyroid dysfunctions are present, there can be many symptoms that result. A common contributing theme to symptoms is stress, especially when it comes to these two glands. The adrenals are small glands that sit on top of the kidneys and produce a multitude of hormones:

• Adrenaline- This includes norepinephrine and epinephrine, both of which are pumping through the veins when under stress or experiencing anxiety.
• Cortisol- Cortisol, when overproduced, can contribute to weight factors and can also induce fatigue when levels are either too high or low.
• DHEA- DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is another important hormone because it helps make estrogen and testosterone.

So, when experiencing increased feelings of stress and being overwhelmed, and healthy coping mechanisms aren’t in place, the adrenals really start to feel it. Individuals may experience increased anxiety and discomfort as a result. As high levels of stress continue over time, it starts to really wear on the function of this gland. This process with the adrenals can belikened to a wet cloth. When you wring out a wet cloth, you’re wringing it out and wringing it out, and eventually, run out of water. Likewise, when the adrenal glands continue to be overworked, there’s really not as much that the body can do when this gland can’t give to the body anymore and will begin to significantly affect cortisol levels.

Ththyroid Imbalance

Adrenal and thyroid function go hand-in-hand, so if there is an adrenal issue, then there is a thyroid issue and vise versa. Common thyroid symptoms, particularly for hypothyroid or low thyroid, would include irregular menstrual cycles, fatigue, inability to lose weight, hot flashes, cold intolerance, or temperature regulation issues can be wrapped around hypothyroidism. There is also the more rare occurrence of hyperthyroidism, which can cause heart racing and hot flashes, both of which are common to menopause. Testing would help to identify if there are issues with a thyroid imbalance. Individuals should have annual testing done for at least TSH (which is a brain signal to the thyroid gland), Free T4, and Free T3. There are other tests that can be done to give us more information like Reverse T3 (although insurance sometimes doesn’t cover that) as well as Anti-TPO and Antithyroglobulin Antibodies which both help in diagnosing Hashimoto’s. Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease where the immune system turns on itself and starts attacking its own thyroid, which over time causes a decline in thyroid function and can be why someone becomes hypothyroid. If this testing comes back positive for the Hashimoto’s antibodies, further investigation is required to find out why the immune system is attacking the thyroid. This includes looking at other issues such as food allergies, gut function, and environmental factors that are contributing to the development of Hashimoto’s. If these are issues, it is best to treat them using herbs if possible.

Herbal combinations that are helpful for the adrenals are formulas containing:

• Ashwagandha
• Siberian ginseng
• Holy Basil
• Rhodiola

Vitamin C is also an extremely important nutrient for the adrenal gland. If DHEA is low, then it needs to be replaced in the body while healing the adrenal glands. DHEA can be prescribed at doses anywhere between 5-50mg. It is best to be able to do it at the lower end of 5 or 10mg to decrease any negative side effects that can occur like acne or hair loss, which could already be issues when someone is going through menopause. Sometimes when the adrenals are really depleted or someone is physically depleted, IV therapy can be a great benefit as well, particularly high doses of Vitamin C just because the intestinal tract can’t tolerate too much Vitamin C without causing loose stool, so Having it given intravenously can really help speed up the process. Other actions that can be taken to be proactive in helping include stress management, seeing a therapist, talking with friends, regular exercise, promoting a good sleep routine, avoiding computers and other screen time before bed and sleeping in a dark room.

Food Sensitivities

When there is a dysbiosis or an imbalance in the digestive tract, it will typically create inflammation in the intestinal lining, and therefore cause a propensity to have food sensitivities. Of course, when eating something your body doesn’t like, you are going to feel even worse. Similar to the other health concerns already discussed, issues with food sensitivities and/or food allergies can lead to difficulty with weight loss and achy joints. The three most common food allergies are:

• Wheat
• Dairy
• Bakers and brewers yeast
• Eggs
• Nuts
• Almonds
• Cashews

Some people may be frustrated because while they are striving to eat healthily, they continue to gain weight. This can happen because while they’re eating something that is, in theory, healthy, it may not be healthy for their body. Doing a food-sensitive test will be helpful in such instances as it provides a great deal of information as far as the individualization of the reaction of various foods specific to that person. This testing can look for 90 different food reactions, including Candida. Another way to assess for potential food sensitivities is simply eliminating the most common food sensitivities such as wheat, dairy, yeast, and sugar (as sugar creates inflammation and can stimulate Candida yeast in the gut).

When food sensitivities or allergies are identified, it is advised that the individual then avoid those foods and watch for improvements in symptoms. It is recommended that a person avoid the identified foods for at least eight weeks, as it does take time for the body to detox and fin an established balance. If someone has many different food sensitivities, then their gut will be inflamed, and therefore may require harder work to get them in balance. Simultaneous herbs may also be necessary based on the severity of the food testing results.

Often times, some of the eliminated foods can slowly be added back into the diet to assess if it’s no longer an issue or continues to trigger symptoms. If the food allergy or sensitivity remains, it ultimately becomes a choice as to whether you will continue to avoid the food or continue eating it and then deal with the associated consequences.